Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an aircraft, such as a tiltrotor, having an internal payload storage area. A rotatable deployment system is mounted within the payload storage area. The rotatable deployment system comprises a frame that is configured to rotate between a stowed position and a deployment position. Two extendible arms are attached to the frame, wherein each extendible arm is configured to move in opposite directions between a retracted position and a plurality of extended positions. Each extendible arm has a fixed end and a moving end. A payload mounting point on each moving end. The payload mounting point allows a payload to pan and tilt in azimuth and elevation.

Abstract: A fully compounding rotorcraft includes a fuselage having first and second wings extending therefrom and configured to provide lift compounding responsive to forward airspeed. A twin boom includes first and second tail boom members that extend aftward from the first and second wings. An empennage is coupled between the aft ends of the tail boom members. An anti-torque system includes a tail rotor that is rotatably coupled to the empennage. An engine is disposed within the fuselage and is configured to provide torque to a main rotor assembly via an output shaft and a main rotor gearbox. An auxiliary propulsive system is coupled to the fuselage and is configured to generate a propulsive thrust to offload at least a portion of a thrust requirement from the main rotor during forward flight, thereby providing propulsion compounding to increase the forward airspeed of the rotorcraft.

Abstract: A hybrid propulsion engine for a rotorcraft includes a core turboshaft engine having a gas path and an output shaft that provides torque to a main rotor. A fan module is disposed relative to the core turboshaft engine and is coupled to the output shaft. The fan module has a bypass air path that is independent of the gas path. A thrust nozzle is configured to mix exhaust gases from the core turboshaft engine with bypass air from the fan module and to discharge the mixture to provide propulsive thrust. In a turboshaft configuration, the fan module is closed to prevent the flow of bypass air therethrough such that the thrust nozzle does not provide propulsive thrust. In a turboshaft and turbofan configuration, the fan module is open allowing the flow of bypass air therethrough such that the thrust nozzle provides propulsive thrust, thereby supplying propulsion compounding for the rotorcraft.

Abstract: An aircraft for capturing drones includes an airframe having a drone channel with first and second wings extending outboard thereof. A two-dimensional distributed thrust array includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to each of the first and second wings such that the rotor disc of each propulsion assembly is outboard of the drone channel. A flight control system is coupled to the airframe and is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies. A mesh bag is coupled to the drone channel forming a drone capture net. The aircraft is configured to convert between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft is also configured to overtake a drone during flight in the biplane orientation such that the drone passes through the drone channel into the mesh bag, thereby capturing the drone in the drone capture net.

Abstract: The present invention includes a rotorcraft drive system comprising: an engine positioned at an end of a wing between a mid-wing spar and an aft-wing spar; a spindle positioned forward from the engine, the spindle capable of rotation between a hover and forward flight position, wherein the spindle rotates about a rotation bearing on an inboard split rib and an outboard tip rib or in a cantilevered spindle configuration supported by the inboard tip rib; and a tilt axis driveshaft connected to the engine, wherein the tilt axis drive shaft connects to a plurality of gears and shafts that transmit power from the engine to a proprotor gear box when the spindle is in: a forward position, a hover position, and during a transition between the forward position and the hover position without loss of power to the proprotor gear box.

Abstract: The present invention includes a rotorcraft drive system, method, and aircraft comprising a fixed engine; a rotating spindle that rotates a proprotor gearbox and rotor pylon between a hover and forward flight position, wherein the rotating spindle rotates about a rotation bearings on two inboard ribs of a wing member; and an interconnect drive shaft connected to the fixed engine, wherein the interconnect drive shaft passes through an aft cove of the wing member and connects to the engine via a forward-aft drive shaft, wherein the forward-aft drive shaft is connected to the proprotor gearbox to provide power to a proprotor.

Abstract: A method of operating a targeting system simulation tool (TSST) includes providing a TSST configured to receive an obstacle/effect parameterization, a simulation parameterization, a sensor parameterization, an aircraft parameterization, and an autonomy parameterization. The method further includes receiving by the TSST, at least one of each of an obstacle/effect parameterization and a simulation parameterization. The method further includes receiving by the TSST, either (1) a sensor parameterization or (2) an aircraft parameterization. The method further includes operating the TSST to apply the provided ones of the obstacle/effect parameterization, simulation parameterization, sensor parameterization, and aircraft parameterization to generate a value, value range, or value limit for the unprovided aircraft parameterization or unprovided sensor parameterization.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an aircraft, such as a tiltrotor, having an internal payload storage area. A rotatable deployment system is mounted within the payload storage area. The rotatable deployment system comprises a frame that is configured to rotate between a stowed position and a deployment position. Two extendible arms are attached to the frame, wherein each extendible arm is configured to move in opposite directions between a retracted position and a plurality of extended positions. Each extendible arm has a fixed end and a moving end. A payload mounting point on each moving end. The payload mounting point allows a payload to pan and tilt in azimuth and elevation.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for a sliding door in a pressurized aircraft. In one embodiment, an aircraft comprises a fuselage having a door opening, and a door configured to slide into the door opening from within the fuselage, the door held in a closed position in the door opening by excess air pressure within the fuselage during operation of the aircraft.

Abstract: An aircraft has a wing, a pylon carried by the wing, at least one of a rotor system component and a drive system component disposed within the pylon, and a wing extension carried by the at least one of a rotor system component and drive system component, wherein the wing extension is foldable relative to the pylon to selectively reduce an overall space occupied by the aircraft.

Abstract: An aircraft has a fuselage, an engine disposed within the fuselage, a rotatable wing disposed above the fuselage and selectively rotatable about a wing rotation axis, and a plurality of interconnect driveshafts disposed within the rotatable wing, and at least one drive system component that is connected between the engine and the interconnect driveshaft is disposed along the wing rotation axis.

Abstract: A propulsion system includes an engine disposed within a fuselage, a first gearbox coupled to the engine, a wing member having an upper wing skin and torque box formed by a first rib, a second rib, a first spar and second spar, a drive shaft coupled to the first gearbox and disposed within the wing member, a second gear box coupled to the drive shaft and disposed outboard from the second rib or inboard from the first rib, and a rotatable proprotor coupled to the second gear box. The rotatable proprotor includes a plurality of rotor blades, a rotor mast having a mast axis of rotation, and a proprotor gearbox coupled to the rotor mast. The proprotor gearbox is rotatable about a conversion axis, which intersects with the mast axis of rotation at a point within a central region of the torque box and above the upper wing skin.

Abstract: A modular payload system for an aircraft includes a modular bay recessed within the aircraft. The modular bay includes a modular bay interface. The modular payload system includes a plurality of payload modules each having a respective function and a payload interface adapted to connect to at least a portion of the modular bay interface. The plurality of payload modules are interchangeably insertable into the modular bay to enable the modular bay to support the functions of the plurality of payload modules.

Abstract: The present invention includes a rotorcraft drive system comprising: an engine positioned at an end of a wing between a mid-wing spar and an aft-wing spar; a spindle positioned forward from the engine, the spindle capable of rotation between a hover and forward flight position, wherein the spindle rotates about a rotation bearing on an inboard split rib and an outboard tip rib or in a cantilevered spindle configuration supported by the inboard tip rib; and a tilt axis driveshaft connected to the engine, wherein the tilt axis drive shaft connects to a plurality of gears and shafts that transmit power from the engine to a proprotor gear box when the spindle is in: a forward position, a hover position, and during a transition between the forward position and the hover position without loss of power to the proprotor gear box.

Abstract: The present invention includes a rotorcraft drive system, method, and aircraft comprising a fixed engine; a rotating spindle that rotates a proprotor gearbox and rotor pylon between a hover and forward flight position, wherein the rotating spindle rotates about a rotation bearings on two inboard ribs of a wing member; and an interconnect drive shaft connected to the fixed engine, wherein the interconnect drive shaft passes through an aft cove of the wing member and connects to the engine via a forward-aft drive shaft, wherein the forward-aft drive shaft is connected to the proprotor gearbox to provide power to a proprotor.

Abstract: The present invention includes an air flow bypass for a tiltrotor engine comprising: a ram air inlet comprising bypass door(s) capable of at least partially or fully blocking a ram air flow through the ram air inlet; a barrier filter inlet positioned in a side, a bottom, and/or a top of a tiltrotor engine nacelle; a filter plenum; a selector duct comprising one or more openings; and one or more selector duct doors or covers over the one or more openings; wherein the barrier filter inlet, the filter plenum, the one or more openings in the selector duct, the selector duct, and an engine are in fluid communication and the bypass door(s) in the ram inlet are closed and the barrier filter inlet provides filtered air flow to the engine when the aircraft is in hover operations.

Abstract: A propulsion system includes an engine disposed within a fuselage, a first gearbox coupled to the engine, a wing member having an upper wing skin and torque box formed by a first rib, a second rib, a first spar and second spar, a drive shaft coupled to the first gearbox and disposed within the wing member, a second gear box coupled to the drive shaft and disposed outboard from the second rib or inboard from the first rib, and a rotatable proprotor coupled to the second gear box. The rotatable proprotor includes a plurality of rotor blades, a rotor mast having a mast axis of rotation, and a proprotor gearbox coupled to the rotor mast. The proprotor gearbox is rotatable about a conversion axis, which intersects with the mast axis of rotation at a point within a central region of the torque box and above the upper wing skin.

Abstract: An aircraft has a wing, a pylon carried by the wing, at least one of a rotor system component and a drive system component disposed within the pylon, and a wing extension carried by the at least one of a rotor system component and drive system component, wherein the wing extension is foldable relative to the pylon to selectively reduce an overall space occupied by the aircraft.

Abstract: A modular payload system for an aircraft includes a modular bay recessed within the aircraft. The modular bay includes a modular bay interface. The modular payload system includes a plurality of payload modules each having a respective function and a payload interface adapted to connect to at least a portion of the modular bay interface. The plurality of payload modules are interchangeably insertable into the modular bay to enable the modular bay to support the functions of the plurality of payload modules.