Abstract: A wing tip device for attaching to an aircraft wing comprising a first wing tip device element having a root end and a tip end; a second wing tip device element coupled to the tip end of the first wing tip device element; wherein the second wing tip device element has an inboard portion extending inboard from the tip end of the first wing tip device element and/or an outboard portion extending outboard from the tip end of the first wing tip device element, when viewed in the wing planform direction.

Abstract: A wing includes: an inner end configured to be coupled to a fuselage of an aircraft; an inboard section extending from the inner end; a fixed leading edge of the inboard section having a drooped contour positioned along at least a portion thereof; and an outboard section extending from the inboard section.

Abstract: An aircraft (5) including a wing (3) and a winglet (1) at the end of the wing, the winglet including: a root (7); a tip (9); a transition region (11) extending away from the root; and a wing-like region (13) extending from the distal end of the transition region to the tip. When the aircraft wing (3) is under the worst-case static loading, the tip of the winglet is located at the maximum spanwise extent of the winglet (1), but when the aircraft wing (3) is under the no-load condition, the wing-like region (13) is canted inboard such that the tip (9) of the winglet (1) is located inboard of the maximum spanwise extent of the winglet.

Abstract: An improved winglet design is presented for aircraft wherein the winglet configuration is well suited for aircraft wings having moderate to no aft swept, or wings having forward swept. The winglets (302) are located at the outer end of each wing (300) and curve upwardly as they extend outwardly from their intersection (304) with the wings (300). The curvature profile (303) of the winglets (302) when viewed from the rear (or front) of the aircraft at least approximates a specified curve profile made up of more than one curved section, e.g. the winglet trailing edge profile (305) having a perpendicular projection onto a plane normal to the winglet inner or root chord (342), said projection creating a winglet profile curve approximating a compound curve composed of two arc segment (306, 307).

Abstract: A helicopter rotor device with a mechanical means for configuring rotor tips in order to control dust of brown outs or the method to accomplish the reduction or elimination of the brownout dust.

Abstract: A winglet for attachment to a wing portion of an aircraft comprises a winglet tip and a winglet root opposite from the winglet tip. The winglet has an opening for receiving therethrough a connector for connecting the winglet to a wing portion in use. The winglet has a retainer internal of the winglet for use in retaining the connector relative to the winglet. The retainer has a hole that extends along an axis that passes through the opening for receiving therethrough a portion of the connector when the connector is located through the opening. The retainer comprising a body for reacting against a retention component with which the connector engages in use.

Abstract: A folding wing for an aircraft comprises a main wing portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and a wing tip portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and movable relative to the main wing portion about a folding axis. The wing further comprises a linkage mechanism connecting the wing tip portion to the main wing portion and an actuator coupled to the linkage system. Movement of the actuator causes the wing tip portion to move from a first position in which the wing tip portion extends in substantially the same plane as the main wing portion to a second position in which the wing tip portion is angled relative to the main wing portion.

Abstract: An elongated hand thrown projectile comprises a projectile body having a forward end and a rearward end with a projectile axis extending between the forward end and the rearward end. A finger grip having a longitudinal grip axis is attached to the projectile body. In an exemplary embodiment, a thumb grip comprising a planar portion is attached to the projectile body at a position longitudinally between the projectile forward end and the finger grip. The thumb grip and the finger grip are separated by a distance such that the thumb and finger of a single hand can simultaneously grip the thumb grip and finger grip. The elongated hand thrown projectile assists a pitcher in learning to throw with a linear, single-plane motion.

Abstract: A winglet 3 has an inner end 5 and an outer 7. The winglet 3 has a varying radius of curvature (R) which:(i) decreases along the winglet over a first distanced1; (ii) remains constant over a second distanced2; and (iii) increases along the winglet 3 over a third distance d3. The sum of the first and third distances (d1+d3) is greater than the second distance (d2). The radius of curvature may vary according to the equation R=k1/dn. The parameter n may be equal to 1, such that the curvature follows an Euler spiral.

Abstract: A system and method for a reconfigurable aircraft having a fuselage with one or more propellers, at least one tail assembly, a processor, and a memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: determine a safety clearance for the at least one tail assembly; and selectively move the at least one tail assembly upon a determination that the safety clearance is achieved.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a strut for mounting a jet engine to a wing of an aircraft includes a plurality of engine mounts and a space frame truss supported from the wing and comprising front and aft portions, the front portion being coupled to and supporting the engine mounts, the aft portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from an aft end of the front portion. By removing the aft end of the strut from the core exhaust zone of the engine, substantial reductions in the weight and drag of the strut, and a corresponding increase in the specific fuel consumption of the associated aircraft may be achieved.

Abstract: A winglet system for an aircraft wing includes an upper winglet and a lower winglet mounted to a wing. The lower winglet has a static position when the wing is subject to an on-ground static loading. The lower winglet is configured such that upward deflection of the wing under an approximate 1-g flight loading causes the lower winglet to move upwardly and outwardly from the static position to an in-flight position resulting in an effective span increase of the wing under the approximate 1-g flight loading relative to the span of the wing under the on-ground static loading. The lower winglet is configured to aeroelastically deflect upwardly under the approximate 1-g flight loading and further increase the effective span of the wing beyond the effective span increase that is caused by the upward deflection of the wing.

Abstract: An active wing extension includes a body portion substantially parallel to a wing of an aircraft, as if it were an extension of the wing. The body portion is attachable to an aircraft wing and includes multiple controllable airflow modification devices coupled thereto. By virtue of having multiple controllable airflow modification devices, the wing extension is capable of adjusting control surfaces of the multiple controllable airflow modification devices in response to in-flight conditions, to reduce wing loads, improve wing fatigue characteristics, increase range, reduce torsional loads, alleviate flutter, and/or increase efficiency.

Abstract: A winglet system for an aircraft wing includes an upper winglet and a lower winglet mounted to a wing. The lower winglet has a static position when the wing is subject to an on-ground static loading. The lower winglet may be substantially straight in the static position. The lower winglet is configured such that upward deflection of the wing under an approximate 1-g flight loading causes the lower winglet to move upwardly and outwardly from the static position to an in-flight position resulting in an effective span increase of the wing under the approximate 1-g flight loading relative to the span of the wing under the on-ground static loading.

Abstract: A winglet system for an aircraft wing may include an upper winglet and a lower winglet mounted to a wing tip. The upper winglet root chord and the lower winglet root chord may each have a length of no greater than 100 percent of the wing tip chord. The lower winglet may have a static position when the wing is subject to an on-ground static loading. The lower winglet may be configured such that upward deflection of the wing under an approximate 1-g flight loading causes the lower winglet to move upwardly and outwardly from the static position to an in-flight position resulting in an effective span increase of the wing under the approximate 1-g flight loading relative to the span of the wing under the on-ground static loading.

Abstract: A winglet system for an aircraft wing may include an upper winglet and a lower winglet mounted to a wing tip. The lower winglet may have a static position when the wing is subject to an on-ground static loading. The lower winglet may be configured such that upward deflection of the wing under an approximate 1-g flight loading causes the lower winglet to move upwardly and outwardly from the static position to an in-flight position resulting in an effective span increase of the wing under the approximate 1-g flight loading relative to the span of the wing under the on-ground static loading. The lower winglet may have a length of approximately 50-80 percent of a length of the upper winglet.

Abstract: An improved winglet design is presented for aircraft wherein the winglet configuration is well suited for aircraft wings having moderate to no aft swept, or wings having forward swept. The winglets (302) are located at the outer end of each wing (300) and curve upwardly as they extend outwardly from their intersection (304) with the wings (300). The curvature profile (303) of the winglets (302) when viewed from the rear (or front) of the aircraft at least approximates a specified curve profile made up of more than one curved section, e.g. the winglet trailing edge profile (305) having a perpendicular projection onto a plane normal to the winglet inner or root chord (342), said projection creating a winglet profile curve approximating a compound curve composed of two arc segment (306, 307).

Abstract: A wingtip fin of an aircraft comprising an upstanding fin body, the fin body having an inboard face and an outboard face and a recess defined there within, a display screen assembly in the recess in the fin body, the display screen assembly comprising a translucent face, substantially flush with and forming at least part of the inboard face or the outboard face of the fin body, and a display screen arranged in the recess such that images displayed on the display screen are visible through the translucent face.

Abstract: A wing tip device for fixing to the outboard end of a wing, the wing defining a wing plane, includes: an upper wing-like element projecting upwardly with respect to the wing plane and having a trailing edge; and a lower wing-like element fixed with respect to the upper wing-like element and having a root chord and a trailing edge, the lower wing-like element root chord intersecting with the upper wing-like element, and the lower wing-like element projecting downwardly from the intersection. The upper wing-like element is larger than the lower wing-like element and the trailing edge of the lower wing-like element is adjacent the trailing edge of the upper wing-like element at the intersection. An included angle between the upper and lower wing-like elements at the intersection is less than, or equal to, 160 degrees.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods to operate laminar flow control system doors with improved reliability and serviceability are described herein. One described example apparatus includes a fin of an aircraft, a door assembly on a first side of the fin having a first door defining a first opening and second door defining a second opening. The example apparatus also includes a perforated surface proximate a leading edge of the fin and an actuator disposed in the aircraft. The actuator drives a linkage that couples the door to the actuator. The linkage is to operate the door in a first open mode in which the first opening faces in a first direction to create a suction airflow path between the perforated surface and the first opening, and a second open mode in which the second opening faces in a second direction to create a purge airflow path between the second opening and the perforated surface.

Abstract: Deployment and control actuation mechanisms are incorporated in unmanned aerial vehicles having folding wings and/or folding canards and/or a folding vertical stabilizer. The folding canards and folding vertical stabilizer can be deployed using respective four-bar over-center mechanisms. Elevators pivotably mounted to the folding canards and a rudder pivotably mounted to the folding vertical stabilizer can be controlled by means of respective twist link mechanisms. The folding wings have respective wing roots that are driven by respective gas springs to pivot on bearings about a wing root hub having control servo wire paths.

Abstract: A split winglet is disclosed having a first generally upward projecting wing end, and a second generally downward projecting wing end. The second generally downward projecting wing end may be integrally formed with the first generally upward projecting wing end to form a winglet assembly or may be separately attached onto an existing upwardly curved winglet.

Abstract: An aircraft having an elongated fuselage and a lifting surface fastened to the fuselage. The aircraft has a device for controlling the torque around the yaw axis GZ of the aircraft in which aerodynamic forms that have devices to generate aerodynamic drag are fastened to each end of the lifting surface at non-zero distances from each side of a vertical plane of symmetry XZ of the aircraft. The drag-generating devices are commanded to produce a different aerodynamic drag at each of the two ends to generate a yaw torque on the aircraft. The aerodynamic forms, for example, have winglets improving the aerodynamics of the lifting surface, and are provided with aerodynamic drag generators.

Abstract: Weathertight fitting (41) for the mounting of the tail vertical stabilizer of an aircraft in a rear area of its fuselage, the construction being based on a casing (5) made with a composite material as one unitary piece and some frames (7) that are comprised of: one first piece (43) comprised of two bodies (45, 45?), that include the mounting lugs (47, 47?) for the tail vertical stabilizer and some vertical walls (49, 49?) for joining the fitting (43) to the frames (7) of the fuselage, and a weathertight central profile (51); two pairs of additional pieces (55, 55?; 65, 65?) of angular shape, that include some horizontal walls (57, 57?; 67, 67?) for joining to the casing (5) and some vertical walls (59, 59?; 69, 69?) for joining to the aforementioned bodies (45, 45?). All the weathertight fitting's (41) pieces are made with a composite material.

Abstract: An airplane comprises a twin-deck fuselage in which an upper deck support structure is utilized for carry-through of a mid-mount main wing box. The main landing gear of the airplane is mounted to the fuselage and is stowed in a non-pressurized area below the main wing box (enabled due to an optimized wing box geometry). A pressurized passageway/cargo/galley complex separates the main landing gear box and the main wing box. The upper deck is continuous, while the lower deck is separated by the wheel wells into two distinct fore and aft areas (for either cargo or passengers). The airplane further comprises an integrated vertical fin and an aft-extended pressurized deck area for reduced double-deck wetted area. More specifically, the double-deck pressurized fuselage structure is extended to form a blending structure to which a structural box of the vertical fin is attached.

Abstract: An aerodynamic lift structure includes a wing and at least one wing tip device at an outboard portion of the wing. A surface of each wing tip device has a recess that reduces flow impact at a junction of the wing and the wing tip device.

Abstract: An aircraft having an aircraft fuselage that has an outer skin includes an air sucking fuselage component with an outer surface that is perforated at least in some regions, and a suction profile body. The suction profile body is arranged on the outer skin, forms a local bulge in the outer skin, and further includes a suction opening that is arranged at a location at which there is the lowest pressure, for example at a position furthest away from the outer skin. The suction opening is connected to a suction connection of the air sucking fuselage component. In this way laminarization of the flow at the air sucking fuselage component may take place without the use of active air conveying devices.

Abstract: A wave form tile in the form of a natural wave is provided to replace traditionally smooth surfaces to aid in more efficient shedding of a fluid medium. The wave form tile is also applied to proportionally spherical fractal surfaces defined for the surface of a vehicle.

Abstract: A process and device for optimising the performance of an aircraft in the presence of a lateral dissymmetry is disclosed. The device (1) includes means (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9) for controlling, during a lateral dissymmetry, at least one rudder such as to generate an optimum sideslip for reducing the drag of the aircraft.

Abstract: A wing tip device for a wing includes a root and a tip, and the following determinant characteristics: the local dihedral of the wing tip device continuously increases or decreases from the root to the tip; the local sweep of the trailing edge continuously increases along its progression from the root to the tip of the wing tip device; where the local sweep of the leading edge continuously increases in the progression of the leading edge from the root to a first intermediate point; continuously decreases from the first intermediate point to a second intermediate point; and continuously increases from the second intermediate point at least to a region before of the tip of the wing tip device; as well as a wing comprising a wing tip device.

Abstract: An aft-loading aircraft with a twin T-tail assembly is provided. In one example embodiment, the aft-loading aircraft includes a fuselage portion having an aft opening with a cargo door, a first and second vertical stabilizer attached to the fuselage portion, and, a horizontal stabilizer transversely attached to the first and second vertical stabilizers.

Abstract: An aircraft has at least two rudder units in a non-central arrangement. The rudder units have a profile and are rigidly secured to the aircraft. The profile is adjusted in such a way as to yield an inflow at a positive geometric angle of incidence, so that the profile generates a lift force having a component pointing in the flight direction. This makes it possible to offset a portion of the aircraft drag.

Abstract: An aircraft may include a pair of wings. A forward swept winglet may be attached proximate to a wing tip of each wing. The forward swept winglet may include a leading edge and a trailing edge. The leading edge of each winglet may extend from the wing at a predetermined forward sweep angle relative to a line perpendicular to a chord of the wing tip in a direction corresponding to a forward portion of the aircraft.

Abstract: An airplane comprises a twin-deck fuselage in which an upper deck support structure is utilized for carry-through of a mid-mount main wing box. The main landing gear of the airplane is mounted to the fuselage and is stowed in a non-pressurized area below the main wing box (enabled due to an optimized wing box geometry). A pressurized passageway/cargo/galley complex separates the main landing gear box and the main wing box. The upper deck is continuous, while the lower deck is separated by the wheel wells into two distinct fore and aft areas (for either cargo or passengers). The airplane further comprises an integrated vertical fin and an aft-extended pressurized deck area for reduced double-deck wetted area. More specifically, the double-deck pressurized fuselage structure is extended to form a blending structure to which a structural box of the vertical fin is attached.

Abstract: An aircraft can include a tail section and a stabilizing system coupled to the tail section. The stabilizing system has a vertical stabilizer and at least one strake that cooperate to generate forces that compensate for a reaction torque generated by a main lifting rotor that produces lifting forces when the aircraft is in flight. Methods for improving aircraft performance include installing the at least one strake and retrofitting of a vertical stabilizer to increase thrust forces produced by a tail rotor.

Abstract: A vortex generator, or an array of vortex generators, for attenuating flow separation during flow of fluid over a surface. Vortex generators include a base with a forward end and a leading edge extending outward and rearward from the forward end to an outward end. The leading edge includes a first angular discontinuity at a height H1 above the base, and a second angular discontinuity at a height H2 above the base. The vortex generator(s) are configured for generating, adjacent a surface, at least two (2) vortices V1 and V2 in a fluid, and turning the outermost generated vortice toward the surface over which the fluid is passing.

Abstract: An aircraft has a vertical fin fastened to the rear and above a fuselage of elongated form, essentially in a vertical plane of symmetry of the aircraft. The vertical fin has at least two stable positions, an extended position and a returned position, such that a surface of the vertical fin, subjected to an aerodynamic flow when the aircraft is in flight, is modified in position or in surface between the returned position and the extended position, so that the aerodynamic drag of the vertical fin is reduced in the returned position under given flight conditions compared to the extended position. The change from one surface to another of the vertical fin is accomplished by modifying the geometry of the vertical fin or by displacing the vertical fin relative to the fuselage so that the vertical fin, for example, is more or less inside the fuselage, or more or less immersed in the wake zone of the fuselage in which the local dynamic pressure Pd is reduced relative to the infinitely upstream dynamic pressure Pd0.

Abstract: An aircraft can include a tail section and a stabilizing system coupled to the tail section. The stabilizing system has a vertical stabilizer and at least one strake that cooperate to generate forces that compensate for a reaction torque generated by a main lifting rotor that produces lifting forces when the aircraft is in flight. Methods for improving aircraft performance include installing the at least one strake and retrofitting of a vertical stabilizer to increase thrust forces produced by a tail rotor.

Abstract: Control surface assemblies have a torque tube base. In one embodiment, a method includes moving an aerospace vehicle through a medium; and moving at least a portion of a control surface assembly to generate a force for controlling the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and device for determining critical buffeting loads on a structure of an aircraft is disclosed. The device (1) comprises means (2, UC) implementing a semi-empirical method for determining the critical loads generated by some buffeting on the structure of the airplane.

Abstract: An aircraft can include a tail section and a stabilizing system coupled to the tail section. The stabilizing system has a vertical stabilizer and at least one strake that cooperate to generate forces that compensate for a reaction torque generated by a main lifting rotor that produces lifting forces when the aircraft is in flight. Methods for improving aircraft performance include installing the at least one strake and retrofitting of a vertical stabilizer to increase thrust forces produced by a tail rotor.

Abstract: A stabilizing and directional-control surface of an aircraft includes a vertical stabilizer and a rudder that deflects relative to the vertical stabilizer. The rudder includes an internal profile that is extendable and retractable by an actuating system. An aerodynamic control surface area of the rudder is increased when the internal profile of the rudder is extended as compared to the aerodynamic control surface area of the rudder when the internal profile of the rudder is retracted.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a structure having a first side, a second side substantially opposite to the first side, a flexible skin, and a plurality of deformable assemblies. The flexible skin is attached to the first side and the second side of the structure. The plurality of deformable assemblies is moveably connected to the structure, in which each deformable assembly in the plurality of deformable assemblies has a vertex and a base. The each deformable assembly in the plurality of deformable assemblies has a height that is capable of changing to change a shape of the structure and a shape of the flexible skin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control surface (3) for an aerodynamic lifting surface (2) of aircraft comprising a main closing rib (9) located at one end of the control surface (3) to which a main torsion bar (8) is joined, the mentioned torsion bar (8) being joined at its other end to a lever system (14) on which at least one actuator (15) acts, such that it is possible to act on the rotation of the mentioned control surface (3) during the flight of the aircraft. The invention also relates to an actuation method for actuating such a control surface (3).

Abstract: A forebody flow control system and more particularly to aircraft or missile flow control systems for enhanced maneuverability and stabilization at high angles of attack. The present invention further relates to a method of operating the flow control system. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a missile or aircraft comprising an afterbody and a forebody; at least one flow effector on the missile or aircraft forebody; at least one sensor having a signal associated therewith, the at least one sensor being positioned to detect flow separation on the missile or aircraft forebody; and a closed loop control system; wherein the closed loop control system is used for activating and deactivating the at least one flow effector based on at least in part the signal of the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A flying object wing has a leading edge and a trailing edge and an upper and a lower surface between the edges. A portion between the leading edge and trailing edge provides an upper surface which has a curved shape. From the leading part of the upper surface towards the mid part of the surface there is a concave shape. The lower surface has a curved shape such that from the leading part of the upper surface towards the mid part of the surface there is a convex shape. A transverse aperture in the surfaces of the wing accommodates a propeller for creating thrust for forward flight. The blades of the propeller turn in a plane transverse to a line between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the surface.

Abstract: An aircraft tail assembly planform comprising curvilinear leading edges (21) and trailing edges (22), with an aircraft tail assembly configuration in which the hinge line (13) is rectilinear and has a non-constant percentage with respect to the chord (50) in each section (51), being the front (11) and rear (12) spars rectilinear with a non-constant percentage with respect to the chord (50) in each section (51), or being these spars (11, 12) curvilinear with a constant or non-constant percentage with respect to the chord (50) in each section (51).

Abstract: A monomolecular carbon-based film can be placed on an aircraft part, such as the leading edge designed to directly impinge against air during flight, ascent or descent, in order to form a smooth surface having increased lubricity and reduced air friction. The aircraft part may be in the form of a helicopter rotor, wing, propeller, fin, aileron, nose cone, and the like. The monomolecular carbon-based film can be deposited on the aircraft part, for example, using a reactor that includes a bed of silica and through which emissions from a diesel engine are passed. The monomolecular carbon-based film decreases air friction and increased lift of a modified aircraft that includes an aircraft part treated with the film. It also provides a structured shock absorber.

Abstract: A monomolecular carbon-based film can be placed on an aircraft part, such as the leading edge designed to directly impinge against air during flight, ascent or descent, in order to form a smooth surface having increased lubricity and reduced air friction. The aircraft part may be in the form of a helicopter rotor, wing, propeller, fin, aileron, nose cone, and the like. The monomolecular carbon-based film can be deposited on the aircraft part, for example, using a reactor that includes a bed of silica and through which emissions from a diesel engine are passed. The monomolecular carbon-based film decreases air friction and increased lift of a modified aircraft that includes an aircraft part treated with the film.

Abstract: An aircraft has a vertical fin fastened to the rear and above a fuselage of elongated form, essentially in a vertical plane of symmetry of the aircraft. The vertical fin has at least two stable positions, an extended position and a returned position, such that a surface of the vertical fin, subjected to an aerodynamic flow when the aircraft is in flight, is modified in position or in surface between the returned position and the extended position, so that the aerodynamic drag of the vertical fin is reduced in the returned position under given flight conditions compared to the extended position. The change from one surface to another of the vertical fin is accomplished by modifying the geometry of the vertical fin or by displacing the vertical fin relative to the fuselage so that the vertical fin, for example, is more or less inside the fuselage, or more or less immersed in the wake zone of the fuselage in which the local dynamic pressure Pd is reduced relative to the infinitely upstream dynamic pressure Pd0.