A propulsion system for an aircraft includes an electric propulsion engine configured to be mounted at an aft end of the aircraft. The electric propulsion engine includes an electric motor and a fan rotatable about a central axis, the fan driven by the electric motor. The electric propulsion system additionally includes a cooling system operable with an airflow over the aft end the aircraft when the electric propulsion system is mounted to the aircraft. The cooling system is configured to cool the electric motor during operation of the electric propulsion engine.

An aeronautical apparatus is disclosed that has two pairs of wings: an aft pair and a fore pair. Each wing has a thrust-angle motor. An assembly is coupled to each thrust-angle motor. Assemblies coupled to the wings have a propeller motor with a propeller and a control surface. The control surface provides lift when in forward flight. In vertical flight or hovering, the control surface, if it remains fixed with respect to the fuselage, i.e., in the position which provides lift in forward flight, produces significant drag. However, by rotating the control surfaces with the propeller motor, the drag from the control surfaces is significantly reduced. The control surfaces are outboard the propellers in some embodiments and inboard in others. In the latter case, the control surface is part of the trailing edge of the wing.

An aeronautical apparatus is disclosed that has two pairs of wings: an aft pair and a fore pair. Each wing has a thrust-angle motor. An assembly is coupled to each thrust-angle motor. Assemblies coupled to the wings have a propeller motor with a propeller and a control surface. The control surface provides lift when in forward flight. In vertical flight or hovering, the control surface, if it remains fixed with respect to the fuselage, i.e., in the position which provides lift in forward flight, produces significant drag. However, by rotating the control surfaces with the propeller motor, the drag from the control surfaces is significantly reduced. The control surfaces are outboard the propellers in some embodiments and inboard in others. In the latter case, the control surface is part of the trailing edge of the wing.

A structure having a panel, a stringer, and a rib is disclosed. The stringer includes a stringer flange that is joined to the panel and a stringer web that extends away from the stringer flange. The rib includes a rib web that has first and second faces and a rib foot that has a first rib foot flange that is joined to the stringer web, a second rib foot flange that is joined to the panel and a rib foot web that is joined to the first face of the rib web. The first rib foot flange is connected to the rib foot web by a first corner that includes at least one layer which runs continuously from the first rib foot flange into the rib foot web via the first corner. The second rib foot flange is connected to the rib foot web by a second corner that includes at least one layer which runs continuously from the second rib foot flange into the rib foot web via the second corner.

A structure having a panel, a stringer, and a rib is disclosed. The stringer includes a stringer flange that is joined to the panel and a stringer web that extends away from the stringer flange. The rib includes a rib web that has first and second faces and a rib foot that has a first rib foot flange that is joined to the stringer web, a second rib foot flange that is joined to the panel and a rib foot web that is joined to the first face of the rib web. The first rib foot flange is connected to the rib foot web by a first corner that includes at least one layer which runs continuously from the first rib foot flange into the rib foot web via the first corner. The second rib foot flange is connected to the rib foot web by a second corner that includes at least one layer which runs continuously from the second rib foot flange into the rib foot web via the second corner.

A drogue for stabilizing a load suspended from a carrier may include a sidewall comprising a sheet material. The sheet material defines a perimeter edge having a coupling portion and leading edge, where the coupling portion has a trailing edge opposing the leading edge, and a side edge extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The drogue also includes a coupling element configured to detachably connect the trailing edge and the side edge to a load having a load surface and an opposing bottom surface, wherein the sidewall is positioned below the bottom surface of the load when so detachably connected.

A multi-layer film adhesive for reducing squeeze out in a bonded joint is provided. The multi-layer film adhesive has a first adhesive layer having a first chemical property. The multi-layer film adhesive further has a second adhesive layer having a second chemical property, wherein the second chemical property is different from the first chemical property. The multi-layer film adhesive further has a third adhesive layer having a third chemical property, wherein the third chemical property is different from the first and second chemical properties. The first adhesive layer, the second adhesive layer, and the third adhesive layer form the multi-layer film adhesive.

A brace (200) for geometrically interlocking stringer pairs A of first stringers (106), coupled to a first panel (102), and stringer pairs B of second stringers (108), coupled to a second panel (104), of a structure (100). The brace (200) comprises a chassis (202) comprising first interlocks (204) and second interlocks (206) opposite the first interlocks (204). The first interlocks (204) geometrically engage with one of the stringer pairs A of the first stringers (106) and the second interlocks (206) geometrically engage with one of the stringer pairs B of the second stringers (108) to constrain the brace (200) in all directions along a plane (112) perpendicular to the first stringers (106) and the second stringers (108).

An upper joint of a wing assembly of an aircraft includes an outboard upper wing panel, a center upper wing panel, a rib, and an upper joint assembly operatively interconnecting the outboard upper wing panel, the center upper wing panel, and the rib. For a substantial fore/aft span of the upper joint, a first subset of a plurality of center upper stringers is operatively coupled to the upper joint assembly, and a second subset of the plurality of center upper stringers terminates without being directly coupled to the upper joint assembly.

There is provided a multi-layer adhesive for reducing squeeze out. The multi-layer adhesive comprises a first adhesive layer having a first adhesive property and a second adhesive layer having a second adhesive property. The second adhesive property is different from the first adhesive property. The first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer form a film adhesive. In another embodiment, there is provided a structure comprising a first component and a second component bonded with the multi-layer adhesive.