A breakaway support configured to selectively release an actuator from a fitting and a method of providing the breakaway support. The breakaway support includes a race positioned between the actuator and the fitting. The second end of the actuator is connected to the fitting via a ball joint is positioned within the race. The ball joint permits the actuator to pivot about the ball joint in a vertical plane between a first position and a second position. The breakaway support includes a first knuckle that causes the actuator to release from the fitting when the actuator moves in a first direction beyond the first position. A portion of the fitting or a second knuckle may cause the actuator to release from the fitting when the actuator moves in a second direction beyond the second position. A portion of the actuator may break to release the actuator from the fitting.

A multi-disk brake system comprises an electrical generator disposed therein. The electrical generator is configured to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. The mechanical energy may be generated during a braking event of the multi-disk brake system. The electric generator may power various electrical components on the aircraft or store the electrical energy in a capacitor bank. The electric generator may also act as a motor and/or power a landing gear in a motor configuration.

A ground effect craft having a ground effect wing, a plurality of sponsons, and a control system is disclosed. The ground effect wing may include a fore ground effect wing and an aft ground effect wing. The ground effect wing may generate a stabilizing moment on at least one sponson to stabilize the ground effect craft. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to the body. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to each other. The dynamic coupling may permit the sponsons to move relatively independent of the body and each other, thereby stabilizing the ground effect craft. The ground effect craft may include a stabilizing wing.

A ground effect craft having a ground effect wing, a plurality of sponsons, and a control system is disclosed. The ground effect wing may include a fore ground effect wing and an aft ground effect wing. The ground effect wing may generate a stabilizing moment on at least one sponson to stabilize the ground effect craft. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to the body. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to each other. The dynamic coupling may permit the sponsons to move relatively independent of the body and each other, thereby stabilizing the ground effect craft. The ground effect craft may include a stabilizing wing.

A retainer for connecting two panels of a heat shield assembly, the retainer comprising: a central elongate panel having a length l and a width w, a top end, a bottom end and first and second long sides extending from the top end to the bottom end; a first side panel extending along the first long side of the central elongate panel and a second side panel extending along the second long side of the central elongate panel; a first U-shaped fold joining the central elongate panel first long side to the first side panel, and a second U-shaped fold joining the second long side to the second side panel.

Methods and systems are provided that facilitate the maintenance of levered landing gears by monitoring the condition of the stop pads of such landing gears. One embodiment provides for calibrating a sensor for measuring a condition of a stop joint formed by a first stop pad and a second stop pad of a levered landing gear against a nominal condition of at least one of the first stop pad and the second stop pad; monitoring, by the sensor, a current condition of the at least one of the first stop pad and the second stop pad from the nominal condition; determining whether a non-conformance from the nominal condition of the at least one of the first stop pad and the second stop pad has been detected by the sensor for the current condition; and in response to determining that the non-conformance has been detected, generating an alert.

A vehicle includes a fuselage having a longitudinal axis and a propulsion system that is coupled to the fuselage. The vehicle also includes a pair of articulated appendages that is coupled to the fuselage. Each one of the articulated appendages includes a plurality of airfoil segments and is moveable between a ground configuration, in which each one of the pair of articulated appendages supports the vehicle during takeoff or landing of the vehicle, and a flight configuration, in which each one of the pair of articulated appendages produces lift during flight of the vehicle.

A bracket manifold for a landing gear assembly is disclosed. In various embodiments, the bracket manifold includes a mounting plate having a central portion and a first wing portion extending from the central portion; and a first manifold section integrated monolithically into at least one of the central portion and the first wing portion of the mounting plate.

A pin assembly for insertion into a pin joint of an aircraft landing gear is disclosed. The pin assembly includes a reservoir for storing a lubricating agent and a piston mounted for reciprocal movement within the reservoir, the piston dividing the reservoir into a first chamber and a second chamber. A bi-directional flow path between the first and second chambers via the surface to be lubricated is provided by means of a first bi-directional flow path between the first chamber and the exterior of the pin assembly and a second bi-directional flow path between the second chamber and the exterior of the pin assembly. A pin assembly including an indicator system, and a pin insert in the form of a replaceable cartridge is also disclosed along with associated methods.

A sensor network for use in an aircraft, including a plurality of wireless nodes. A first wireless node of the plurality of wireless nodes is arranged to communicate with at least one other wireless node of the plurality of wireless nodes. The communication is via a secure communications channel and is on the basis of a control message received at the first wireless node. The at least one other wireless node is arranged to perform an operation on the basis of the control message.