A thin-skin support member is provided. The thin-skin support member may include a semi-circular edge and a flat edge that define a hollow cavity. A cylindrical cavity may be adjacent the hollow cavity and at least partially defined by the semi-circular edge. The cylindrical cavity may be configured to retain a strut assembly. A mounting interface may be coupled to the semi-circular edge and the flat edge. A torsion interface may be disposed adjacent the cylindrical cavity and configured to receive a torsion link. The thin-skin support member may be made using additive manufacturing and thus may have a grain structure grown in the direction of material being added.

A thin-skin support member is provided. The thin-skin support member may include a semi-circular edge and a flat edge that define a hollow cavity. A cylindrical cavity may be adjacent the hollow cavity and at least partially defined by the semi-circular edge. The cylindrical cavity may be configured to retain a strut assembly. A mounting interface may be coupled to the semi-circular edge and the flat edge. A torsion interface may be disposed adjacent the cylindrical cavity and configured to receive a torsion link. The thin-skin support member may be made using additive manufacturing and thus may have a grain structure grown in the direction of material being added.

A thin-skin support member is provided. The thin-skin support member may include a semi-circular edge and a flat edge that define a hollow cavity. A cylindrical cavity may be adjacent the hollow cavity and at least partially defined by the semi-circular edge. The cylindrical cavity may be configured to retain a strut assembly. A mounting interface may be coupled to the semi-circular edge and the flat edge. A torsion interface may be disposed adjacent the cylindrical cavity and configured to receive a torsion link. The thin-skin support member may be made using additive manufacturing and thus may have a grain structure grown in the direction of material being added.

A thin-skin support member is provided. The thin-skin support member may include a semi-circular edge and a flat edge that define a hollow cavity. A cylindrical cavity may be adjacent the hollow cavity and at least partially defined by the semi-circular edge. The cylindrical cavity may be configured to retain a strut assembly. A mounting interface may be coupled to the semi-circular edge and the flat edge. A torsion interface may be disposed adjacent the cylindrical cavity and configured to receive a torsion link. The thin-skin support member may be made using additive manufacturing and thus may have a grain structure grown in the direction of material being added.

An aircraft landing gear longitudinal force control system for an aircraft having landing gears with braking and/or driving wheel(s). The system includes an error-based force controller having feedback for minimising any error between the demanded force and the actual force achieved by the force control system. The feedback may be derived from force sensors on the landing gear for direct measurement of the landing gear longitudinal force. The force control system may include an aircraft level landing gear total force controller and/or a landing gear level force controller for each actuated landing gear.

Systems and methods for mechanically rotating an aircraft about its center-of-gravity (C.sub.G) are disclosed. The system can enable the rear, or main, landing gear to squat, while the nose landing gear raises to generate a positive pitch angle for the aircraft for takeoff or landing. The system can also enable the nose gear and main gear to return to a relatively level fuselage attitude for ground operations. The system can include one or more hydraulically linked hydraulic cylinders to control the overall height of the nose gear and the main gear. Because the hydraulic cylinders are linked, a change on the length of the nose cylinder generates a proportional, and opposite, change in the length of the main cylinder, and vice-versa. A method and control system for monitoring and controlling the relative positions of the nose gear and main gear is also disclosed.

A heat shield for a wheel is disclosed. A torque bar may be used to mount the heat shield to the wheel, and includes a connector in the form of a stem and a head. A stiffening or reinforcement plate is mounted to the heat shield with a torque bar mounting aperture extending through the reinforcement plate being disposed about at least part of a torque bar mounting aperture extending through the heat shield. The torque bar mounting aperture of the reinforcement plate is disposed/configured such that the head of the torque bar may be disposed in overlying relation to portions of an outer surface of the heat shield that are on opposite sides of the torque bar mounting aperture through the heat shield that are exposed by the torque bar mounting aperture through the reinforcement plate.

Nose landing gear arrangements for aircrafts, aircrafts including such nose landing gear arrangements, and methods for making such nose landing gear arrangements are provided. In one example, a nose landing gear arrangement includes a wheel assembly and a main strut. The main strut is operatively coupled to the wheel assembly and is configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position. The main strut in the extended position extends outside of the fuselage substantially along a generally vertical plane to position the wheel assembly for takeoff and/or landing of the aircraft. The main strut in the retracted position is disposed inside the fuselage. A flexible sheet is disposed adjacent to the main strut and is configured such that when the main strut is in the extended position the flexible sheet is positioned substantially around the main strut.

A differential pressure sensor system for use in an aircraft comprises a differential pressure sensor for determining a differential pressure between a pressurizable aircraft cabin and an aircraft environment, the differential pressure sensor having a first port connectable to the pressurizable aircraft cabin via a first line and a second port connectable to the aircraft environment via a second line. A shut-off device of the differential pressure sensor system is arranged in the second line which is switchable between an open position in which it opens the second line, such that a pressure prevailing in the aircraft environment acts on the second port of the differential pressure sensor, and a shut-off position in which it closes the second line, such that the second port of the differential pressure sensor is shut off from the pressure prevailing in the aircraft environment.

Disclosed herein are a vehicle system and method for VTOL. The vehicle system includes: a carrier vehicle and a cruise vehicle. The carrier vehicle includes one or more fuselages, one or more wings, one or more attach units coupled to the one or more fuselages or to the one or more wings, and propulsion systems operable to provide, at least, substantially vertical thrust and substantially horizontal thrust. The cruise vehicle includes one or more fuselages for carrying passengers or cargo and one or more wings. The one or more attach units of the carrier vehicle are adapted to couple to the cruise vehicle to detachably engage.