A propulsion system for an aircraft is provided having an aft engine configured to be mounted to the aircraft at an aft end of the aircraft. The aft engine includes a fan rotatable about a central axis of the aft engine having a plurality of fan blades. The aft engine also includes a nacelle encircling the plurality of fan blades with one or more structural members extending between the nacelle and the mean line of the aircraft at a location forward of the plurality of fan blades when the aft engine is mounted to the aircraft. The aft engine may increase a net thrust of the aircraft when mounted to the aircraft.

A ram air system includes a bay comprising an exterior wall defining an interior volume that at least partially encloses a ram air duct. The ram air duct includes an outlet configured to discharge an exhaust airflow at a first temperature. At least one of the exterior wall and the ram air duct defines an aperture therein providing for flow communication between the bay interior volume and the exhaust airflow such that cooling air flows from the interior volume to form a boundary layer between the exhaust airflow and the exterior wall downstream of the outlet. The boundary layer is at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.

In order to suppress aeroelastic instabilities on a transonically operating aircraft comprising a pair of wing halves at which a transonic flow forms spatially limited supersonic flow regions that each, in a main flow direction of the flow, end in a compression shock, a boundary layer of the flow is temporarily thickened-up in at least one supersonic flow region at at least one of the two wing halves, when approaching a flight envelope of the aircraft with increasing flight Mach number of the aircraft. The boundary layer of the flow is thickened-up to such an extent that the compression shock at the end of the respective supersonic flow region at the present flight Mach number of the aircraft induces a separation of the boundary layer of the flow from the wing half.

This disclosure generally relates to an automotive drone deployment system that includes at least a vehicle and a deployable drone that is configured to attach and detach from the vehicle. More specifically, the disclosure describes the vehicle and drone remaining in communication with each other to exchange information while the vehicle is being operated in an autonomous driving mode so that the vehicle's performance under the autonomous driving mode is enhanced.

This disclosure generally relates to an automotive drone deployment system that includes at least a vehicle and a deployable drone that is configured to attach and detach from the vehicle. More specifically, the disclosure describes the vehicle and drone remaining in communication with each other to exchange information while the vehicle is being operated in an autonomous driving mode so that the vehicle's performance under the autonomous driving mode is enhanced.

An aircraft is provided including a fuselage and an aft engine. The fuselage defines a top side, a bottom side, and a frustum located proximate an aft end of the aircraft. The frustum defines a top reference line extending along the frustum at a top side of the fuselage, and a bottom reference line extending along the frustum at a bottom side of the fuselage. The top and bottom reference lines meet at a reference point aft of the frustum. The fuselage further defines a recessed portion located aft of the frustum and indented inwardly from the bottom reference line. The aft engine includes a nacelle extending adjacent to the recessed portion of the fuselage such that the aft engine may be included with the aircraft without interfering with, e.g., a takeoff angle of the aircraft.

An aircraft is provided including a fuselage and an aft engine. The fuselage defines a top side, a bottom side, and a frustum located proximate an aft end of the aircraft. The frustum defines a top reference line extending along the frustum at a top side of the fuselage, and a bottom reference line extending along the frustum at a bottom side of the fuselage. The top and bottom reference lines meet at a reference point aft of the frustum. The fuselage further defines a recessed portion located aft of the frustum and indented inwardly from the bottom reference line. The aft engine includes a nacelle extending adjacent to the recessed portion of the fuselage such that the aft engine may be included with the aircraft without interfering with, e.g., a takeoff angle of the aircraft.

An aircraft including a fuselage and an aft engine is provided. The fuselage extends from a forward end of the aircraft towards an aft end of the aircraft. The aft engine is mounted to the fuselage proximate the aft end of the aircraft. The aft engine includes a fan rotatable about a central axis of the aft engine, the fan including a plurality of fan blades. The aft engine also includes a nacelle surrounding the plurality of fan blades and defining an inlet. The inlet defines a non-axis symmetric shape with respect to the central axis of the aft engine to, e.g., allow for a maximum amount of airflow into the aft engine.

A propulsion system for an aircraft is provided having an aft engine configured to be mounted to the aircraft at an aft end of the aircraft. The aft engine includes a fan rotatable about a central axis of the aft engine having a plurality of fan blades. The aft engine also includes a nacelle encircling the plurality of fan blades with one or more structural members extending between the nacelle and the mean line of the aircraft at a location forward of the plurality of fan blades when the aft engine is mounted to the aircraft. The aft engine may increase a net thrust of the aircraft when mounted to the aircraft.

This disclosure generally relates to an automotive drone deployment system that includes at least a vehicle and a deployable drone that is configured to attach and detach from the vehicle. More specifically, the disclosure describes the vehicle and drone remaining in communication with each other to exchange information while the vehicle is being operated in an autonomous driving mode so that the vehicle's performance under the autonomous driving mode is enhanced.