A cargo aircraft configured to carry a portion of its payload in a cargo bay volume enclosed by a moveable nose door and supported by a structural extension of the fuselage that extends forward into the moveable nose door is disclosed. Examples include an aircraft with a continuous cargo bay extending from an aft end of a fixed portion into forward portion inside a nose door, where the portion of the cargo bay in the nose door is supported by a cantilevered support structure extending forward a length from a cargo opening into the fixed portion and such that the support structure extends into the nose door when the door is closed. The length of the support structure defines a supported cargo volume of at least about 15% of the overall volume of the fuselage forward of an aft end of the support structure.

A cargo aircraft configured to carry a portion of its payload in a cargo bay volume enclosed by a moveable nose door and supported by a structural extension of the fuselage that extends forward into the moveable nose door is disclosed. Examples include an aircraft with a continuous cargo bay extending from an aft end of a fixed portion into forward portion inside a nose door, where the portion of the cargo bay in the nose door is supported by a cantilevered support structure extending forward a length from a cargo opening into the fixed portion and such that the support structure extends into the nose door when the door is closed. The length of the support structure defines a supported cargo volume of at least about 15% of the overall volume of the fuselage forward of an aft end of the support structure.

Examples include a cargo container for carrying items in an aircraft. The cargo container includes a first sidewall including a first length and a second sidewall including a second length extending transversely from the first sidewall. The first length is greater than the second length. The cargo container further includes a base sidewall extending from the first sidewall and the second sidewall, where the base sidewall is configured to support the cargo container on a cargo support surface of the aircraft. The cargo container further includes a lid configured to couple to the first sidewall, the second sidewall, or the base sidewall to at least partially cover a cavity formed by the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the base sidewall.

Examples include a cargo container for carrying items in an aircraft. The cargo container includes a first sidewall including a first length and a second sidewall including a second length extending transversely from the first sidewall. The first length is greater than the second length. The cargo container further includes a base sidewall extending from the first sidewall and the second sidewall, where the base sidewall is configured to support the cargo container on a cargo support surface of the aircraft. The cargo container further includes a lid configured to couple to the first sidewall, the second sidewall, or the base sidewall to at least partially cover a cavity formed by the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the base sidewall.

The invention relates to a payload monitoring system of an aircraft, wherein the system comprises at least one storage area (26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 38, 42) for a payload and at least one pressure sensor (10), wherein the at least one sensor (10) is configured to detect a weight force and its center of gravity of payload resting on the storage area (26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 38, 42). Furthermore, the invention relates to an aircraft and a method for operating an aircraft.

The invention relates to a payload monitoring system of an aircraft, wherein the system comprises at least one storage area (26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 38, 42) for a payload and at least one pressure sensor (10), wherein the at least one sensor (10) is configured to detect a weight force and its center of gravity of payload resting on the storage area (26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 38, 42). Furthermore, the invention relates to an aircraft and a method for operating an aircraft.

A cargo deck for an aircraft having a center plane extending centrally along a longitudinal direction of the cargo deck. The cargo deck includes one or more perforated rails spaced apart from the center plane. The perforated rails may be arranged parallel to the center plane. The cargo deck may also include one or more roller tracks and/or fitting elements arranged relative to the center plane. The cargo deck may also include a one or more center guide locks having one or more guide claws.

Walking VTOL vehicles and related systems and methods are disclosed. A representative system can include one or more vertical thrust propulsion systems for providing vertical thrust for the vehicle, one or more horizontal thrust propulsion systems for providing horizontal thrust for the vehicle, and leg elements that are rotatable between a first configuration in which each leg element extends downwardly and a second configuration different from the first configuration. A representative method of operating a vehicle includes using vertical thrust to raise the vehicle upward, rotating a leg element forward, lowering the vehicle, and then rotating the leg element rearward to propel the vehicle forward.

Walking VTOL vehicles and related systems and methods are disclosed. A representative system can include one or more vertical thrust propulsion systems for providing vertical thrust for the vehicle, one or more horizontal thrust propulsion systems for providing horizontal thrust for the vehicle, and leg elements that are rotatable between a first configuration in which each leg element extends downwardly and a second configuration different from the first configuration. A representative method of operating a vehicle includes using vertical thrust to raise the vehicle upward, rotating a leg element forward, lowering the vehicle, and then rotating the leg element rearward to propel the vehicle forward.

Disclosed is a take-off and landing station (1) for a flying vehicle (2) for transporting people and/or loads, which flying vehicle takes off and lands vertically and comprises a flight module (3), having a plurality of drive units (17) arranged on a supporting framework structure (16) of the flight module (3), and a transportation module (4), which can be coupled to the flight module (3). The take-off and landing station (1) comprises a holding apparatus (21) having a plurality of gripper elements and support elements (11) for supporting, fixing and/or orienting the supporting framework structure (16) during take-off and landing of the flying vehicle (2) or the flight module (3).