Systems, methods, and aircraft for managing center of gravity (CG) while transporting large cargo are described. Management of CG is achieved in many ways. In some instances, the aircraft itself is designed to assist in managing CG by providing fuel tanks that minimize the impact of fuel on the net CG of the aircraft. The fuel tanks utilize only a small amount of available volume in the wings for fuel. Disclosures related to properly managing CG while loading wind turbines onto cargo aircraft are also provided. The CG management techniques provided for herein allow for the transportation of wind turbine blades via aircraft, running counter to the typical rail or truck transportation of the same. One such management technique includes accounting for how a rotation of the blades when loading impacts the CG of the blades, and thus taking this into account when placing the blades in the aircraft.

A fixed-wing cargo aircraft having a kinked fuselage is disclosed. The fuselage contains a continuous interior cargo bay, and includes a forward portion, an aft portion, and a kinked portion forming a junction in the fuselage between the forward and aft portions. The kinked portion contains a transition region of the cargo bay and defines a bend between a forward centerline and an aft centerline. The kinked portion is formed with a forward transverse frame section, a separate aft transverse frame section, and a plurality of longitudinal frame elements extending between the forward and aft frame sections, the forward frame being coupled to an aft end of the forward portion and the aft frame section being coupled to a forward end of the aft portion such that the aft frame section is angled with respect to the forward frame section about a lateral axis of the cargo aircraft.

A portable wind turbine, consisting primarily of a nacelle with collapsible blades for transportation is provided. Each of these collapsible rotor blades has been designed with an impellor, or propeller, twist. This is typical of wind turbine blades in order to maximize torque and reduce drag during operation, with the exception that said blades also conform to the nacelle's surface, which is one of a solid of revolution shapes, for transportation of the turbine. The described portable wind turbine assembly is accompanied with collapsible mounting apparatus, for internal or external storage to the turbine's nacelle, wholly or partially stored control electronics within the nacelle, as well as an optional energy storage component that is located internally or externally to the turbine's body. This turbine invention can be person-portable, deployed on vehicles, trailers, marine vessels and structures, above water, or used for locations where storm-strength winds are a risk.

The present invention is an improved wind turbine comprising: a wind turbine wheel having a hub, a rim and a cable extending between the hub and the rim; a set of airfoils rotatably carried by the cable and disposed between the hub and the rim; a cinch attached to the cable and disposed between adjacent airfoils; and, an upturned section included in at least one airfoil in the set of airfoils and disposed at a trailing edge of the airfoil wherein each airfoil has a different angle of attack relative to an adjacent airfoil.

Provided is a transport assembly for use in the transport of a large heavy load, including a frame unit realized to lie on a load platform of a transport vehicle; a number of first load-positioning beams, wherein a first load-positioning beam is realized to span a single frame unit; and/or a number of second load-positioning beams, wherein a second load-positioning beam is realized to span a pair of adjacent frame units; and a part adapter realized to engage with a load-positioning beam and to engage with the load. The embodiments further describe a method of securing a large heavy load on a load platform during a transport maneuver.

Systems, methods, and aircraft for managing center of gravity (CG) while transporting large cargo are described. Management of CG is achieved in many ways. In some instances, the aircraft itself is designed to assist in managing CG by providing fuel tanks that minimize the impact of fuel on the net CG of the aircraft. The fuel tanks utilize only a small amount of available volume in the wings for fuel. Disclosures related to properly managing CG while loading wind turbines onto cargo aircraft are also provided. The CG management techniques provided for herein allow for the transportation of wind turbine blades via aircraft, running counter to the typical rail or truck transportation of the same. One such management technique includes accounting for how a rotation of the blades when loading impacts the CG of the blades, and thus taking this into account when placing the blades in the aircraft.

Systems and methods for loading a cargo aircraft are described. The system includes at least one rail disposed in an interior cargo bay of a cargo aircraft that extends at an angle relative to an interior bottom contact surface of a forward portion of the interior cargo bay, through a kinked portion and an aft portion of the interior cargo bay. Payload-receiving fixtures are described that can be used in conjunction with the rail system, allowing for large cargo, such as wind turbine blades, to be transported by aircraft. Methods of loading a cargo aircraft can include advancing the large payload into the interior cargo bay of the aircraft such that at least one of the payload-receiving fixtures rises relative to a plane defined by the interior bottom contact surface of the forward portion of the interior cargo bay. Various systems, methods, components, and related tooling are also provided.

A bracket assembly for securing a tower section to a deck includes a lower support bracket, columns, and a pair of upper upper support brackets, which all have vertical plates with circular apertures. Each circular aperture spans at least two tower flange bolt holes. Attachment yokes are inserted into the circular apertures, and each have at least two bolt apertures, which match the bolt holes size and spacing. The yokes are rotated to align the holes for insertion of bolts. Specific yokes are provided to fit various tower sizes. The brackets can be stacked, and the yoke arrangement substantially reduces bolt torque requirements.

A root portion for a wind turbine blade includes a coupling flange configured for coupling the root portion to a hub of the wind turbine. At least one support element is fixedly attached directly to the coupling flange and defines a support plane for contacting a transport or storing surface. The at least one support element includes a block member having an arcuate inner surface that conforms to and is affixed directly to an outer circumference of the coupling flange, and an opposite outer surface that defines the support plane.

The offshore jack-up has a hull and a plurality of moveable legs engageable with the seafloor. The offshore jack-up is arranged to move the legs with respect to the hull to position the hull out of the water. The method comprises moving at least a portion of a vessel underneath the hull of the offshore jack-up or within a cut-out of the hull when the hull is positioned out of the water and the legs engage the seafloor. A stabilizing mechanism mounted on the jack-up is engaged against the vessel. The stabilizing mechanism is pushed down on the vessel to increase the buoyant force acting on the vessel.