A ducted fan housing for directing a duct flow includes an annular cowling and an adjustable fan duct nozzle. The nozzle includes a flexible sleeve having rigid areas arranged circumferentially around the nozzle orifice and connected by flexible areas so as to form a unitary sleeve structure. The rigid areas are radially moveable between a normal configuration in which the orifice is smaller and a dilated configuration in which the orifice is larger. A drive mechanism uses drive elements to move at least some of the rigid areas between the configurations to adjust the size of the orifice. The rigid areas may be constructed from laminated graphite and epoxy, and the flexible areas may be constructed from laminated graphite and soft resin. If the housing includes a thrust reverser, then a flexible joint area extends circumferentially around the housing and connects the flexible sleeve to a thrust reverser cowl.

A ducted fan housing for directing a duct flow includes an annular cowling and an adjustable fan duct nozzle. The nozzle includes a flexible sleeve having rigid areas arranged circumferentially around the nozzle orifice and connected by flexible areas so as to form a unitary sleeve structure. The rigid areas are radially moveable between a normal configuration in which the orifice is smaller and a dilated configuration in which the orifice is larger. A drive mechanism uses drive elements to move at least some of the rigid areas between the configurations to adjust the size of the orifice. The rigid areas may be constructed from laminated graphite and epoxy, and the flexible areas may be constructed from laminated graphite and soft resin. If the housing includes a thrust reverser, then a flexible joint area extends circumferentially around the housing and connects the flexible sleeve to a thrust reverser cowl.

Systems and methods for expanding an operating speed range of a high speed flight vehicle include providing an engine with an inlet air duct, and positioning a heat exchanger in the inlet air duct to cool at least a portion of duct air flow associated with an engine core. Additionally or alternatively, a nozzle assembly includes a cowl fluidly communicating with the engine and having a cowl internal surface defining a cowl orifice, and a plug defines a primary thrust surface. The plug is supported relative to the cowl so that a portion of the primary thrust surface is disposed within the cowl orifice to define a throat therebetween. An actuator is coupled to at least one of the cowl or the plug, and is configured to generate relative movement between the cowl and the plug, thereby to modify the throat.

Systems and methods for expanding an operating speed range of a high speed flight vehicle include providing an engine with an inlet air duct, and positioning a heat exchanger in the inlet air duct to cool at least a portion of duct air flow associated with an engine core. Additionally or alternatively, a nozzle assembly includes a cowl fluidly communicating with the engine and having a cowl internal surface defining a cowl orifice, and a plug defines a primary thrust surface. The plug is supported relative to the cowl so that a portion of the primary thrust surface is disposed within the cowl orifice to define a throat therebetween. An actuator is coupled to at least one of the cowl or the plug, and is configured to generate relative movement between the cowl and the plug, thereby to modify the throat.

A nacelle of an aircraft turbofan engine including an air inlet upstream from the engine, a median section configured to surround a fan of the engine and delimited on the outside by a fan cowl supported by a fan housing to which it is attached at the upstream portion, a downstream section delimiting an annular flow path in which the air is configured to flow and housing thrust reversal devices, the thrust reversal approach including a movable cowl associated with at least one actuator for moving the movable cowl between a direct jet position, in which it provides the aerodynamic continuity of the nacelle and an indirect jet position in which it opens up a passage in the nacelle by uncovering cascade vanes arranged around this flow path that receive the cold air flow to return it towards the outside and forwards, the cascade vanes being attached to the movable cowl.

A nacelle of an aircraft turbofan engine including an air inlet upstream from the engine, a median section configured to surround a fan of the engine and delimited on the outside by a fan cowl supported by a fan housing to which it is attached at the upstream portion, a downstream section delimiting an annular flow path in which the air is configured to flow and housing thrust reversal devices, the thrust reversal approach including a movable cowl associated with at least one actuator for moving the movable cowl between a direct jet position, in which it provides the aerodynamic continuity of the nacelle and an indirect jet position in which it opens up a passage in the nacelle by uncovering cascade vanes arranged around this flow path that receive the cold air flow to return it towards the outside and forwards, the cascade vanes being attached to the movable cowl.

A gas turbine engine according to the present disclosure includes, among other things, a propulsor section including a propulsor having a plurality of blades, the plurality of blades having a peak tip radius Rt and an inboard leading edge radius Rh at a first inboard boundary of a first flowpath, and a core engine including a first turbine that drives a first compressor and a second turbine that drives the propulsor section. A second inboard boundary of a core flowpath has a radius R1 defined at a first stage of a second compressor and has a radius R2 defined at a splitter rim that guides flow into the core flowpath.

A gas turbine engine according to the present disclosure includes, among other things, a propulsor section including a propulsor having a plurality of blades, the plurality of blades having a peak tip radius Rt and an inboard leading edge radius Rh at a first inboard boundary of a first flowpath, and a core engine including a first turbine that drives a first compressor and a second turbine that drives the propulsor section. A second inboard boundary of a core flowpath has a radius R1 defined at a first stage of a second compressor and has a radius R2 defined at a splitter rim that guides flow into the core flowpath.

A variable area fan nozzle (VAFN) actuation system is disclosed. The VAFN actuation system is part of an aircraft nacelle, comprising a thrust reverser translating sleeve and a VAFN cowl. The system may translate the VAFN cowl to various positions to optimize engine performance. The system works in two phases. The first phase occurs when the translating sleeve is stowed. During this time, a linear, fluid-pressure VAFN actuator with multiple pistons may translate the VAFN cowl forward and aftward, and hold it in various fixed positions. The second phase occurs when the translating sleeve deploys and then stows. During this time, the actuator may allow the VAFN cowl to travel with the translating sleeve in a controlled manner. When the translating sleeve deploys, the VAFN cowl is pushed aftward by the translating sleeve. When the translating sleeve stows, the VAFN cowl is pulled forward with it.

A variable area fan nozzle (VAFN) actuation system is disclosed. The VAFN actuation system is part of an aircraft nacelle, comprising a thrust reverser translating sleeve and a VAFN cowl. The system may translate the VAFN cowl to various positions to optimize engine performance. The system works in two phases. The first phase occurs when the translating sleeve is stowed. During this time, a linear, fluid-pressure VAFN actuator with multiple pistons may translate the VAFN cowl forward and aftward, and hold it in various fixed positions. The second phase occurs when the translating sleeve deploys and then stows. During this time, the actuator may allow the VAFN cowl to travel with the translating sleeve in a controlled manner. When the translating sleeve deploys, the VAFN cowl is pushed aftward by the translating sleeve. When the translating sleeve stows, the VAFN cowl is pulled forward with it.