An aircraft windshield wiper system includes a wiper arm, a wiper blade coupled to a distal end of the wiper arm, and a drive shaft coupled to a proximal end of the wiper arm. The wiper blade is configured to clean water, dirt, and other debris from the windshield of the aircraft. The drive shaft is configured to rotate and cause the wiper arm with the coupled wiper blade to sweep across the windshield. The wiper arm includes both composite and metal components to reduce the weight of the windshield wiper system while also providing lightning strike protection.

Aspects of this disclosure relate to a custom aircraft door mounting system that employs a vertical rolling motion enabled assembly, comprising: a first fitting configured to be mounted to an overhead structure of an aircraft, the first fitting including a cam follower slot formed within the first fitting; an elastomeric bearing pivotally coupled to a second fitting; and a cam follower coupled to the elastomeric bearing, the cam follower being configured to slide vertically within the cam follower slot to accommodate relative motion between the second fitting and the overhead structure of the aircraft.

A method, comprising: providing a light source, a high contrast providing object, and an image acquisition device; emitting a light beam from the light source through the high contrast providing object, a transparent object and a surface of the transparent object toward the image acquisition device; exposing the surface of the transparent object to icing conditions such that a layer of ice is formed by ice accretion on the surface, wherein the light beam traverses the layer of ice after having traversed the transparent object; acquiring a series of images over time of the high contrast providing object using the image acquisition device; determining blur occurring in the series of images over the time; and quantifying the loss of visibility over the time through the transparent object on the basis of the determined blur.

There is disclosed an emergency door positionable in an exit opening of an aircraft. The door has door supports mountable to the lower wall and each having a pivot point. A first pivot axis is defined between the pivot points. A block is mountable to the lower wall and is offset from a center of the lower wall. A door body is mountable within the opening to the door supporting structure and pivotally mountable to the door supports. The door body is pivotable about the first pivot axis from an initial position in which the door body is within the opening, until the door body is disengaged from the door supports. A bottom portion of the door body abuts against the block to define a removal pivot point. The door body is pivotable about the removal pivot point to remove the door body from the exit opening.

A method for installing a replacement electrical heat sensor in a heatable aircraft window laminate structure comprising the steps of: drilling a blind hole in the edge of the window laminate; routing a channel in the edge of the window laminate from the blind hole to a terminal block of an originally installed heat sensor; inserting the replacement heat sensor into the hole; filling the hole with a material to seal the hole and the heat sensor from contamination; heating the window laminate; photographing the window laminate using an infrared camera to determine uniformity of heat distribution; placing a heated plate against the exterior surface of the window laminate directly over the position of the replacement heat sensor; measuring an electrical resistance of the replacement heat sensor to confirm proper operation of the replacement heat sensor.

A door arrangement for an aircraft comprising a door designed to close an aperture in an outer skin of the aircraft, and a articulated arm which is fixed by a first end to the door and which is designed to move the door in at least two translational directions and at least two rotational directions. An aircraft area with this door arrangement and an aircraft having such an aircraft area are furthermore provided. The aircraft area comprises a door aperture arranged in an outer skin of an aircraft, and a door arrangement. Here the door of the door arrangement may be designed to close the door aperture from an inside of the outer skin, and the articulated arm of the door arrangement may be fixed to the aircraft area.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for selectively locking and unlocking a passenger door. The apparatus includes a first shaft, having a first longitudinal centerline, and a member, connected to the first shaft. A handle is connected to the first shaft via the member, the handle being movable via rotation of the first shaft from a locked position and an unlocked position. A first protrusion extends from the handle and a latch crank is connected to the second shaft. A second protrusion extends from the latch crank and a linkage is connected between the latch crank and the member. When the handle in the locked position, the first protrusion is positioned adjacent to the second protrusion to prevent rotation of the second shaft. When the handle is in the unlocked position, the first protrusion is positioned away from the second protrusion to enable the second shaft to rotate.

Disclosed herein is a VTOL tilt-wing aircraft that serves as a 4-6 passenger airliner for scheduled service between city centers and that is optimized for travel distances from 100-500 miles fully loaded with passengers and fuel. The VTOL aircraft solves technical, cost, and time problems inherent in other forms of transportation, including, but not limited to, rail, passenger airlines, and helicopters. The VTOL aircraft (1) takes off and lands like a helicopter, (2) flies fast like a jet, and (3) costs less than or comparable to a helicopter.

Disclosed herein is a VTOL tilt-wing aircraft that serves as a 4-6 passenger airliner for scheduled service between city centers and that is optimized for travel distances from 100-500 miles fully loaded with passengers and fuel. The VTOL aircraft solves technical, cost, and time problems inherent in other forms of transportation, including, but not limited to, rail, passenger airlines, and helicopters. The VTOL aircraft (1) takes off and lands like a helicopter, (2) flies fast like a jet, and (3) costs less than or comparable to a helicopter.

A handle assembly for an access panel is described and includes a center body portion; first and second handles rotatably connected to the center body portion such that the handles are rotatable toward each other to a first position and away from each other to a second position; and a gear assembly for connecting the first and second handles to the center body portion.