An aircraft joint between overlapping first and second components includes a fastener having a head and a shank, and a fastener retainer fixedly attached to the second component at the overlap region. The fastener retainer has a recess and a through hole. The fastener head is situated in the recess and between the fastener retainer and the second component. The fastener shank extends through the hole in the fastener retainer and into the first component to fasten the first component to the second component. The joint may be between an aircraft wing cover and a wing panel.

Variable angular compression seal assemblies are disclosed that may usefully be employed to seal movable aircraft components, e.g., so as to seal a flap torque tube operating in a flap track cutout opening in a wing to fuselage fairing. The seal assembly may be provided so as to seal a component moveable between first and second positions within a cutout opening. The seal assembly includes a split seal having opposed seal members in non-compressive contact with one another along a split line between opposed ends of the seal members so as to allow the component to be moved along the split line between the first and second positions thereof. The seal members include opposed wall portions at one end thereof defining a recess for receiving the moveable component when in the first position thereof. The split line between the opposed seal members can be variably curved.

The UAV structural elements' quick-release fastening system, which includes at least two tail booms coupling with a center wing section/fuselage of a UAV and a tail assembly by at least two quick-release coupling elements from the center wing's section side and at least two coupling elements from tail assembly's side, the UAV wiring elements. The docking chucks are used as the quick-release coupling elements. Coupling and fixing the tail booms with a tail assembly realized by the tail assembly docking chucks and a bayonet mount. Coupling and fixing the tail booms with a center wing section/fuselage of a UAV is realized by the center wing section docking chucks and the center wing section fixing pins or by the center wing section docking chucks and bayonet mount. The system is generally used in a UAV design with integral or dismountable tail assembly.

The UAV structural elements' quick-release fastening system, which includes at least two tail booms coupling with a center wing section/fuselage of a UAV and a tail assembly by at least two quick-release coupling elements from the center wing's section side and at least two coupling elements from tail assembly's side, the UAV wiring elements. The docking chucks are used as the quick-release coupling elements. Coupling and fixing the tail booms with a tail assembly realized by the tail assembly docking chucks and a bayonet mount. Coupling and fixing the tail booms with a center wing section/fuselage of a UAV is realized by the center wing section docking chucks and the center wing section fixing pins or by the center wing section docking chucks and bayonet mount. The system is generally used in a UAV design with integral or dismountable tail assembly.

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 vehicle, such as an aircraft, structural architecture for supporting a horizontal stabilizer with a back up beam having an upper longeron fitting connected to the front side and secured with a back up fitting on the back side, a lower longeron fitting connected to the front side and secured with a back up fitting on the back side, and a pivot fitting connected to the front side of the first back up beam in between the upper longeron fitting and the lower longeron fitting and secured with a third back up fitting on the back side of the back up beam.

Systems, devices, and methods for a ground support system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including: at least one handling fixture, where each handling fixture is configured to support at least one wing panel of the UAV; and at least one dolly, where each dolly is configured to receive at least one landing pod of the UAV, and where each landing pod supports at least one wing panel of the UAV; where the at least one handling fixture and the at least one dolly are configured to move and rotate two or more wing panels to align the two or more wing panels with each other for assembly of the UAV; and where the at least one dolly further allows for transportation of the UAV over uneven terrain.

A horizontal stabilizer assembly includes a stabilizer connector assembly having a center multi-spar box, a first horizontal stabilizer having a first multi-spar box connected to a first side of the center multi-spar box with a plurality of first lug and clevis connections, and a second horizontal stabilizer having a second multi-spar box connected to a second side of the center multi-spar box, opposite the first side, with a plurality of second lug and clevis connections.

A strut system for a wing of an aircraft, includes a strut member extending from the wing and a first jury strut assembly associated with the wing. The first jury strut assembly includes a first jury strut, which has a first end connected to the strut member and a second jury strut, which has a first end connected to the strut member, wherein a second end of the first jury strut and a second end of the second jury strut are each connected to the wing spaced apart from one another in a direction of a chord.

A strut system for a wing of an aircraft, includes a strut member extending from the wing and a first jury strut assembly associated with the wing. The first jury strut assembly includes a first jury strut, which has a first end connected to the strut member and a second jury strut, which has a first end connected to the strut member, wherein a second end of the first jury strut and a second end of the second jury strut are each connected to the wing spaced apart from one another in a direction of a chord.