A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft (10) includes a fuselage and first and second forward wings (20, 22), each wing (20, 22) having a fixed leading edge and a trailing control surface (50) which is pivotal about a generally horizontal pivot axis. The aircraft (10) includes first and second electric motors (60) each having rotors (70), the electric rotors (70) being pivotal with the trailing control surface (50) between a first position in which each rotor (70) has a generally vertical axis of rotation, and a second position in which each rotor (70) has a generally horizontal axis of rotation, a control system (90) is configured to selectively operate the first electric motor (60) and the second electric motor (60) at different rotational speeds to generate a turning moment to pivot the control surface (50) about the pivot axis (33).

An autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle for land, sea and air use. The autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle is more specifically related to an unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to vertically take off and vertically land, fly with fixed wings and stay in the air silently for a long time by means of a balloon inflated behind it.

An autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle for land, sea and air use. The autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle is more specifically related to an unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to vertically take off and vertically land, fly with fixed wings and stay in the air silently for a long time by means of a balloon inflated behind it.

An aircraft including a battery pack having a plurality of battery cells arranged to vent into a venting region of the battery pack. A path is defined between the venting region and an exterior of the aircraft, whereby thermal products vented by the cells can exit the aircraft via the path. In some embodiments, the venting region is or is in fluid communication with an air channel through which air flows from an aircraft air inlet to an aircraft air outlet. In other embodiments, the path joins the venting region and an opening in an external surface of the aircraft.

Battery packs for aircraft are provided, as are aircraft comprising such battery packs. One such battery pack comprises: a housing enclosing a plurality of battery cells; and an air channel. The air channel is connectable to an aircraft air inlet and an aircraft air outlet whereby, during flight of the aircraft, air enters the aircraft through the air inlet, passes through the battery pack air channel and exits the aircraft through the air outlet. At least a portion of a surface of the air channel is in thermal contact with the battery cells, whereby air flowing through the air channel exchanges heat with the battery cells through the surface of the air channel without entering the housing and contacting the battery cells.

Aircraft with battery thermal regulation systems, including: an aircraft air inlet and an aircraft air outlet; a battery pack including battery cells; and a battery thermal regulation system including a first air channel, a surface of which is in thermal communication with the battery cells so that air flowing through the first air channel exchanges heat with the cells through the surface; and an airflow device for driving an airflow. The battery thermal regulation system has a first and a second mode operation. In the first mode, the first air channel is fluidly connected with the aircraft air inlet and the aircraft air outlet whereby, during flight of the aircraft, air can enter the aircraft through the air inlet, flow through the first air channel and exit the aircraft through the air outlet. In the second mode, the airflow device drives an airflow through the first air channel.

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.

Embodiments include an aircraft comprising a fuselage; a wing connected to the fuselage; and first and second propulsion systems connected to the wing on opposite sides of the fuselage, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second propulsion systems and at least a portion of the wing are tiltable between a first position in which the aircraft is in a hover mode and a second position in which the aircraft is in a cruise mode, wherein each of the propulsion systems includes pylon and a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades.

A system and a method for improving a stall margin of an aircraft during a climb phase of flight are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises using data indicative of a phase of flight of the aircraft and data indicative of an angle-of-attack, and automatically commanding a deployment of leading edge slats movably attached to wings of the aircraft when the following conditions are true: the aircraft is in a climb phase of flight; and the angle-of-attack equals or exceeds a predefined deployment angle-of-attack threshold value.