An aircraft spoiler mechanism includes a spoiler fore-section, a spoiler aft-section, and a reverse-motion linkage arm. The spoiler fore-section includes a forward end, a hinge end, an actuator coupling, and a pivot coupling to couple to a wing structure of an aircraft to enable rotation of the spoiler fore-section relative to the wing structure. The spoiler aft-section includes a hinge portion coupled to the hinge end of the spoiler fore-section and a crank-arm. The reverse-motion linkage arm includes a first end, a second end, and a pivot point coupled to the forward end of the spoiler fore-section. The spoiler mechanism also includes a first linkage to couple the first end of the reverse-motion linkage arm to the wing structure and a second linkage coupled to the second end of the reverse-motion linkage arm and to the crank-arm on the spoiler aft-section.

Methods and devices to measure an angular deflection of an aircraft member. The devices are configured to be attached to the aircraft member. The devices are configured to obtain an orientation of the device about three separate axes. The methods use initial orientation values and dynamic orientation values to calculate an axis of rotation. Using the axis of rotation, the deflection angle can be calculated for the aircraft member.

[Objective] To provide, as to an aerial vehicle equipped with a multicopter mechanism, an aerial vehicle having both a vertical take-off and landing function and a horizontal cruise function and having an excellent cruising performance.

[Solving Means] In order to accomplish the above-mentioned objective, an aerial vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a propulsion unit and a fuselage unit. The propulsion unit includes a rotary shaft extending in a first direction and thrust producing mechanisms provided at both ends of the rotary shaft and produces a propulsion force for flying in air. The fuselage unit is suspended from the propulsion unit below the rotary shaft, has a center of gravity at a position below the rotary shaft, is configured to be freely rotate around the rotary shaft, and is capable of storing an article.

An aircraft has wings configured to twist during flight. Inboard and outboard propulsion devices, such as turbofans or other propulsors, are connected to each wing, and are spaced along the wing span. A flight controller independently controls thrust of the inboard and outboard propulsion devices to significantly change flight dynamics, including changing thrust of outboard propulsion devices to twist the wing, and to differentially apply thrust on each wing to change yaw and other aspects of the aircraft during various stages of a flight mission. One or more generators can be positioned upon the wing to provide power for propulsion devices on the same wing, and on an opposite wing.

Systems and methods are provided for decoupling movable control surfaces. Such systems may detect that a movable control surface is in a non-responsive state, such as a hard-over, and decouple the movable control surface from the main, fixed, control surface. The control surfaces may be coupled to an aircraft. A controller of the aircraft may detect the nonresponsive movable control surface, provide instructions to decouple the movable control surface, and compensate for the decoupling of the movable control surface in instructions provided to flight systems of the aircraft.

A movable surface of an aircraft has a front spar extending along a spanwise direction between opposing movable surface ends. The movable surface also includes a plurality of ribs defining a plurality of bays between adjacent pairs of the ribs. Each rib extends between the front spar and a trailing edge portion of the movable surface. The movable surface further includes an upper and a lower skin panels coupled to the ribs and the front spar. In addition, the bull surface includes a plurality of bead stiffeners coupled to an inner surface of at least one of the upper skin panel and the lower skin panel. The bead stiffeners within the bays are spaced apart from each other and are oriented non-parallel to the front spar and have a bead stiffener cap having opposing cap ends respectively locate proximate the front spar and the trailing edge portion.

A wireless autopilot system includes an aircraft attachment device having a mounting plate for securement onto a flight control surface of an aircraft, and a flight control device that is hingedly connected to the aircraft attachment device. The flight control device including an airfoil that is connected to the mounting plate, and a steering tab that is connected to the trailing edge of the airfoil. A main body extends outward from the airfoil to function as an anti-flutter counterbalance. A servomotor is connected to the steering tab by an elongated rigid rod, and a controller having a wireless transceiver for communicating with an application on an externally located processor enabled device. Changes in the position of the servomotor during flight are instructed by the application, and result in a change to the orientation of the aircraft.

An air vehicle is provided including: a main lift generating wing arrangement having a port wing and a starboard wing, empennage and main propulsion system. The air vehicle further includes a distributed electrical propulsion (DEP) system having secondary electrical propulsion units coupled to each one of the port wing and the starboard wing. The main propulsion system is configured for providing sufficient thrust such as to enable powered aerodynamic flight of the air vehicle including at least: powered aerodynamic take off absent operation of the DEP system; and powered aerodynamic landing absent operation of the DEP system. The DEP system is configured for selectively providing at least augmented lift to the main lift generating wing arrangement in at least landing. A method for landing an air vehicle on a moving platform under separated wake conditions is also provided.

A composite laminate for an airframe lifting surface including: at least two sides and one ramp area defined by a decreasing staggered laminate extended along a ramp direction, wherein the composite laminate includes: first plies formed by tapes arranged parallel to the ramp direction, second plies formed by tapes arranged orthogonal to the ramp direction, third plies formed by tapes arranged in a first laying up direction, being the first laying up direction different from the ramp direction and the direction orthogonal to the ramp direction, and fourth plies formed by tapes arranged in a second laying up direction, being the second laying up direction different from the ramp direction, the direction orthogonal to the ramp direction and the first laying up direction; wherein in the ramp area, the tapes forming the third and/or fourth plies are extended from one laminate side to another laminate side.

Linkage assemblies for moving tabs on control surfaces of aircraft are disclosed herein. An example aircraft includes a wing including a fixed wing portion and a trailing edge control surface. The trailing edge control surface includes a fore panel rotatably coupled to the fixed wing portion and an aft panel rotatably coupled to the fore panel. The wing also includes a linkage assembly including a rocking lever rotatably coupled to a bottom side of the fore panel, a trailing edge link having a first end rotatably coupled to the fixed wing portion and a second end rotatably coupled to the rocking lever, and an aft panel link having a first end rotatably coupled to the rocking lever and a second end rotatably coupled to a bottom side of the aft panel.