Methods and apparatus to control aircraft horizontal stabilizers are described herein. One described method includes calculating, using a processor, a desired movement of a horizontal stabilizer of an aircraft to counteract a pitching moment of the aircraft, and controlling the horizontal stabilizer based on the desired movement.

A flap system for an aircraft includes a flow body, a trailing flap and a movement means. The flow body includes an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface having a recess. The movement means is attachable to the flow body and the trailing flap. The trailing flap includes a shape that corresponds to the recess in the lower surface. The movement means is adapted for conducting at least a chordwise movement of the trailing flap such that it is movable out of and into the recess of the flow body in absence of a gap between the leading edge of the trailing flap and the flow body. Thereby, a clear increase in a lift coefficient may be achieved, while at the same time maintaining a low complexity and a high reliability of the flap system.

A flap system for an aircraft includes a flow body, a trailing flap and a movement means. The flow body includes an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface having a recess. The movement means is attachable to the flow body and the trailing flap. The trailing flap includes a shape that corresponds to the recess in the lower surface. The movement means is adapted for conducting at least a chordwise movement of the trailing flap such that it is movable out of and into the recess of the flow body in absence of a gap between the leading edge of the trailing flap and the flow body. Thereby, a clear increase in a lift coefficient may be achieved, while at the same time maintaining a low complexity and a high reliability of the flap system.

A propulsion device with double-layer flow guiding assembly and a flight vehicle using the same are provided. The propulsion device includes a propulsion body, a first-layer flow guiding assembly and a second-layer flow guiding assembly. The propulsion body includes a housing, an airflow suction port and an airflow discharge port. The first-layer flow guiding assembly includes a front flow guiding ring and at least one first-layer flow guiding plate. The front flow guiding ring is disposed outside the airflow discharge port and has a first axis. The front flow guiding ring swings relative to the airflow discharge port along a first rotation axis. The first rotation axis intersects the first axis. The first-layer flow guiding plate is fixed in the front flow guiding ring and extends along the first rotation axis. The second-layer flow guiding assembly has a structure similar to the first-layer flow guiding assembly.

A propulsion device with double-layer flow guiding assembly and a flight vehicle using the same are provided. The propulsion device includes a propulsion body, a first-layer flow guiding assembly and a second-layer flow guiding assembly. The propulsion body includes a housing, an airflow suction port and an airflow discharge port. The first-layer flow guiding assembly includes a front flow guiding ring and at least one first-layer flow guiding plate. The front flow guiding ring is disposed outside the airflow discharge port and has a first axis. The front flow guiding ring swings relative to the airflow discharge port along a first rotation axis. The first rotation axis intersects the first axis. The first-layer flow guiding plate is fixed in the front flow guiding ring and extends along the first rotation axis. The second-layer flow guiding assembly has a structure similar to the first-layer flow guiding assembly.

Aspects relate to aircraft and methods of use for aerodynamic control with winglet surfaces. In an aspect an exemplary aircraft includes a first wing having a first winglet at a distal end of the wing, wherein the first winglet comprises at least a first control surface at a first trailing edge of the first winglet and a second wing having a second winglet at a distal end of the wing, wherein the second winglet comprises at least a second control surface at a second trailing edge of the second winglet.

Aspects relate to aircraft and methods of use for aerodynamic control with winglet surfaces. In an aspect an exemplary aircraft includes a first wing having a first winglet at a distal end of the wing, wherein the first winglet comprises at least a first control surface at a first trailing edge of the first winglet and a second wing having a second winglet at a distal end of the wing, wherein the second winglet comprises at least a second control surface at a second trailing edge of the second winglet.

An objective of the present invention is to eliminate unnatural behaviors of a wireless controlled airplane during PID control. In a wireless controlled airplane, a receiving section receives a first operation signal for a first actuator, a second operation signal for a second actuator, and a third operation signal for a third actuator, wherein the first, second and third operation signals are provided as operation signals wirelessly transmitted. A first actuator control section is configured to generate an actuation signal for the first actuator by means of PID control depending on the first operation signal, and to reduce an integral element in the PID control depending on an operation value for the second or third operation signal. Alternatively, the first actuator control section is configured to perform switching to a control without an integral element from the PID control.

Systems and methods for controlling a fixed-wing aircraft during flight are disclosed. The aircraft comprises first and second flight control surfaces of different types. The method comprises determining that a pilot command of the first flight control surface will excite a structural flexible mode of the aircraft and then executing the pilot command of the first flight control surface in conjunction with a command of the second flight control surface to mitigate the effect of the excitation of the structural flexible mode of the aircraft.

A flap and spoiler system of an aircraft wing including a spoiler having a spoiler leading edge and a spoiler trailing edge. The flap and spoiler system also includes a flap having a flap leading edge and a flap trailing edge, an axis of rotation through the flap, and a top surface portion above the axis of rotation. The top surface portion has a first semi-circular shape such that, when the flap rotates about the axis of rotation, the spoiler trailing edge remains substantially stationary. When the spoiler trailing edge remains substantially stationary the spoiler is not driven by a spoiler drive.