An automatic yaw enhancement method for an aircraft having at least one propeller includes providing to a flight controller a pilot command from a pilot interface and avionic data for an airspeed, an angle of attack, and a thrust. A P-factor compensation is determined based on one or more of the airspeed, the angle of attack, and the thrust. A command to a trim device is determined based on a P-factor compensation. When a rudder bias persists, the command to the trim device is repeatedly updated until a rudder force input is nullified. The methods provide automatic pilot assistance for controlling yaw during asymmetric flight conditions and automatic turn coordination while allowing intentional side-slip for facilitating crosswind landings.

A supplemental wing for a rotary wing aircraft rotates about a pitch axis between a forward flight position and a hover position. The supplemental wing generates lift and generates both positive and negative pitching moments that balance and that may passively rotate the supplemental wing to an equilibrium position. The supplemental wing may use power assist to overcome friction to move to the equilibrium position. The lift generated by the supplemental wing reduces at high forward speeds to preserve main rotor control authority. The supplemental wing rotates to avoid aft translation when in the hover position. The supplemental wing may be retrofitted to existing helicopters and flown using existing helicopter controls without pilot re-training.

A supplemental wing for a rotary wing aircraft rotates about a pitch axis between a forward flight position and a hover position. The supplemental wing generates lift and generates both positive and negative pitching moments that balance and that may passively rotate the supplemental wing to an equilibrium position. The supplemental wing may use power assist to overcome friction to move to the equilibrium position. The lift generated by the supplemental wing reduces at high forward speeds to preserve main rotor control authority. The supplemental wing rotates to avoid aft translation when in the hover position. The supplemental wing may be retrofitted to existing helicopters and flown using existing helicopter controls without pilot re-training.

A wing-twist aircraft having a wing, an actuation system, a sensor, and/or a controller. The wing may have a wingspan that extends to a wing tip. The wing may further include a spar aligned in a span-wise direction, wherein at least one rib is operatively coupled to the spar. The actuation system may be configured to torsionally rotate the spar, which, in turn, torsionally rotates (pivots) the at least one rib coupled to the spar, thereby twisting the wing. The sensor may be configured to measure a characteristic of the wing, while the controller may be configured to command the actuation system to torsionally rotate the spar based at least in part on input from the sensor.

A wing-twist aircraft having a wing, an actuation system, a sensor, and/or a controller. The wing may have a wingspan that extends to a wing tip. The wing may further include a spar aligned in a span-wise direction, wherein at least one rib is operatively coupled to the spar. The actuation system may be configured to torsionally rotate the spar, which, in turn, torsionally rotates (pivots) the at least one rib coupled to the spar, thereby twisting the wing. The sensor may be configured to measure a characteristic of the wing, while the controller may be configured to command the actuation system to torsionally rotate the spar based at least in part on input from the sensor.

Mini-spoilers for enhancing the effectiveness of lateral-control surfaces of aircraft wings are described. An example aircraft includes a wing, a lateral-control surface, and a mini-spoiler. The lateral-control surface is movably coupled to the wing. The lateral-control surface is movable between a neutral position, a first upward deflected position, and a second upward deflected position extending beyond the first upward deflected position. The mini-spoiler is located on or forward of the lateral-control surface. The mini-spoiler is movable between a retracted position and a deployed position. The mini-spoiler is configured to be moved from the retracted position to the deployed position based on the lateral-control surface being moved from the neutral position to or toward the first upward deflected position.

The present invention provides a vehicle comprising: a rotor and a stator; at least one planar control surface coupled to the rotor, wherein the rotor is configured to rotate relative to the stator such that, in use, the at least one planar control surface moves from a first position to a second position, and wherein in the first position the planar control surface is controllable to affect substantially only the pitch of the vehicle and in the second position the planar control surface is controllable to affect substantially both of the pitch and yaw of the vehicle, or substantially only the yaw, or in the first position the planar control surface is controllable to affect substantially only the yaw of the vehicle and in the second position the planar control surface is controllable to affect substantially both of the pitch and yaw of the vehicle, or substantially only the pitch of the vehicle. The present invention also provides a method of controlling a vehicle.

An aircraft wing has a flap arrangement with an inboard flap configured to move in a chordwise extension direction relative to the wing, the inboard flap having an outboard side, and an outboard flap adjacent to the inboard flap and configured to move in the chordwise extension direction relative to the wing, the outboard flap including an inboard side. A flap interconnect between the inboard flap and outboard flap has a roller mounted to a pin extending from the outboard side of the inboard flap and a guide track extending from the inboard side of the outboard flap. The guide track engages the roller on the inboard flap to limit deflection of the outboard flap relative to the inboard flap during movement of the inboard flap in the chordwise extension direction and movement of the outboard flap in the chordwise extension direction, to provide relative alignment of the inboard flap and outboard flap.

The present invention provides a vehicle comprising: a rotor and a stator; at least one planar control surface coupled to the rotor, wherein the rotor is configured to rotate relative to the stator such that, in use, the at least one planar control surface moves from a first position to a second position, and wherein in the first position the planar control surface is controllable to affect substantially only the pitch of the vehicle and in the second position the planar control surface is controllable to affect substantially both of the pitch and yaw of the vehicle, or substantially only the yaw, or in the first position the planar control surface is controllable to affect substantially only the yaw of the vehicle and in the second position the planar control surface is controllable to affect substantially both of the pitch and yaw of the vehicle, or substantially only the pitch of the vehicle. The present invention also provides a method of controlling a vehicle.

A control augmentation system for high aspect ratio aircraft has aileron/flaperon and throttle position sensors; spoiler and flap controls; a mode switch with manual, and landing modes; and a controller driving left and right spoiler and flap servos, the controller including at least one processor with memory containing firmware configured to: when the mode switch is in manual mode, drive both spoiler servos to a symmetrical position according to the spoiler control; when the mode switch is in landing mode, drive the left spoiler to a position dependent on aileron and throttle position, and the right spoiler to a position dependent on aileron and throttle position, the left and right spoiler positions differing whenever ailerons are not centered, and an average of spoiler positions is more fully deployed when the throttle position is at a low-power setting than when the throttle position is at a high-power setting.