Systems, methods, and apparatus to control aircraft roll operations are disclosed herein. An example system includes a control wheel position determiner to determine a control wheel position based on an input from a control wheel of the aircraft, a control wheel force determiner to determine a first control wheel force based on a sensor measurement, and a spoiler controller to map the control wheel position to a second control wheel force, the second control wheel force based on nominal characteristics of the aircraft, determine a first difference between the first control wheel force and the second control wheel force, and in response to determining that the first difference does not satisfy a threshold, move a flight control surface based on a third control wheel force, the third control wheel force based on a second difference between the first difference and the threshold.

Systems, methods, and apparatus to control aircraft roll operations are disclosed herein. An example system includes a control wheel position determiner to determine a control wheel position based on an input from a control wheel of the aircraft, a control wheel force determiner to determine a first control wheel force based on a sensor measurement, and a spoiler controller to map the control wheel position to a second control wheel force, the second control wheel force based on nominal characteristics of the aircraft, determine a first difference between the first control wheel force and the second control wheel force, and in response to determining that the first difference does not satisfy a threshold, move a flight control surface based on a third control wheel force, the third control wheel force based on a second difference between the first difference and the threshold.

Systems and methods for optimizing the operation of speed brakes in an aircraft. The method includes, upon receipt from a flight management system (FMS), a drag required notification that the aircraft has departed an assigned descent path, calculating an optimized operation of the speed brakes required to put the aircraft back on the assigned descent path; and displaying, on a display system, a speed-alert widget with accompanying text that advises the optimized operation of the speed brakes.

If irregular movement is detected in a given one of left and right spoilers, a spoiler control device outputs a retracting signal for the given one of the spoilers and refrains from outputting the retracting signal for the other of the left and right spoilers, and if the difference between the angles of the left and right spoilers becomes equal to or less than a specified value, the spoiler control device outputs the retracting signal for the other of the left and right spoilers.

An aircraft defining a longitudinal centerline and extending between a forward end and an aft end is provided. The aircraft includes a fuselage extending longitudinally between the forward end of the aircraft and the aft end of the aircraft; a primary wing assembly extending laterally outwardly with respect to the longitudinal centerline from a portion of the fuselage; a first engine mounted to the primary wing assembly; and a first engine wing assembly extending outward from the first engine.

An aerodynamic brake includes a rigid panel having a panel leading edge portion and a panel trailing edge portion. The panel trailing edge portion is pivotably coupled to a vehicle body. The aerodynamic brake also includes a flexible sheet having a sheet lower edge portion coupled to the vehicle body, and a sheet upper edge portion coupled to the panel leading edge portion. The aerodynamic brake further includes a panel actuator configured to pivot the rigid panel between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position, the rigid panel is located proximate the vehicle body and covers the flexible sheet in a folded state. In the deployed position, the panel leading edge portion is pivoted away from the vehicle body and the flexible sheet is in an open state exposable to an oncoming airflow for generating aerodynamic drag for slowing the vehicle.

Reactive spoilers for aircraft and associated methods. In one embodiment, a wing of an aircraft includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and an upper surface and a lower surface between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The wing further includes a reactive spoiler disposed on the upper surface between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The reactive spoiler comprises one or more turbines configured to raise in relation to the upper surface into an airflow passing over the upper surface, and to reduce lift of a wing section behind the turbines. The turbines are configured to convert kinetic energy from the airflow into electrical energy.

A ground spoiler control architecture for aircraft includes a primary control architecture for providing a roll function, a speed-brake function and a ground spoiler function, and a secondary control architecture for providing the ground spoiler function in the event of a failure of the primary control architecture. The primary and secondary control architectures each include multiple actuators for actuating ground spoilers via independent and redundant signaling paths. Redundant hydraulic accumulators provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the actuators. A ground spoiler control method includes determining whether the aircraft is on the ground based on the throttle-level-angle and whether any two wheels speeds are active or whether the main landing gear is weighted. Deployment of at least a portion of the ground spoiler panels occurs when and when the main landing gear is on the ground and the aircraft is in a landing configuration based on the throttle-level-angle.

A ground spoiler control architecture for aircraft includes a primary control architecture for providing a roll function, a speed-brake function and a ground spoiler function, and a secondary control architecture for providing the ground spoiler function in the event of a failure of the primary control architecture. The primary and secondary control architectures each include multiple actuators for actuating ground spoilers via independent and redundant signaling paths. Redundant hydraulic accumulators provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the actuators. A ground spoiler control method includes determining whether the aircraft is on the ground based on the throttle-level-angle and whether any two wheels speeds are active or whether the main landing gear is weighted. Deployment of at least a portion of the ground spoiler panels occurs when and when the main landing gear is on the ground and the aircraft is in a landing configuration based on the throttle-level-angle.

A spoiler mechanism for an aircraft includes a spoiler fore-section and a spoiler aft-section. The spoiler fore-section includes a forward end configured to couple to a wing structure of an aircraft and a hinge end. The hinge end includes a first hinge coupling and a first retainer portion. The spoiler aft-section includes a second retainer portion and a second hinge coupling coupled to the first hinge coupling of the spoiler fore-section. The first retainer portion and the second retainer portion are configured to engage one another when the spoiler aft-section is aligned with the spoiler fore-section, and the first retainer portion and the second retainer portion are configured to disengage from one another responsive to the spoiler aft-section pivoting upward relative to the spoiler fore-section.