A fairing assembly is provided about a duct outlet port, which is not parallel to an exterior surface of a vehicle, so as to turn fluid flow exiting the duct outlet port in a direction of surface fluid flow. The fairing assembly includes an upstream vane fairing to orient the surface flow with the angled duct flow, a downstream Coanda fairing to turn transverse duct flow in the direction of the surface flow, and a pair of vortex generators each of which is positioned at an opposing lateral side of the Coanda fairing and angled towards each other to organize the combined fluid flow downstream of the duct outlet port to thereby minimize recirculation. This fairing assembly about the duct outlet port enhances organized mixing of the duct and surface flows, and thereby reduces duct and surface recirculation, duct restriction, and overall vehicle drag.

A fairing assembly is provided about a duct outlet port, which is not parallel to an exterior surface of a vehicle, so as to turn fluid flow exiting the duct outlet port in a direction of surface fluid flow. The fairing assembly includes an upstream vane fairing to orient the surface flow with the angled duct flow, a downstream Coanda fairing to turn transverse duct flow in the direction of the surface flow, and a pair of vortex generators each of which is positioned at an opposing lateral side of the Coanda fairing and angled towards each other to organize the combined fluid flow downstream of the duct outlet port to thereby minimize recirculation. This fairing assembly about the duct outlet port enhances organized mixing of the duct and surface flows, and thereby reduces duct and surface recirculation, duct restriction, and overall vehicle drag.

A manual brake override system includes a gear system, an electric motor in operative communication with the input of the gear system, a holding brake in operative communication with the input of the gear system. The holding brake is configured to prevent movement within the gear system when engaged. A manual handwind is provided in operative communication with the input of the gear system and the manual handwind and holding brake are configured such that the input of the gear system can be driven, with the manual handwind, whilst the holding brake is engaged.

A method of improving optical characteristics of an optical window operating in a flow of fluid and having first and second panes of optically transmissive material—each having an edge adjacent to, parallel with, and at least partially coextensive with each other—is described herein. The method includes inserting a thermally conductive blade between two adjacent edges of the first and second panes of optically transmissive material; and lifting an adverse flow stagnation zone forward of the optical window by protruding the thermally conductive blade into the flow of fluid from an outer surface of the panes of the optical window.

A method of improving optical characteristics of an optical window operating in a flow of fluid and having first and second panes of optically transmissive material—each having an edge adjacent to, parallel with, and at least partially coextensive with each other—is described herein. The method includes inserting a thermally conductive blade between two adjacent edges of the first and second panes of optically transmissive material; and lifting an adverse flow stagnation zone forward of the optical window by protruding the thermally conductive blade into the flow of fluid from an outer surface of the panes of the optical window.

A winglet for attachment to a wing portion of an aircraft including a winglet root. The winglet root defines a recess for receiving a connector of the wing portion in use and includes at least one protrusion for receipt into at least one corresponding hole of the wing portion in use. A portion of the winglet root that at least partially defines an upper or a lower side of the recess has at least one hole extending therethrough for receiving a fastener for fastening the winglet to the connector when the connector is located in the recess.

A winglet for attachment to a wing portion of an aircraft including a winglet root. The winglet root defines a recess for receiving a connector of the wing portion in use and includes at least one protrusion for receipt into at least one corresponding hole of the wing portion in use. A portion of the winglet root that at least partially defines an upper or a lower side of the recess has at least one hole extending therethrough for receiving a fastener for fastening the winglet to the connector when the connector is located in the recess.

A wingtip device may be attached to a baseline wing of an aircraft. The wingtip device may comprise a vertical portion coupled to the baseline wing. The vertical portion may comprise a leading edge and trailing edge. The leading edge and trailing edge may be nonlinear shapes. For example, compound curves, smooth continuous higher order polynomials, or combinations thereof. The leading edge and trailing edge may be shaped as to locate the wingtip device further aft than a conventional winglet design.

An aircraft including a fuselage with one or more wings extending from the fuselage. The aircraft may include one or more apertures in a surface of at least one of the fuselage and the one or more wings. The one or more apertures may be configured to enable air to pass through the one or more apertures when the aircraft is flying.

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is provided. The aircraft includes a wing, nacelles supportively disposed at opposite ends of the wing, proprotors respectively attached to each of the nacelles with each of the proprotors being rotatable to generate lift in vertical flight and thrust in horizontal flight and a delta-wing shaped fuselage disposed along the wing between the nacelles.