A method for controlling a hybrid helicopter having at least one lifting rotor, at least one forward-movement propeller and an empennage provided with at least one moveable empennage surface. The method includes the following steps: using a main sensor to determine a current value of a rotor parameter conditioning a current power drawn by the lifting rotor, using an estimator to determine a current setpoint of the rotor parameter, adjusting a position of the moveable empennage surface using a deflection controller as a function of the current value and of current setpoint.

A method for controlling a hybrid helicopter having at least one lifting rotor, at least one forward-movement propeller and an empennage provided with at least one moveable empennage surface. The method includes the following steps: using a main sensor to determine a current value of a rotor parameter conditioning a current power drawn by the lifting rotor, using an estimator to determine a current setpoint of the rotor parameter, adjusting a position of the moveable empennage surface using a deflection controller as a function of the current value and of current setpoint.

An aerodyne comprises a fuselage, a fixed wing , a thruster for cruising flight, and a rotary wing for stages of vertical flight and held stationary during cruising flight. The rotary wing includes at least two contrarotating single-blades disposed at the top of the fuselage and hinged about respective axes perpendicular to the rotor axes of rotation. A maneuvering procedure for maneuvering the aerodyne includes a transition stage between a stage of vertical flight and a stage of cruising flight, wherein in the transition stage, when the speed of each single-blade is less than a threshold speed of rotation, the pitch of each single-blade is such that it no longer provides any lift force and the transverse hinge of the single-blade to its rotor axis is held locked in a position such that the single-blade is perpendicular to the rotor shaft.

Systems and methods for controlling flight via a parallel hybrid aircraft having an electric propulsion system and a combustion propulsion system are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may include: a combustion propulsion system including a combustion engine; an electric propulsion system including a motor and an electric power source, wherein the motor comprises a stator, a rotor coupled to the engine shaft, and support bearings between the rotor and the stator; a mechanical link coupled to the stator and the combustion engine, wherein the mechanical link substantially prevents movement of the stator in a rotational degree of freedom; and a propeller coupled to the engine shaft, wherein the rotor is coupled to the engine shaft between the propeller and the combustion engine.

Systems and methods for controlling flight via a parallel hybrid aircraft having an electric propulsion system and a combustion propulsion system are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may include: a combustion propulsion system including a combustion engine; an electric propulsion system including a motor and an electric power source, wherein the motor comprises a stator, a rotor coupled to the engine shaft, and support bearings between the rotor and the stator; a mechanical link coupled to the stator and the combustion engine, wherein the mechanical link substantially prevents movement of the stator in a rotational degree of freedom; and a propeller coupled to the engine shaft, wherein the rotor is coupled to the engine shaft between the propeller and the combustion engine.

A safe, quiet, easy to control, efficient, and compact aircraft configuration is enabled through the combination of multiple vertical lift rotors, tandem wings, and forward thrust propellers. The vertical lift rotors, in combination with a front and rear wing, permits a balancing of the center of lift with the center of gravity for both vertical and horizontal flight. This wing and multiple rotor system has the ability to tolerate a relatively large variation of the payload weight for hover, transition, or cruise flight while also providing vertical thrust redundancy. The propulsion system uses multiple lift rotors and forward thrust propellers of a small enough size to be shielded from potential blade strike and provide increased perceived and real safety to the passengers. Using multiple independent rotors provides redundancy and the elimination of single point failure modes that can make the vehicle non-operable in flight.

A safe, quiet, easy to control, efficient, and compact aircraft configuration is enabled through the combination of multiple vertical lift rotors, tandem wings, and forward thrust propellers. The vertical lift rotors, in combination with a front and rear wing, permits a balancing of the center of lift with the center of gravity for both vertical and horizontal flight. This wing and multiple rotor system has the ability to tolerate a relatively large variation of the payload weight for hover, transition, or cruise flight while also providing vertical thrust redundancy. The propulsion system uses multiple lift rotors and forward thrust propellers of a small enough size to be shielded from potential blade strike and provide increased perceived and real safety to the passengers. Using multiple independent rotors provides redundancy and the elimination of single point failure modes that can make the vehicle non-operable in flight.

A rotary wing aircraft that extends along a roll axis between a nose region and an aft region, comprising: at least one first single-blade rotor and at least one second single-blade rotor which are spaced apart from each other along the roll axis; at least one first electric machine and at least one second electric machine which are at least configured to drive in motor mode the at least one first single-blade rotor and the at least one second single-blade rotor for generating lift in hover condition of the rotary wing aircraft; at least one propulsion device that is at least configured to generate forward thrust in forward flight condition of the rotary wing aircraft; and a fixed-wing arrangement that is at least configured to provide lift in the forward flight condition.

A quill shaft is configured for transferring torque and accepting misalignments between a fixed gearbox and a rotatable spindle gearbox in a propulsion system of a tiltrotor aircraft, the quill shaft includes a first splined portion configured for coupling to an output gear of the fixed gearbox, and a second splined portion configured for coupling to an input gear of the spindle gearbox. The spindle gearbox includes a rotor mast associated therewith, the spindle gearbox being rotatable so that the tiltrotor aircraft can selectively operate in a helicopter mode and airplane mode.

A quill shaft is configured for transferring torque and accepting misalignments between a fixed gearbox and a rotatable spindle gearbox in a propulsion system of a tiltrotor aircraft, the quill shaft includes a first splined portion configured for coupling to an output gear of the fixed gearbox, and a second splined portion configured for coupling to an input gear of the spindle gearbox. The spindle gearbox includes a rotor mast associated therewith, the spindle gearbox being rotatable so that the tiltrotor aircraft can selectively operate in a helicopter mode and airplane mode.