The present invention relates to a detection system for detecting wear of a ball-joint connection device of a pitch rod. The detection system includes at least one measurement assembly, said at least one measurement assembly having at least one deformation gauge for placing on said pitch rod, said detection system comprising at least one electrical conditioning circuit connected to at least one said deformation gauge and to at least one electrical energy source, said electrical conditioning circuit being configured to generate a measurement signal that varies as a function of deformation of said at least one deformation gauge and as a function of said wear.

Aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing, hovering, and efficient forward flight are described. An aircraft includes two side mounted tiltable proprotors and a central rotor disposed above the proprotors. The proprotors are tiltable between at least a horizontal position for forward flight and a vertical position for vertical or hovering flight. The central rotor may be powered for vertical and transitional flight modes and may turn by free autorotation during forward flight. The proprotors may be differentially tilted during vertical or hovering flight to counter torque effects of the central rotor. The central rotor may be foldable and/or easily detachable from the aircraft to facilitate storage and transportation. Left and right proprotors may provide both forward thrust and attitude control. Control inputs to left and right proprotors may be connected directly to an autopilot creating closed loop actuation using motor RPM feedback.

A vertical take-off and landing aircraft includes a fuselage, at least one wing connected to the fuselage, a plurality of rotors connected to the at least one wing for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and a plurality of proprotors connected to the at least one wing and tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraft

A vertical take-off and landing aircraft includes a fuselage, at least one wing connected to the fuselage, a plurality of rotors connected to the at least one wing for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and a plurality of proprotors connected to the at least one wing and tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraft

A delivery rotary-wing aircraft has a plurality of rotary wings, a central portion to which a plurality of arms for supporting the rotary wings are connected, a first mounting portion for loading a package, a second mounting portion which is located on the opposite side to the first mounting portion as viewed from the central portion, a first supporting member for coupling the first mounting portion with the central portion, and a connection portion between the central portion and the first supporting member. The center point of lift occurring in the rotary-wing aircraft with the rotation of the plurality of rotary wings and the center point of gravity of the rotary-wing aircraft coincide with the center point of the connection portion. The first supporting member is equipped with an adjustment mechanism for vertically downwardly extending the length of the first supporting member.

A delivery rotary-wing aircraft has a plurality of rotary wings, a central portion to which a plurality of arms for supporting the rotary wings are connected, a first mounting portion for loading a package, a second mounting portion which is located on the opposite side to the first mounting portion as viewed from the central portion, a first supporting member for coupling the first mounting portion with the central portion, and a connection portion between the central portion and the first supporting member. The center point of lift occurring in the rotary-wing aircraft with the rotation of the plurality of rotary wings and the center point of gravity of the rotary-wing aircraft coincide with the center point of the connection portion. The first supporting member is equipped with an adjustment mechanism for vertically downwardly extending the length of the first supporting member.

A hydro-elastic damper comprising at least one elastic assembly comprising an elastic member between two strength members. The elastic assembly including a compression chamber. The hydro-elastic damper includes a damping assembly provided with an expansion chamber that is defined in a transverse direction by an end wall and by a piston. The compression chamber is hydraulically connected to the expansion chamber by three hydraulic connections comprising respectively: a duct; at least one first passage with an overpressure valve; and at least one second passage with a check valve.

A tail sitter aircraft includes a wing with a closed front section and a fuselage, from which the wing extends. The wing includes a first portion projecting from the fuselage and a second portion spaced from the first portion. The aircraft includes first and second connecting section that are interposed between the first and second portions. The fuselage extends parallel to a first axis and the first and second portions extend parallel to a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The first axis is arranged, in use, vertically in a take-off/landing position and inclined with respect to the vertical direction in a cruising position.

A tail sitter aircraft includes a wing with a closed front section and a fuselage, from which the wing extends. The wing includes a first portion projecting from the fuselage and a second portion spaced from the first portion. The aircraft includes first and second connecting section that are interposed between the first and second portions. The fuselage extends parallel to a first axis and the first and second portions extend parallel to a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The first axis is arranged, in use, vertically in a take-off/landing position and inclined with respect to the vertical direction in a cruising position.

A tail sitter aircraft is described that comprises: a fuselage arranged vertically in a take-off/landing position and transversely to a vertical direction in a cruising position of the aircraft; a single wing; at least two first engines configured to exert respective first thrusts directed along respective first axes on the tail sitter; and at least two second engines rotating about respective second axes arranged above said first axes of the first engines, with reference to the cruising position; the at least two second engines being configured to exert respective second thrusts directed along respective second axes on the tail sitter; the first and second engines being carried by the single wing; the single wing comprises a first portion and a second portion mutually staggered from one another; the second portion being arranged above said first portion, with reference to said cruising position; said first portion comprises two half-wings, extending from opposite lateral sides of the fuselage; the wing further comprises a third portion arranged below said first portion with reference to said cruising position of said aircraft.