An aircraft configured to drop an object includes a body, a cavity defined in the body and opening on a bottom face of the body, and a gas supply part configured to blow gas from vertically above to a blowing position on the object which is detachably mounted in the cavity. The blowing position is a position on a side closer to a nose of the aircraft with respect to a center of gravity of the object.

A method to predict an onset of flow separation from a surface of an inner barrel of a nacelle is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes determining a static pressure distribution about the inner barrel surface of the nacelle; determining a mean static pressure value and a minimum static pressure value using the static pressure distribution; determining a separation indicator value using the mean static pressure value and the minimum static pressure value; and comparing the separation indicator value against a separation threshold value.

An aircraft defines a longitudinal direction and includes a fuselage extending between a forward end and an aft end along the longitudinal direction of the aircraft. An aft engine is mounted to the aft end of the fuselage. The aft engine further includes a nacelle including a forward section. An airflow duct extends at least partially through the nacelle of the aft engine and defines an outlet on the forward section of the nacelle for providing an airflow to the forward section of the nacelle.

A method and apparatus are presented. An active flow control system comprises a flow control valve, a manifold, and a temperature control system. The flow control valve is configured to control a flow of air into the manifold. The manifold is operatively connected to a number of actuators. The temperature control system is configured to heat at least a portion of the flow of air.

The invention discloses a lift source for an aircraft comprising a fuselage and wings, wherein first channels are formed in the wings, a plurality of first inlets are formed in upper surfaces of the wings, a plurality of first pressure ports are formed in lower surfaces of the wings and are communicated with the first inlets via the first channels; and spoiler devices are arranged in the first channels and under the effect of the spoiler devices, form high-speed fluid layers on the upper surfaces of the wings, thereby generating a pressure difference from the lower surfaces of the wings which counteracts an external fluid pressure on the upper surfaces of the wings in the opposite direction, so a lift is generated by reduction of fluid resistance when fluid flows through the upper and lower surfaces of the wings, thereby developing a high-speed aircraft with a larger lift and thrust.

A system and a method for evaluating performance of a porous skin of an aircraft including the porous skin, and a boundary layer control system. The performance evaluation system includes a first sensor providing data related to the performance of the porous skin. The performance evaluation system is further configured to clean the porous skin based on the performance of the porous skin determined using the data received from the first sensor in order to ensure that the porous skin operates at its maximum capability.

Flow multiplier systems for aircraft are described herein. A flow multiplier system includes a turbo-compressor having a compressor, a turbine, and a drive shaft coupled between the compressor and the turbine. A compressor outlet of the compressor is fluidly coupled to an ejector in a gas turbine engine. The system also includes a supply line fluidly coupling a compressed air tank and a turbine inlet and a valve coupled to the supply line. The system includes a controller configured to, based on an input signal requesting to increase output power of the gas turbine engine, send a command signal to open the valve to enable a flow of pressurized air from the compressed air tank to the turbine inlet. The turbine drives the compressor to create high pressure air at the compressor outlet, which is provided into the gas turbine engine to increase the output power.

A Laminar Inducing Apparatus (LIA) inducing laminar airflow to a turbine engine or a propulsion fan. The LIA produces turbulent-free airflow with a light aerospace structure that can replace single purpose structure in the wing or empennage. Laminar airflow to the propulsion fan or the turbine engine is ensured in a greater number of flight conditions and angles of attack. Active control of flight can be enhanced by the manipulating the turbulent boundary surface as a flight control surface. LIA simply reduces the risk of FOD or bird strike damage. In addition to the engineered, laminar benefits, LIA provides greater safety from ground ingested FOD and more silent vertical take-off and landing. In summary, LIA ensures laminar airflow and acoustic attenuation to a propulsion fan or a turbine engine for a greater number of flight conditions, angles of attack, and from ground ingested FOD during vertical takeoff and landing.

A rotorcraft is provided and includes a fuselage. The fuselage includes drag generating portions, a main rotor assembly and an auxiliary propulsor having an expected propulsion efficiency. The auxiliary propulsor is disposed to ingest boundary layer flows and in wake regions associated with the drag generating portions and is provided with a corresponding increase in the expected propulsion efficiency thereof.

A vehicle includes a main body and a gas generator producing a gas stream. At least one fore conduit and tail conduit are fluidly coupled to the generator. First and second fore ejectors are fluidly coupled to the at least one fore conduit. At least one tail ejector is fluidly coupled to the at least one tail conduit. The fore ejectors respectively include an outlet structure out of which gas from the at least one fore conduit flows. The at least one tail ejector includes an outlet structure out of which gas from the at least one tail conduit flows. First and second primary airfoil elements have leading edges respectively located directly downstream of the first and second fore ejectors. At least one secondary airfoil element has a leading edge located directly downstream of the outlet structure of the at least one tail ejector.