A dual use UAV or “drone” can include a battery and primary processor located at a fuselage, as well as two separate modular units removably coupled to the fuselage and in communication with the primary processor. The two separate modular units can interact with each other to provide an enhanced operation while the drone is in flight. One modular unit can be an ISR unit having a video camera, and the other modular unit can be a cargo unit. The enhanced operation can involve the ISR unit using its video camera to identify a delivery location for a cargo pod of the cargo unit. Alternative modular units can include a secondary ISR unit, a cargo fuel pod unit, or a robotic arm assembly. Standardized interfaces coupled to the fuselage can enable the ready removal of one modular unit and installation of another one.

An aircraft wing box is disclosed having a first cover, a second cover, a partition extending between the first and second cover and configured to provide a fuel tight boundary between the first and second covers, a first joint coupling the partition to the first cover, and a second joint coupling the partition to the second cover. The first joint is a slip joint configured to inhibit fuel leakage across the slip joint whilst permitting relative movement between the partition and the first cover.

A propulsion system according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes a fuel storage tank that is configured to store a fuel in a compressed state, a power generation device that is configured to consume the fuel and generate an output, a fuel system that is configured to provide the fuel from the fuel storage tank to the power generation device, and an electrochemical compressor that is in communication with the fuel system. The electrochemical compressor is configured to gather residual fuel from the fuel system and communicate the gathered residual fuel to at least one of the power generation device and the fuel storage tank.

A propulsion system according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes a fuel storage tank that is configured to store a fuel in a compressed state, a power generation device that is configured to consume the fuel and generate an output, a fuel system that is configured to provide the fuel from the fuel storage tank to the power generation device, and an electrochemical compressor that is in communication with the fuel system. The electrochemical compressor is configured to gather residual fuel from the fuel system and communicate the gathered residual fuel to at least one of the power generation device and the fuel storage tank.

An assembly for an aircraft including a pylon having a lateral wall with a window passing through it, at least one reservoir, each reservoir being in the shape of an elongate ellipsoid with three semi-axes. The dimension of the reservoir along a first semi-axis differs from the dimension of the reservoir along at least one other semi-axis. The reservoir extends parallel to the semi-major axis, between a first end and a second end. The reservoir is equipped with a discharge head at the second end. The reservoir is equipped with a fastening arrangement disposed on the side of the second end and fastening the reservoir to the pylon. The reservoir is positioned through the window with the first end housed in the pylon and the second end outside the pylon.

An assembly for an aircraft including a pylon having a lateral wall with a window passing through it, at least one reservoir, each reservoir being in the shape of an elongate ellipsoid with three semi-axes. The dimension of the reservoir along a first semi-axis differs from the dimension of the reservoir along at least one other semi-axis. The reservoir extends parallel to the semi-major axis, between a first end and a second end. The reservoir is equipped with a discharge head at the second end. The reservoir is equipped with a fastening arrangement disposed on the side of the second end and fastening the reservoir to the pylon. The reservoir is positioned through the window with the first end housed in the pylon and the second end outside the pylon.

An aircraft structural component is described, including an aircraft skeleton component which divides a space along a longitudinal axis of the aircraft skeleton component into two spatial portions arranged on opposite sides of the aircraft skeleton component, and including a fluid conduit component which runs on an outer side of the aircraft skeleton component and fluidically connects the two spatial portions. Also described is an aircraft wing with an aircraft structural component, as well as an aircraft with an aircraft structural component or with an aircraft wing.

An aircraft structural component is described, including an aircraft skeleton component which divides a space along a longitudinal axis of the aircraft skeleton component into two spatial portions arranged on opposite sides of the aircraft skeleton component, and including a fluid conduit component which runs on an outer side of the aircraft skeleton component and fluidically connects the two spatial portions. Also described is an aircraft wing with an aircraft structural component, as well as an aircraft with an aircraft structural component or with an aircraft wing.

Embodiments are directed to a fuel cell protection system comprising an aircraft fuselage having an inner surface and an outer surface, an attachment point mounted on the outer surface, an aircraft fuel cell spaced apart from the inner surface, and a plate positioned between the inner surface and the aircraft fuel system, the plate spaced apart from the inner surface to create a void space. The attachment point may be a cargo hook. The void space is configured to receive all or a portion of the cargo hook after a crash. The plate creating the void space may be a rigid material or may be a ballistic fabric material.

Embodiments are directed to a fuel cell protection system comprising an aircraft fuselage having an inner surface and an outer surface, an attachment point mounted on the outer surface, an aircraft fuel cell spaced apart from the inner surface, and a plate positioned between the inner surface and the aircraft fuel system, the plate spaced apart from the inner surface to create a void space. The attachment point may be a cargo hook. The void space is configured to receive all or a portion of the cargo hook after a crash. The plate creating the void space may be a rigid material or may be a ballistic fabric material.