A method for converting a conventional airplane having at least one thermic reaction propulsion engine and at least one fuel tank fluidly connected through fuel pipes to an electric propulsion airplane comprises: removing the at least one thermic reaction propulsion engine from the conventional airplane; replacing the at least one thermic reaction propulsion engine used for propelling the conventional airplane with at least one electric engine; removing the at least one fuel tank from the conventional airplane; implanting at least one rechargeable battery instead of the at least one fuel tank; and electrically connecting the at least one electric engine and the at least one rechargeable battery.

A vertical take-off and loading (VTOL) rotary aircraft or helicopter has eight propellers in a quad propeller arm configuration where each propeller arm has two counter-rotating propellers. Folding propeller arms are designed to allow storage in a single car sized garage. Each propeller may be powered by a three-phase alternating current motor. The main power plant for the aircraft is a gas combustion engine that generates electricity. If the gas engine fails, a battery backup system will safely bring the aircraft down for a controlled landing. The direct current bus is redundant in that even with a gas combustion engine failure the direct current bus battery pack will safely bring down the aircraft. Various embodiments of this invention may also include a landing gear crumple zone designed to soften a hard landing.

An eductor housing for an auxiliary power unit is disclosed, and includes a main body defining a longitudinal axis, a primary plenum, a secondary plenum, an inlet opening, and an outlet opening. The inlet opening is fluidly connected to the outlet opening. The primary plenum is separate from the secondary plenum and the primary plenum and the secondary plenum are fluidly connected to the outlet opening of the main body. The eductor housing also includes a plenum divider disposed around the outlet opening of the eductor housing. The plenum divider includes a plurality of chutes separated by a plurality of lobes. The plenum divider separates the primary plenum from the secondary plenum and the plurality of lobes extend radially inward towards the longitudinal axis of the main body of the eductor housing.

A unit (1, 10, 100) for generating non-propulsive electrical power for use on board an aircraft, the unit (1, 10, 100) comprising an electricity production device (3, 30) comprising a gas turbine (31) and an electricity generator (32) mechanically connected to an outlet shaft (33) of the gas turbine (31), said electricity generator (32) including output electrical connections (320) for being electrically connected to an electrical power supply network (2, 20, 200) on board an aircraft. The unit (1, 10, 100) includes energy storage means (5) and regulator means (6) configured to control the speed of rotation of the gas turbine (31) as a function of the electrical power required by the on-board electrical power supply network (2, 20, 200).

A vibration isolation device comprises a frame for mounting on an engine casing, an axis to be mounted to an external component to isolate, a resilient member located between the frame and the axis, and a fuse mechanism ensuring that the vibration isolation device presents a first stiffness when loads applied to said vibration isolation device are below a predetermined threshold load, and a second stiffness, lower than the first stiffness, when loads applied to the vibration isolation device are at least equal to the predetermined threshold load. The fuse mechanism constrains the resilient member within a predetermined space when loads applied to the vibration isolation device are below the predetermined threshold load and to release the resilient member so that this latter is capable of deforming beyond said predetermined space when loads applied to the vibration isolation device are at least equal to the predetermined threshold load.

An auxiliary power unit (APU) for aircraft is provided. The APU includes one or more battery modules for storing electrical power and an integrated controller adapted to operate the one or more battery modules for electrically powering aircraft subsystems for preflight readiness. A remote interface is communicatively coupled with the integrated controller and is adapted for displaying data from the APU and for receiving user instructions for transmission to the integrated controller for governing flow of electrical current between the APU and the aircraft subsystems.

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 waste-gas line has a first pipe section connectable to a battery and having an inlet end and a first flange, a separate second pipe section having a second outlet end and a second flange, and an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, both of a non-conductive material. The inner sleeve is positioned on an outer side of the first flange and of the second flange. The outer sleeve surrounds the first flange, the second flange and the inner sleeve. The first and the second flanges are fastened to one another in such a way that at least the second pipe section is electrically insulated by the inner and the outer sleeves and, by the combination of inner and outer sleeves, is heat-resistant up to a temperature of at least 1100 C. and pressure-resistant up to a pressure of at least 8 bar, for a duration of at least 120 seconds.

At least a selected one of a first and second engine are connected to a drive train for driving an aircraft accessory. A gearbox is connected to a primer mover propulsor and an actuator operatively associated with the selected engine is moveable between a position in which the selected engine drivingly engages the gearbox for driving the propulsor and a position in which the selected engine disengages from the gearbox. A position signal, a status signal, and a request signal respectively indicative of a present position of the actuator, a governing state and present speed of each engine, and a request for movement of the actuator from the present position to the other position are received. If the selected engine's speed differs from a predetermined threshold, a control signal is output for causing the engine's speed to be adjusted towards the threshold. A control signal indicating that movement of the actuator is permitted is then output.

An aircraft is disclosed, including a fuselage having a compartment configured to house refueling apparatus. An auxiliary power unit is mounted in the compartment.