An airframe or a part thereof 3, for example a skin assembly or a profile such as a structural profile, comprises: a wall W having an aperture A therethrough, wherein the wall W provides a frame F surrounding, at least in part, the aperture A; a panel P conforming with the aperture A; and wherein the airframe or the part 3 thereof is configurable in: a first configuration, wherein the panel P and the frame F are mutually spaced apart; and a second configuration, wherein the panel P is received in the frame F and wherein the frame F resists movement of the panel P in two or three mutually orthogonal directions.

A panel (1000) for a cabin of an aircraft, the panel (1000) including a laminate (150) with a first layer formed of lithiated carbon fibers (100), a second layer form of carbon fibers with a cathode lithium coating (200), and an electrolyte-containing separator (300) interposed between the first and the second layers and a pressure sensor (50a, 50b) on an outer surface of the laminate (150), and a switch (40) to regulate a voltage to the laminate (150) based on an output of the pressure sensor (50a, 50b) so that the panel (1000) expands.

An aircraft propulsion plant including an electric motor having a rotor and a stator mechanically linked to a base which can be mounted at the rear of an aircraft fuselage, a fan rotated by the rotor, a set of fixed blades located downstream of the fan, and a nacelle comprising an outer casing and a fan casing surrounding the fan and the set of fixed blades. The nacelle is mechanically linked to the base through the set of fixed blades. This configuration enables a cooling circuit to be formed for enabling the heat produced by the electric motor at the location of the stator to be evacuated towards the fixed blades and the nacelle where it is dissipated. Furthermore, this heat may be used for the de-icing of the nacelle lip.

An electrical arrangement on an aircraft fuselage has a fuselage component, an electrical consumer and a conductive electrical connection element. The connection element extends outwardly through an opening in the fuselage component and may have a bearing section on an inside or outside of the fuselage component that is arranged so as to tap or feed a voltage pole. The electrical connection element is electrically insulated from the opening and the fuselage component and is able to be connected to a voltage supply arranged on the inside. The electrical consumer is arranged on the outside of the fuselage component and is electrically connected to that part of the connection element projecting towards the outside of the fuselage.

The present invention includes a distributed propulsion system for a craft that comprises a frame, a plurality of hydraulic or electric motors disposed within or attached to the frame in a distributed configuration; a propeller operably connected to each of the hydraulic or electric motors, a source of hydraulic or electric power disposed within or attached to the frame and coupled to each of the disposed within or attached to the frame, wherein the source of hydraulic or electric power provides sufficient energy density for the craft to attain and maintain operations of the craft, a controller coupled to each of the hydraulic or electric motors, and one or more processors communicably coupled to each controller that control an operation and speed of the plurality of hydraulic or electric motors.

Methods and structures are disclosed. An example method includes: rotating a tubular mandrel about a longitudinal axis of the tubular mandrel; depositing a composite material on an inner surface of the tubular mandrel to form a composite tubular member on the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; inserting and expanding an inner expandable mandrel within the composite tubular member to cause the inner expandable mandrel to press the composite tubular member against the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; curing the composite tubular member; removing the inner expandable mandrel; placing a frame within the composite tubular member; and removing the tubular mandrel so as to obtain the composite tubular member with the frame placed therein.

A carrier film set configured to apply a number of stiffener assemblies to a layup mandrel, the carrier film set comprising: a number of alignment features configured to align the carrier film set relative to the layup mandrel; and a number of indexing features configured to index the number of stiffener assemblies onto the carrier film set.

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating a preform for a fuselage section of an aircraft. The method includes advancing a series of arcuate mandrel sections in a process direction through an assembly line, laying up fiber reinforced material onto the arcuate mandrel sections via layup stations, uniting the series of arcuate mandrel sections into a combined mandrel; and splicing the fiber reinforced material laid-up onto the arcuate mandrel sections.

Additive manufactured airframe structure having a plurality of additive manufactured airframe segments operable to be linked together in an assembled direction. Each of the plurality of additive manufactured airframe segments are separate from one another in an unassembled configuration. Plurality of reinforcement elements operable to be received in a receiving portion of the plurality of airframe segments and extending through the plurality of airframe segments in a normal direction. Receiving portion is located on the interior of a respective one of the plurality of airframe segments.

A method for manufacturing a centre wing box which includes inner stiffeners, at least one of which has at least one through-hole is described. For each stiffener having at least one through-hole and having a first leg of a first U-shaped and C-shaped profile and a second leg of a second U-shaped and C-shaped profile, the method includes, for each through-hole, the steps of producing a first section of the through-hole in the first U-shaped or C-shaped profile and of producing a second section of the through-hole in the second U-shaped or C-shaped profile before the first and second U-shaped or C-shaped profiles are positioned on the mould.