An airframe assembly for an aircraft. The airframe assembly includes a first airframe member having a first skin, a second skin, a large cell core joined between the first and second skins and a solid insert having a side surface. The solid insert is joined between the first and second skins such that at least a portion of the side surface is adjacent to the large cell core. The first skin has a first surface disposed opposite the solid insert. The airframe assembly also includes a second airframe member having a second surface. An adhesive joint is disposed between the first and second surfaces structurally bonding the first airframe member to the second airframe member such that the second airframe member is positioned opposite the solid insert.

A core stiffened panel includes first and second skins having a large cell core and a solid insert joined therebetween. The solid insert has a side surface at least a portion of which is adjacent to the large cell core and may be joined to the large cell core. The first skin, the second skin and the solid insert may be formed from composite materials such as carbon composite materials and preferably have generally matching coefficients of thermal expansion.

An airframe assembly for an aircraft includes a first airframe member having first and second skins with a large cell core and a solid insert joined therebetween. The solid insert has a side surface at least a portion of which is adjacent to the large cell core. The first airframe member has a first set of openings extending through the first skin, the solid insert and the second skin. The airframe assembly also includes a second airframe member having a second set of openings operable to be aligned with the first set of openings of the first airframe member. Each of a plurality of fasteners extends through one of the openings of the first set of openings and one of the openings of the second set of openings securably coupling the first airframe member to the second airframe member.

An airfoil structure comprising a torsion-box member with a cover and a spar web connected by at least one pivot joint to a leading-edge or trailing-edge member, wherein the pivot joint is configured to permit rotation of the leading-edge member, or trailing-edge member, relative to the torsion-box member between an installation position and an operational position.

A spar for a wing includes a monolithic structure and a strut. The monolithic structure includes an upper chord, a lower chord, and a web positioned between the upper chord and the lower chord. The strut, distinct and separate from the monolithic structure, is coupled to the monolithic structure between the upper chord and the lower chord and extends across the web.

A bonding tool is described that is used to secure sacrificial pads to bonding locations on a perimeter of a rib during a bonding process. In one embodiment, the bonding tool includes a base member having a rib receptacle dimensioned to receive a rib of a wing, a plurality of compression forms disposed around at least a portion of the rib receptacle and proximate to a perimeter of the rib, where the compression forms include a plurality of sacrificial pads that face towards bonding locations on the perimeter of the rib, and at least one bladder proximate to the compression forms that expands between a wall of the base member and the compression forms to press the sacrificial pads against the bonding locations while the sacrificial pads bond to the bonding locations.

An aircraft is described and includes a fuselage, a wing coupled to the fuselage, and a rotor system including a proprotor system and an engine. An interconnect driveshaft gear is configured to communicate mechanical energy between a gearbox and an interconnect driveshaft. An accessory gear is coplanar with and in mechanical communication with the driveshaft gear. A proprotor gear is coplanar with and in mechanical communication with the interconnect driveshaft gear and the accessory gear and communicates mechanical energy to the proprotor system. An engine gear coplanar and in mechanical communication with the interconnect driveshaft ear, the accessory gear, and the proprotor gear transmits mechanical energy to the proprotor system via the proprotor gear.

A wing assembly is disclosed. The wing assembly includes a main structure having a first contact face and a first recess arranged to receive a portion of a tension bolt; and a modular edge having a second contact face and a second recess arranged to receive a portion of the tension bolt. The modular edge is pivotally mounted on the main structure for rotation between an installation position and an operational position in which the modular edge is aligned with the main structure to form at least part of an edge of the wing assembly. The wing assembly is arranged such that, when the modular edge is in the operational position, tension in a tension bolt received in the first and second recesses acts to press the first and second contact faces together, thereby forming a tension joint that resists pivoting of the modular edge relative to the main structure.

An aerostructure assembly of an aircraft is disclosed having a first aerostructure portion extending in a direction between a first position and a second position and including structurally of at least one rib or spar portion at least partially enclosed by a cover portion; a corresponding second aerostructure portion connected to the first aerostructure portion and extending continuously in the direction from the first aerostructure portion between the second position and a third position and including structurally of at least one further rib or further spar portion at least partially enclosed by a further cover portion. The first aerostructure portion has a first aerodynamic planform area (SI) and the corresponding second aerostructure portion has a corresponding second aerodynamic planform area (S2). A total aerodynamic planform area of the first aerostructure portion and corresponding second aerostructure portion is equal to the sum of the first aerodynamic planform area and the corresponding second aerodynamic planform area.

A flying vehicle comprising a wing ship body having a pair of wing spars secured thereto; and a plurality of hinged wing-rib assemblies disposed along each wing spar that allows the wings to be folded against the body of the flying vehicle. Fabric-coupling members connect wing fabric to the wing-rib assemblies. A method for folding or collapsing the wings of a wing-in-ground-effect wing ship comprising providing a wing-in-ground-effect wing ship having a pair of wings, and folding the wings toward and against the body of the wing-in-ground-effect wing ship. A fabric covered wing folding assembly including a pair of wings with each wing having a wing spar and covered by a fabric. A plurality of hinged wing-rib assemblies is disposed along each wing spar that allows the wings to be folded against the body of the aircraft. A method is provided for folding or collapsing the wings of an aircraft. The method comprises the steps of providing a cable connected assembly and a cable release mechanism coupled to the body of an aircraft; and providing a fabric covering the wings of the aircraft.