A wing includes a wing tip hinged to a main wing section. The wing tip includes a stub spar extending past an end of the wing tip. When the wing tip is extended, the stub spar extends into the main wing section to react a moment load across a length of the stub spar.

Systems, devices, and methods including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); one or more inner wing panels of the UAV; one or more outer wing panels of the UAV; at least one inboard propeller attached to at least one engine disposed on the one or more inner wing panels; at least one tip propeller attached to at least one engine disposed on the one or more outer wing panels; at least one microcontroller configured to: determine an angular position of the at least one inboard propeller; and send a signal to halt rotation of the at least one inboard propeller such that the at least one inboard propeller is held in an attitude that provides for clearance of the propeller blade to the ground upon landing.

Systems, devices, and methods including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); one or more inner wing panels of the UAV; one or more outer wing panels of the UAV; at least one inboard propeller attached to at least one engine disposed on the one or more inner wing panels; at least one tip propeller attached to at least one engine disposed on the one or more outer wing panels; at least one microcontroller configured to: determine an angular position of the at least one inboard propeller; and send a signal to halt rotation of the at least one inboard propeller such that the at least one inboard propeller is held in an attitude that provides for clearance of the propeller blade to the ground upon landing.

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a fuselage, an empennage having an all-moving horizontal stabilizer located at a tail end of the fuselage, a wing having the fuselage positioned approximately halfway between the distal ends of the wing, wherein the wing is configured to transform between a substantially straight wing configuration and a canted wing configuration using a canted hinge located on each side of the fuselage. The VTOL aircraft may further includes one or more retractable pogo supports, wherein a retractable pogo support is configured to deploy from each of the wing's distal ends.

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a fuselage, an empennage having an all-moving horizontal stabilizer located at a tail end of the fuselage, a wing having the fuselage positioned approximately halfway between the distal ends of the wing, wherein the wing is configured to transform between a substantially straight wing configuration and a canted wing configuration using a canted hinge located on each side of the fuselage. The VTOL aircraft may further includes one or more retractable pogo supports, wherein a retractable pogo support is configured to deploy from each of the wing's distal ends.

A solar powered aircraft having segmented wings that can be reconfigured during flight to optimize collection of solar energy are described. The aircraft have rigid construction that is resistant to inclement weather and is configured to rely on free flight control at high altitude and under conventional conditions, thereby providing flight duration in excess of 2 months. The aircraft is particularly suitable for use as part of a telecommunications network. A telecommunications network incorporating such aircraft is also discussed.

A system for controlling a magnitude of a sonic boom caused by off-design operation of a supersonic aircraft includes a sensor configured to detect a condition of the supersonic aircraft. The system further includes a control surface that is mounted to a wing of the supersonic aircraft. The system still further includes a processor communicatively coupled to the sensor and operatively coupled with the control surface. The processor is configured to (1) receive information from the sensor indicative of the condition of the supersonic aircraft, (2) determine that there is a deviation between a lift distribution and a design-condition lift distribution based on the information, and (3) control the control surface to move in a manner that reduces the deviation. The magnitude of the sonic boom is reduced when the deviation is reduced.

A system for controlling a magnitude of a sonic boom caused by off-design operation of a supersonic aircraft includes a sensor configured to detect a condition of the supersonic aircraft. The system further includes a control surface that is mounted to a wing of the supersonic aircraft. The system still further includes a processor communicatively coupled to the sensor and operatively coupled with the control surface. The processor is configured to (1) receive information from the sensor indicative of the condition of the supersonic aircraft, (2) determine that there is a deviation between a lift distribution and a design-condition lift distribution based on the information, and (3) control the control surface to move in a manner that reduces the deviation. The magnitude of the sonic boom is reduced when the deviation is reduced.

A system for controlling a magnitude of a sonic boom includes a first sensor configured to detect a first condition of the supersonic aircraft. The system further includes a pair of wings configured to move fore and aft. The system further includes a processor communicatively coupled with the sensor and operatively coupled with the pair of wings. The processor is configured to (1) receive a first information from the first sensor indicative of the first condition, (2) calculate a lift distribution of the supersonic aircraft based on the first information, (3) determine an existence of a deviation of the lift distribution from a desired lift distribution based on the flight condition, and (4) control the pair of wings to move to redistribute the lift in a manner that more closely conforms to the desired lift distribution. The magnitude of the sonic boom is reduced when the deviation is reduced.

A system for controlling a magnitude of a sonic boom includes a first sensor configured to detect a first condition of the supersonic aircraft. The system further includes a pair of wings configured to move fore and aft. The system further includes a processor communicatively coupled with the sensor and operatively coupled with the pair of wings. The processor is configured to (1) receive a first information from the first sensor indicative of the first condition, (2) calculate a lift distribution of the supersonic aircraft based on the first information, (3) determine an existence of a deviation of the lift distribution from a desired lift distribution based on the flight condition, and (4) control the pair of wings to move to redistribute the lift in a manner that more closely conforms to the desired lift distribution. The magnitude of the sonic boom is reduced when the deviation is reduced.