The present invention relates to the field of aerial refuelling, usually by transfer of fuel from a tanker aircraft to a receiver aircraft. In particular the invention relates to a probe and drogue assembly arrangement in which the drogue assembly is steerable to facilitate engagement with the probe of the receiver aircraft. The invention provides a steerable drogue assembly for towing behind an aircraft, the drogue assembly comprising a reception coupling for receiving a probe of a receiver aircraft, one or more aerodynamic control features and one or more actuators provided in the drogue assembly and adapted to selectively activate said one or more control features, so that an activated control feature interacts with airflow passing the drogue so as to exert a control force on the drogue.

A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.

A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.

A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.

A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to extend a leading-edge vortex of a highly-swept wing aircraft wing are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a shoulder wing coupled to a fuselage of an aircraft above a highly-swept wing of the aircraft, the shoulder wing operative in a first position to extend a leading-edge vortex spanwise along the highly-swept wing of the aircraft.

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to extend a leading-edge vortex of a highly-swept wing aircraft wing are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a shoulder wing coupled to a fuselage of an aircraft above a highly-swept wing of the aircraft, the shoulder wing operative in a first position to extend a leading-edge vortex spanwise along the highly-swept wing of the aircraft.

A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including: a fuselage; a first pair of airfoils rotatable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the deployed position extending out from the fuselage and the retracted position extending substantially along a first portion on an exterior of the fuselage; a second pair of airfoils rotatable between a second retracted position and a second deployed position, the second deployed position extending out from the fuselage and the second retracted position extending substantially along the first portion on the exterior of the fuselage; and a rudder foldable against the fuselage in a pre-deployment position.

A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including: a fuselage; a first pair of airfoils rotatable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the deployed position extending out from the fuselage and the retracted position extending substantially along a first portion on an exterior of the fuselage; a second pair of airfoils rotatable between a second retracted position and a second deployed position, the second deployed position extending out from the fuselage and the second retracted position extending substantially along the first portion on the exterior of the fuselage; and a rudder foldable against the fuselage in a pre-deployment position.

A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.