A hybrid propulsion system for a tiltrotor aircraft comprises one or more engines that provide thrust whenever the tiltrotor aircraft is in a first forward flight mode, one or more electrical or hydraulic power sources, and two or more pylon assemblies. Each pylon assembly houses one or more electric or hydraulic motors connected to the one or more electrical or hydraulic power sources and a proprotor. All or part of each pylon assembly is rotatable. The proprotors provide lift whenever the tiltrotor aircraft is in a vertical takeoff and landing mode and a hover mode, and provide thrust whenever the tiltrotor aircraft is in a second forward flight mode.

Embodiments provide an aircraft with one or more tilting fan assemblies that are configured to tilt between a forward flight position and a vertical lift position. The aircraft may also include a plurality of lift fan assemblies for vertical movement. The tilting fan assemblies may be coupled to the fuselage or wings of the aircraft via one or more tilting mechanisms. A control system coupled to the aircraft may control the one or more tilting mechanisms to move the tilting fan assemblies between the forward flight position and the vertical lift position. The tilting fan assemblies may be coupled to one or more support structures that are coupled the fuselage or wings of the aircraft.

A rotorcraft that utilizes both a main compound rotor and a plurality of tiltrotors is disclosed. The main rotor and the thrusters can provide vertical lift for vertical take-off and landing of the rotorcraft. The thrusters of the rotorcraft can articulate to a horizontal position to facilitate horizontal flight. The main rotor of the rotorcraft can continue to provide vertical lift for the rotorcraft in horizontal flight, as well as operate in an autorotation mode. In the event of a failure of the main power source of the rotorcraft, the main rotor in autorotation mode can safety land the rotorcraft. In the autorotation mode, the main rotor can create electrical energy that is stored in a battery and can be used to power the plurality of thrusters. The rotorcraft can also be configured in an anti-torque mode, where the thrusters cancel out the torque of the main rotor.

A system for altitude control of an autogyro includes an unpowered rotor for generating lift and a forward propulsion system for generating a horizontal thrust component of a thrust vector for propelling the autogyro forward during flight. The system for altitude control also includes at least one thrust steering control devices configured to steer thrust generated by the forward propulsion system such that the forward propulsion system generates a vertical thrust component of the thrust vector.

An exemplary tiltrotor aircraft with a hybrid drive system includes a first propulsion system having a first engine and a first supplemental driver operably coupled to a first proprotor that is operable between a helicopter mode and an airplane mode and a second propulsion system having a second engine and a second supplemental driver operably coupled to a second proprotor that is operable between a helicopter mode and an airplane mode.

An aircraft includes a fuselage and propellers, wherein the propellers can be retracted beneath the fuselage.

A multirotor aircraft that includes a chassis, at least three engines that are equipped with propellers, and one or more axial free wings that are connected to the chassis by axial connections. The leading edges of the one or more axial free wings are designed to face constantly same direction when the multirotor flying, and the attack angles of the one or more axial free wings are designed to be changed relatively to the chassis due to flow of air over the one or more axial free wings.

A multirotor aircraft that includes a chassis, at least three engines that are equipped with propellers, and one or more axial free wings that are connected to the chassis by axial connections. The leading edges of the one or more axial free wings are designed to face constantly same direction when the multirotor flying, and the attack angles of the one or more axial free wings are designed to be changed relatively to the chassis due to flow of air over the one or more axial free wings.

A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) light aircraft comprising: a tilt-wing comprising port and starboard wings; a power train having: an electric motor coupled to a rotor for providing the aircraft with thrust for flight mounted to each of the port and starboard wings; a battery configured to store electric energy to power the electric motors; an electric generator; and a combustion engine configured to drive the generator to produce electric energy for storage in the battery; and a controller configured to autonomously control the tilt-wing and power train to provide VTOL takeoffs and landing having relatively short hover periods.

A differential thrust vectoring system including a first thruster rotation assembly configured to rotate a first thruster relative of an aircraft, a second thruster rotation assembly configured to rotate a second thruster of an aircraft, and an actuator. The system is configured such that actuation of the actuator causes disparate rotation about the tilt axis of the first and second thrusters.