A pitch angle blocking device for blocking the pitch angle of a multi-blade rotor that has neighboring first and second rotor blades in circumferential direction that extend from a rotor hub of a rotary-wing aircraft In non-operational mode of the rotary-wing aircraft. The present embodiments further relate to a multi-blade rotor of a rotary-wing aircraft that is adapted to receiving such a pitch angle blocking device, and to a rotary-wing aircraft with such a multi-blade rotor. The pitch angle blocking device comprises first and second attachment means that are configured to be non-rotatably and releasably attached to the first and second rotor blades spaced apart from the rotor hub, and a connecting device that non-rotatably connects the first attachment means with the second attachment means.

An aircraft includes an airframe with an upper portion and an extending tail, a counter-rotating, coaxial main rotor assembly disposed at the upper portion of the airframe, a translational thrust system, including a propeller, disposed at the extending tail of the airframe and a flight control system configured to control at least one of revolutions-per-minute (RPM) and pitch of the propeller of the translational thrust system in response to an input speed or acceleration command.

A method for driving a tilt rotor between vertical and horizontal using a variable displacement motor controlled in response to a swash angle of the motor measured in a feedback loop. The loop includes an algorithm configured to monitor change in swash angle as the motor speed reduces and the actual tilt position of the rotor pylon approaches the second position and, based on the change and actual tilt position, to limit change in swash angle to be within a predetermined range as a percentage of the operating load.

The present invention includes a safety apparatus and method for protecting users during maintenance operations for a rotorcraft comprising: at least one permanent, semi-permanent, or detachable safety bar, strap, fastener, hook, or loop that is attached or attachable to a rotorcraft, wherein the safety bar, strap, fastener, hook, or loop is positioned in an area or surface between a windshield of the rotorcraft and a tail boom of the rotorcraft and is connectable to a user safety device to provide fall protection from the area or surface.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a fuselage frame and a propulsion system coupled to the fuselage frame. The propulsion system includes a first propulsion device and a second propulsion device. The first propulsion device includes a first rotor blade assembly and a first rotor mount assembly, and the second propulsion device includes a second rotor blade assembly and a second rotor mount assembly. The first rotor mount assembly is configured to not allow the second rotor blade assembly to be assembled to the first rotor mount assembly.

Disclosed is a blade lock assembly, which may include a drag brace coupled to a fold crank assembly and to a rotary wing blade and may further include an actuator assembly configured to be coupled to a rotary wing cuff. The actuator assembly may include an actuator pin housing, an actuation pin at least partially sheathed by the actuator pin housing, and an actuator configured to extend and retract the actuation pin away from and toward the actuator pin housing.

An aircraft includes an airframe having an empennage, a counter rotating, coaxial main rotor assembly located at the airframe including an upper rotor assembly and a lower rotor assembly, and a translational thrust system positioned at the empennage and providing translational thrust to the airframe. At least two control surfaces located at the empennage are independently operable via commands from one or more flight control computers. A method of operating an aircraft includes transmitting a first signal from one or more flight control computers to a first control surface located at a first lateral side of a translational thrust system, and actuating the first control surface to a first position via the first signal. A second signal is transmitted to a second control surface located at a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, and the second control surface is actuated to a second position via the second signal

An aircraft includes an airframe having an extending tail, a counter rotating, coaxial main rotor assembly disposed at the airframe including an upper rotor assembly and a lower rotor assembly, and a translational thrust system positioned at the extending tail and providing translational thrust to the airframe. A fly by wire control system for the aircraft includes a flight control system configured to receive a plurality of inputs and a flight control computer to translate the inputs into commands and issue the commands to one or more controlled elements of the aircraft. A fly by wire control system for a dual coaxial rotor rotorcraft with auxiliary propulsor includes a flight control system configured to receive a plurality of inputs and a flight control computer to translate the inputs into commands and issue the commands to one or more controlled elements of the rotorcraft.

An aircraft includes an airframe having an extending tail and a longitudinal axis extending from a nose of the airframe defining a length of the airframe. A counter rotating, coaxial main rotor assembly is located at the airframe and includes an upper rotor assembly and a lower rotor assembly. The upper rotor assembly and the lower rotor assembly rotate about an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation intersects the longitudinal axis forward of a midpoint of the longitudinal axis.

An aircraft composed of an airframe, an extending tail, a counter rotating, coaxial main rotor assembly including an upper rotor assembly and a lower rotor assembly, and a translational thrust system positioned at the extending tail. The translational thrust system provides translational thrust to the airframe. The aircraft includes a turn radius between about (595) feet and about (2440) feet for an airspeed between about (120) knots and about (210) knots at a constant altitude.