A ducted fan assembly includes a duct having an inlet, an inner surface, an expanding diffuser and an outlet. A fan disposed within the duct between the inlet and the expanding diffuser is configured to rotate about a fan axis to generate airflow. An active flow control system includes a plurality of injection zones circumferentially distributed about the inner surface. The expanding diffuser has a diffuser angle configured to create flow separation when the airflow is uninfluenced by the active flow control system such that the airflow has a thrust vector with a first direction that is substantially parallel to the fan axis. Injection of pressurized air from one of the injection zones asymmetrically reduces the flow separation between the airflow and the expanding diffuser downstream of that injection zone such that the thrust vector of the airflow has a second direction that is not parallel to the first direction.

A gearbox including an angular contact ball bearing comprising a first row of balls provided with a plurality of balls, a second row of balls provided with another plurality of balls, at least one inner ring and at least one outer ring. According to the invention, in a degraded operating mode of the bearing, the first row of balls is configured to transmit at least one first axial force oriented along a first axis and at least one second axial force oriented along a second axis opposite the first axis, the second row of balls transmitting no axial force.

An aircraft assembly is provided and includes a first member extending from an aircraft airframe, a propeller, which is drivable to rotate and a secondary member on which the propeller is supportable and which is aerodynamically pivotable with respect to the first member.

A rotor assembly includes a rotor hub which rotates about a hub rotation axis and a blade connected to the rotor hub. The blade rotates with the rotor hub around the hub rotation axis, and the blade is configured to rotate around a pitch rotation axis of the blade to adjust a pitch of the blade. The rotor assembly includes a pitch horn having a first end rotatably connected to the blade. The pitch horn is configured to rotate with the blade around the pitch rotatably axis of the blade to adjust the pitch of the blade, and the pitch horn is configured to rotate relative to the blade around a pitch horn pivot axis arranged at a non-parallel angle relative to the pitch rotation axis of the blade.

A rotor assembly includes a rotor hub which rotates about a hub rotation axis and a blade connected to the rotor hub. The blade rotates with the rotor hub around the hub rotation axis, and the blade is configured to rotate around a pitch rotation axis of the blade to adjust a pitch of the blade. The rotor assembly includes a pitch horn having a first end rotatably connected to the blade. The pitch horn is configured to rotate with the blade around the pitch rotatably axis of the blade to adjust the pitch of the blade, and the pitch horn is configured to rotate relative to the blade around a pitch horn pivot axis arranged at a non-parallel angle relative to the pitch rotation axis of the blade.

An aircraft rotor system includes a rotating pitch change shaft which rotates about an axis, a translating element disposed within the rotating pitch change shaft and movable along the axis and a pitch change bearing assembly which transfers movement of the translating element to the pitch change shaft. The pitch change bearing assembly includes a primary bearing and a secondary bearing coupled to the rotating pitch change shaft via the translating element when the primary bearing is in a first mode. A thrust shoulder is coupled to the translating element. The thrust shoulder is movable into engagement with the secondary bearing in response to failure of the primary bearing such that in a second mode, movement of the translating element is primarily transferred to the pitch change shaft via the secondary bearing.

An aircraft rotor system includes a rotating pitch change shaft which rotates about an axis, a translating element disposed within the rotating pitch change shaft and movable along the axis and a pitch change bearing assembly which transfers movement of the translating element to the pitch change shaft. The pitch change bearing assembly includes a primary bearing and a secondary bearing coupled to the rotating pitch change shaft via the translating element when the primary bearing is in a first mode. A thrust shoulder is coupled to the translating element. The thrust shoulder is movable into engagement with the secondary bearing in response to failure of the primary bearing such that in a second mode, movement of the translating element is primarily transferred to the pitch change shaft via the secondary bearing.

According to some embodiments, a rotorcraft includes a secondary rotor control system located proximate to the empennage of the rotorcraft. The secondary rotor control system includes at least one hydraulic pump and at least one hydraulic actuator. The at least one hydraulic pump is located proximate to the empennage. The at least one hydraulic actuator is located proximate to the empennage and configured to adjust at least one operating characteristic of the at least one secondary rotor blade.

According to some embodiments, a rotorcraft includes a secondary rotor control system located proximate to the empennage of the rotorcraft. The secondary rotor control system includes at least one hydraulic pump and at least one hydraulic actuator. The at least one hydraulic pump is located proximate to the empennage. The at least one hydraulic actuator is located proximate to the empennage and configured to adjust at least one operating characteristic of the at least one secondary rotor blade.

An anti-torque rotor of a helicopter, having: a supporting body; a drive shaft which rotates about a first axis with respect to the supporting body; a hub connected operatively to drive shaft and angularly fixed with respect to first axis; at least one blade which is connected operatively to hub, is angularly fixed with respect to first axis, and is angularly movable with respect to a second axis to adjust the pitch angle of blade; and an actuator which can be operated to rotate blade about second axis to adjust the pitch angle of blade; actuator has an electric motor which generates torque along the first axis; and a mechanical stage interposed between the electric motor and blade, and designed to convert the torque into rotation of blade about the respective second axes; electric motor is fixed to supporting body.