A hybrid rotor propulsion system includes a motor having a rotational output connected to a rotor and a prime mover connected to the motor through a rotational input, the prime mover configured to apply a rotational input speed to the motor.

Provided is a vertical take-off/landing aircraft controlling a tilt angle of a main rotor, based on a vertical posture control signal during low-speed flight, wherein, when an aircraft steering signal including a vertical posture control signal for changing the pitch posture angle of the vertical take-off/landing aircraft by a first pitch posture angle is obtained, a flight controller determines a tilt angle of the main rotor with reference to the first pitch posture angle and generates a tilt angle control signal for the main rotor based on the determined tilt angle.

A tail rotor assembly coupled to a tailboom of a helicopter includes a tail rotor gearbox having top, bottom and aft sides and a shroud surrounding the tail rotor gearbox. The shroud includes a shroud airframe having top and bottom portions. The tail rotor assembly includes a tail rotor gearbox support assembly configured to support the tail rotor gearbox within the shroud. The tail rotor gearbox support assembly includes a support column coupling the aft side of the tail rotor gearbox between the top and bottom portions of the shroud airframe, an upper support crossbar coupling the top side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe and a lower support crossbar coupling the bottom side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe.

A rotor system for an aircraft including a driving member; an externally driven rim configured to be rotated by the driving member; a hub having a hub axis, the hub including a rotatable housing and a non-rotatable housing; a plurality of rotor blade assemblies rotatably coupled to the rotatable housing of the hub and the externally driven rim such that rotation of the externally driven rim rotates the plurality of rotor blade assemblies about the hub axis, each rotor blade assembly having a rotor blade rotatable about a respective pitch change axis; and a pitch control mechanism operably associated with the hub and the plurality of rotor blade assemblies, wherein, actuation of the pitch control mechanism rotates each rotor blade assembly about the respective pitch change axis to collectively control the pitch of the rotor blade, thereby generating a variable thrust output. Also, a method of operating the rotor system.

Systems and methods include providing an aircraft with a ducted rotor assembly. The ducted rotor assembly includes a housing having a duct, a rotor drive mechanism coupled to a rotor system, and a plurality of stators that both structurally support the rotor drive mechanism within the duct of the housing and carry a fluid through internal fluid passages in the plurality of stators to provide cooling to the rotor drive mechanism. Some of the stators carry fluid to the rotor drive mechanism, where the fluid absorbs heat from the rotor drive mechanism, and some of the stators carry fluid away from the rotor drive mechanism. The rotor system generates an airflow over the stators carrying fluid away from the rotor drive mechanism to effect transfer between the fluid and the airflow.

The present invention includes an a plurality of first variable speed motors arranged in a first matrix pattern and mounted on a tail boom of the helicopter; one or more fixed pitch blades attached to each of the plurality of first variable speed motors; and wherein a speed of one or more of the plurality of first variable speed motors is varied to provide an anti-torque thrust.

A duct configured with a fan to increase thrust. The duct includes an interior surface configured to surround a rotation axis of the fan. The interior surface includes a nozzle portion configured to be located upstream of the fan and a diffuser portion configured to be located downstream of the fan. The interior surface defines an opening configured to introduce additional airflow along the diffuser portion.

A shrouded rotor assembly for an aircraft. The shrouded rotor assembly comprises a stator hollow structure comprises formed from a plurality of composite angular segments. Each composite angular segment includes: a core arched section of a central hub casing, a peripheral rim section of an external hollow duct and a pair of angularly opposed sliced portions, respectively for one of a pair of guide vanes. The resulting stator hollow structure is a unitary one-piece, integrating together continuously the composite angular segments. The invention typically applies e.g. to aircrafts such as rotary wing aircrafts.

An anti-torque system for a rotorcraft includes a first tail fan assembly including a plurality of first fan blades, a second tail fan assembly including a plurality of second fan blades and a motor adapted to provide torque to the first and second fan blades. The first fan blades have a larger rotational inertia than the second fan blades. The second fan blades are adapted to experience a larger angular acceleration than the first fan blades in response to torque from the motor, thereby providing responsive yaw control for the rotorcraft.

A pitch control device for a ducted tail rotor of a rotorcraft. The pitch control device comprises a control input member with a disc-shaped central component and at least two connecting arms that extend radially from the disc-shaped central component, wherein the disc-shaped central component is provided for being mounted to an associated pitch control shaft of the ducted tail rotor, and a control transfer member with a ring-shaped connector and at least two push rods that extend axially from the ring-shaped connector, wherein each one of the at least two push rods is provided for being coupled to an associated pitch lever of a rotor blade of the ducted tail rotor.