An airplane mainly extending along an axis between a nose group and a tail group is provided. The airplane has a fuselage extending axially between the nose group and the tail group and having a fuselage wall internally defining a fuselage housing, wings extending transversely to the axis from the fuselage, and at least one passenger pod having a pod wall defining a pressurized passenger housing in which passengers are accommodable. The at least one passenger pod is removably housable in the fuselage housing. The airplane is configurable in an operating configuration, suitable for allowing flight of the airplane, in which the at least one passenger pod is housed in the fuselage housing and an emergency configuration, in which, with the airplane in flight, the at least one passenger pod is ejected from the fuselage housing.

An airplane mainly extending along an axis between a nose group and a tail group is provided. The airplane has a fuselage extending axially between the nose group and the tail group and having a fuselage wall internally defining a fuselage housing, wings extending transversely to the axis from the fuselage, and at least one passenger pod having a pod wall defining a pressurized passenger housing in which passengers are accommodable. The at least one passenger pod is removably housable in the fuselage housing. The airplane is configurable in an operating configuration, suitable for allowing flight of the airplane, in which the at least one passenger pod is housed in the fuselage housing and an emergency configuration, in which, with the airplane in flight, the at least one passenger pod is ejected from the fuselage housing.

An aircraft includes an airframe and a distributed propulsion system including a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to the airframe. Each of the propulsion assemblies includes a nacelle, an engine disposed within the nacelle, a proprotor coupled to the engine and a thrust vectoring system. Each thrust vectoring system includes a pivoting plate, a rotary actuator operable to rotate the pivoting plate about a propulsion assembly centerline axis and a linear actuator operable to pivot the pivoting plate about a pivot axis that is normal to the propulsion assembly centerline axis. The engine is mounted on the pivoting plate such that operation of the pivoting plate enables resolution of a thrust vector within a thrust vector cone.

A rocket motor assembly (3) for use with an aircraft ejection seat comprises a rocket motor (4) having a rocket motor housing (5) and an exhaust outlet (6-9) to permit exhaust gas to be output from the rocket motor (4) along a thrust vector. The rocket motor assembly (3) comprises a first rotational coupling (12) which is configured to rotationally couple a first part (13) of the rocket motor housing (5) to a support structure (10) and a releasable coupling (14) which is configured to releasably couple a second part (15) of the rocket motor housing (5) to the support structure (10). The releasable coupling (14) is configured to release the second part (15) of the rocket motor housing (5) to permit the rocket motor housing (5) to rotate about the rotational coupling (12) to change the angle of the thrust vector of exhaust gas output from the exhaust outlet (6-9).

A rocket motor assembly (3) for use with an aircraft ejection seat comprises a rocket motor (4) having a rocket motor housing (5) and an exhaust outlet (6-9) to permit exhaust gas to be output from the rocket motor (4) along a thrust vector. The rocket motor assembly (3) comprises a first rotational coupling (12) which is configured to rotationally couple a first part (13) of the rocket motor housing (5) to a support structure (10) and a releasable coupling (14) which is configured to releasably couple a second part (15) of the rocket motor housing (5) to the support structure (10). The releasable coupling (14) is configured to release the second part (15) of the rocket motor housing (5) to permit the rocket motor housing (5) to rotate about the rotational coupling (12) to change the angle of the thrust vector of exhaust gas output from the exhaust outlet (6-9).

An aircraft includes a flying frame and a pod assembly that is selectively attached to the flying frame. The pod assembly has an aerodynamic outer shape. The flying frame includes an airframe having first and second wings, a propulsion system attached to the airframe and a flight control system operably associated with the propulsion system. The flying frame has a vertical takeoff and landing mode in which the first wing is forward of the pod assembly and the second wing is aft of the pod assembly. The flying frame has a forward flight mode in which the first wing is below the pod assembly and the second wing is above the pod assembly. The flying frame is operable for flight both with the pod assembly and without the pod assembly attached thereto. The flying frame is operable to jettison the pod assembly during flight.

An aircraft includes a flying frame and a pod assembly that is selectively attached to the flying frame. The pod assembly has an aerodynamic outer shape. The flying frame includes an airframe having first and second wings, a propulsion system attached to the airframe and a flight control system operably associated with the propulsion system. The flying frame has a vertical takeoff and landing mode in which the first wing is forward of the pod assembly and the second wing is aft of the pod assembly. The flying frame has a forward flight mode in which the first wing is below the pod assembly and the second wing is above the pod assembly. The flying frame is operable for flight both with the pod assembly and without the pod assembly attached thereto. The flying frame is operable to jettison the pod assembly during flight.

In some embodiments, a propulsion assembly for an aircraft includes a nacelle, at least one self-contained fuel tank disposed within the nacelle operable to contain a liquid fuel, an engine disposed within the nacelle operable to run on the liquid fuel, a drive system mechanically coupled to the engine and operable to rotate responsive to rotation of the engine, a rotor hub mechanically coupled to the drive system operable to rotate responsive to rotation of the drive system and a proprotor mechanically coupled to the rotor hub and operable to rotate therewith.

A passenger module that may be connected to an aircraft for transport, and may be detached and attach different module for carriage to a different destination. In alternative embodiments involving different aircrafts such as fixed wing and helicopter aircraft, a module may be adapted to have a transparent exterior so that passengers may have a broad range of unobstructed view of the outside surroundings. The module may have a range of free movements while still connected to the aircraft for such purposes as sightseeing.

A passenger module that may be connected to an aircraft for transport, and may be detached and attach different module for carriage to a different destination. In alternative embodiments involving different aircrafts such as fixed wing and helicopter aircraft, a module may be adapted to have a transparent exterior so that passengers may have a broad range of unobstructed view of the outside surroundings. The module may have a range of free movements while still connected to the aircraft for such purposes as sightseeing.