An aircraft propulsion system. The system comprises an internal combustion engine configured to drive a first propulsor and an electric generator. The system further comprises an electric motor or motors each configured to be powered by electric power provided by the generator, and configured to drive the first propulsor and/or a second propulsor. An electrical energy storage unit is provided, and is configured to store electrical energy supplied from the generator and supply electrical power to the electric motor. At maximum take-off power, the electric motor provides between 5% and 20% of total maximum aircraft propulsive take-off power.

A parallel hybrid aircraft comprising an electric propulsion system and a combustion propulsion system. The electric propulsion system may include a motor, one or more batteries, and a first propeller. The combustion propulsion system may include a combustion engine and a second propeller. The combustion propulsion system may be decoupled and independently operable from the electric propulsion system. A flight control system may control which of the electric propulsion system and/or the combustion propulsion system provides propulsion and/or thrust for ground movement, takeoff, forward flight at cruising altitude, and/or landing. The flight control system may control the electric propulsion system to provide propulsion and/or thrust to propel the parallel hybrid aircraft on the ground; control both the electric propulsion system and the combustion propulsion system to provide propulsion and/or thrust during takeoff; and/or control the combustion propulsion system to provide propulsion and/or thrust during forward flight at the cruising altitude.

This invention concerns an aircraft propulsion system in which an engine has an engine core comprising a compressor, a combustor and a turbine driven by a flow of combustion products of the combustor. At least one propulsive fan generates a mass flow of air to propel the aircraft. An electrical energy store is provided on board the aircraft. At least one electric motor is arranged to drive the propulsive fan and the engine core compressor. A controller controls the at least one electric motor to mitigate the creation of a contrail caused by the engine combustion products by altering the ratio of the mass flow of air by the propulsive fan to the flow of combustion products of the combustor. The at least one electric motor is controlled so as to selectively drive both the propulsive fan and engine core compressor.

A method of transporting cargo, a cargo transport system and an unmanned Wing In Ground Effect vessel (UWIG) for transporting the cargo. A wake up signal indicates assignment of a new delivery. The UWIG begins pre-flight, causes cargo to be transported to the UWIG, and causes the cargo loaded into UWIG storage compartments. Once loaded and the loaded UWIG is ready, the UWIG taxis, e.g., to the open sea. Environmentally sealed PAR thrust fans provide PAR thrust during takeoff. The UWIG flies to a delivery location where cargo is unloaded, and may be stored.

An aircraft has a small high-speed propeller used during take-off, climbing and landing maneuvers, and a large collapsible or foldable propeller used for loitering. The large collapsible or foldable propeller is kept in a folded configuration during take-offs and landings to minimize drag and to avoid ground strikes. During loitering operations, the large collapsible propeller is unfolded and used at a lower rotational speed than the smaller high-speed propeller to permit efficient and quite loitering. During loitering operations, the smaller high-speed propeller may be disengaged so as to spin freely or held in a non-rotational position. One or more foldable propellers may be paired with at least one conventional propeller. The propellers may be arranged as twin tractor, tractor-pusher, or nearly any other type of layout on the fuselage or wings, or on pods of the fuselage or wings.

UAV configurations and battery augmentation for UAV internal combustion engines, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative configuration includes a fuselage, first and second wings coupled to and pivotable relative to the fuselage, and a plurality of lift rotors carried by the fuselage. A representative battery augmentation arrangement includes a DC-powered motor, an electronic speed controller, and a genset subsystem coupled to the electronic speed controller. The genset subsystem can include a battery set, an alternator, and a motor-gen controller having a phase control circuit configurable to rectify multiphase AC output from the alternator to produce rectified DC feed to the DC-powered motor. The motor-gen controller is configurable to draw DC power from the battery set to produce the rectified DC feed.

A turbocharged gas turbine engine with an electric generator to provide electrical power for an aircraft (e.g., UAV) with multiple propulsor fans each driven by an electric motor, where the engine includes a low spool that drives a main fan and a high spool that drives a high speed electric generator. The low pressure compressor supplies low pressure air to an inlet of the high pressure compressor. A row of stator vanes in the high pressure turbine is cooled using cooling air bled off from the low pressure compressor outlet that is passed through an intercooler and a boost compressor, where the spent vane cooling air is discharged into the combustor. The low pressure turbine and the two compressors each include a variable inlet guide vane to control the power level of the engine. Bypass flow from the main fan is used to cool hot parts of the engine.

Disclosed are aircraft configured to perform tethered and untethered flights as well as methods of operating such aircraft. During a tethered flight, the aircraft is connected to a power line using its connecting module. While tethered, the aircraft can receive electrical energy from the power line and use this energy for propulsion and/or storage. The aircraft comprises a propulsion module for providing vertical and horizontal thrusts. In some examples, the aircraft comprises a transport module. The transport module may be removably attached to the propulsion module and be replaceable with another transportation module. During an untethered flight, the electrical energy is supplied to the propulsion module from a battery and/or a generator on board of the aircraft. The untethered flight capability can be used for landing and takeoff, flying away from power lines or when the power line is not operational, and other like examples.

A combined flying-driving vehicle having a hybrid propulsion system architecture, foldable wings, and rotatable propulsion devices that is capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), fixed wing cruise, and legally operating one a roadway surface.

An aircraft has an internal combustion engine and a wing including a hollow structural member. The aircraft has an electrical network including: at least one alternating current electrical generator configured to be driven by the internal combustion engine; an electrical motor configured to drive an aircraft propulsor; at least one conductor configured to electrically couple the electrical motor and the electrical generator; wherein the electrical conductor is formed of the hollow structural member of the aircraft wing.