A spaceplane and hybrid reaction engine employ micro-fusion enhanced propulsion in the presence of ambient cosmic rays and muons in the upper atmosphere at altitudes greater than 20 km. The reaction engines for the spaceplane may be of different types operable in different speed and altitude regimes, but at least one engine type incorporates a supply of deuterium-containing micro-fusion fuel that can be injected into the fuel mix along with the primary chemical fuel or into the exhaust in the nozzle section. The energetic fusion products from particle-target and/or muon-catalyzed fusion provide supplemental thrust for the spaceplane.

A propulsion assembly for a rotorcraft includes a blade assembly, a drive shaft coupled to the blade assembly and an electric motor coupled to the drive shaft and operable to provide rotational energy to the drive shaft to rotate the blade assembly. The propulsion assembly includes a landing assistance turbine coupled to the drive shaft and operable to selectively provide rotational energy to the drive shaft during an underpowered descent to rotate the blade assembly and provide upward thrust, thereby reducing a descent rate of the rotorcraft prior to landing.

An electric drive system of a gyroplane (28) includes a support rotor (11), a primary engine (7) connected with a pusher propeller (8) for movement in air, and an electric motor (1) for movement on road. The primary engine (7) is connected by means of a mechanical gear to an alternator (6), which is coupled with a charger (5), which is further connected to a traction battery (3). The traction battery (3) is bi-directionally connected with a Battery Management System (4), and the traction battery (3) is further electrically connected with a regulator (2) and a control unit (9), the regulator (2) being further connected with the electric motor (1) mounted adjacent to a driven road wheel (12) which is driven by the electric motor (1).

The present disclosure concerns control a hybrid electric gas turbine system (300) for an aircraft. The system comprises an electric generator (308) and a gas turbine (309) to form a generator system, an electric motor (303) and a fan (302) to form a propulsor (301), a controller (306) and an electric storage unit (307). After receiving a command for a change in demand for thrust, the controller (306) determines an operational profile that minimises a function comprising a measure of fuel supplied to the gas turbine (309), a transfer of electric power from or to the electric storage unit (307) and a difference between measures of current and demanded thrust over a time period. The controller then operates the electric motor (303), gas turbine (309) and electric storage unit (307) according to the determined operational profile over the time period.

A hybrid aircraft propulsion system. The system comprises a gas turbine engine comprising a compressor, a combustor, one or more turbines, a shaft coupled to one of the turbines, and a bypass fan mechanically driven by the shaft. The system further comprises an electrical generator mechanically coupled to the shaft, and an auxiliary propulsor mechanically coupled to an electric motor and electrically coupled to the electric generator. At maximum power, the gas turbine engine is configured to produce a turbine entry temperature at maximum power between 1800 Kelvin and 2000 Kelvin, the engine comprises a fan bypass ratio of between 4:1 and 13:1, and the generator is configured to absorb between 10% and 60% of the mechanical power generated by the turbine.

Systems and methods for distributing in an aircraft are provided. More particularly, in one embodiment, a system can include one or more gas turbine engines configured to provide propulsion and electrical power to an aircraft. The system can further include one or more electrical engines configured to provide propulsion for the aircraft. The system can include one or more first electrical power systems configured to provide power to the one or more electrical engines for one or more electrical power propulsion loads for the aircraft. The system can further include one or more second electrical power systems configured to provide power for one or more non-propulsion electrical power loads of the aircraft.

An exemplary tiltrotor aircraft with a hybrid drive system includes a first propulsion system having a first engine and a first supplemental driver operably coupled to a first proprotor that is operable between a helicopter mode and an airplane mode and a second propulsion system having a second engine and a second supplemental driver operably coupled to a second proprotor that is operable between a helicopter mode and an airplane mode.

The present invention includes a hybrid propulsion system for an aircraft comprising: an engine disposed within a fuselage of the aircraft, two electrical generators disposed within the fuselage and connected to the engine, and two nacelles. Each nacelle comprises a proprotor, and each nacelle houses two electric motors connected to the proprotor. Each electrical generator is connected to the two electric motors in each nacelle. The proprotors provide lift for vertical takeoff and landing in a helicopter mode. A fan is coupled to the fuselage and connected to two additional electric motors. Each additional electric motor is connected to one of the two electric generators. The fan provides thrust for forward flight during an airplane mode. The airplane mode includes increasing power to the fan while decreasing power to the proprotors to zero.

Systems and methods of aircraft thrust management are provided. For example, a propulsion system for an aircraft comprises a fuel cell assembly comprising a fuel cell, a turbomachine, and a controller comprising memory and one or more processors. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the propulsion system to perform operations including receiving data indicative of a propulsion system thrust discrepancy and modifying an output of the fuel cell in response to receiving data indicative of the propulsion system thrust discrepancy. Modifying the fuel cell output may include modifying output products, an electrical power output, or both of the fuel cell to balance the thrust provided by the propulsion system.

Systems and method for an electrical system on an aircraft are provided. In example embodiments, the electrical system can be for an aircraft having a turbine engine. The turbine engine having a high pressure (HP) spool and a low pressure (LP) spool. The HP spool can be configured to drive a first generator to provide a first electrical output. The LP spool can be configured to drive a second generator to provide a second electrical output. The first generator and the second generator can be coupled to an electrical power distribution bus that provides electrical power to a load. A hybrid electric propulsion system and a secondary aircraft systems bus can both be coupled to the electrical power distribution bus. The electrical system can further include a control system configured to allocate power among the first generator, the second generator, and the hybrid electric propulsion system, and the secondary aircraft systems bus.