The aircraft includes a fuselage and at least one wing extending from the fuselage. The wing includes first and second original portions and a plug portion positioned between the first and second original portions. A propulsion system is positioned on the at least one wing. The propulsion system includes at least one electric powerplant and at least one combustion powerplant. Each powerplant delivers power to a respective air mover for propelling the aircraft. The electric powerplant and/or the combustion powerplant is positioned outboard from the plug portion.

An aircraft hybrid electrical system includes an electric power generating system in signal communication with a thermal combustion engine, a secondary power system in signal communication with the electric power generating system, and a battery in signal communication with the electric power generating system and the secondary power system. The aircraft hybrid electrical system further comprises a system controller in signal communication with the electric power generating system, secondary power system, and the battery. The system controller is configured to monitor a charge capacity of the battery and selectively operate in a current charge mode and a voltage charge mode to charge the battery. The system controller invokes the current charge mode in response to detecting the charge capacity falls below a charge capacity threshold, and invokes the voltage charge mode in response to detecting the charge capacity reaches a target value.

A method and configuration to optimize an entire traction system available on a helicopter including an auxiliary engine by allowing the engine to provide non-propulsive and/or propulsive power during flight. The auxiliary engine is coupled to participate directly in providing mechanical or electrical propulsive power and electrical non-propulsive power to the aircraft. An architecture configuration includes an on-board power supply network, two main engines, and a system for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy between a main gearbox to the propulsion members and a mechanism receiving electrical energy including the on-board network and power electronics in conjunction with starters of the main engines. An auxiliary power engine provides electrical energy to the mechanism for receiving electrical energy via the energy conversion system and a mechanism for mechanical coupling between the auxiliary engine and at least one propulsion member.

An electrified propulsion system for a rotary wing aircraft includes a flight control computer that receives a signal indicative of a power demand on an engine; an engine control system that is in communication with the engine and is configured to control operation of the engine at a selected operating point; a generator that is in mechanical communication with the engine and is configured to receive mechanical power from the engine and convert the mechanical power to electrical power; an electric motor that is in electrical communication with the generator and is configured to receive the electric power; and a rotor that is in mechanical communication with the electric motor; wherein the electric motor is configured to control rotation and provide the mechanical power demand of the rotor at the selected operating point in response to the received signal.

A personal flight vehicle including a platform base assembly that provides a surface upon which the feet of an otherwise free-standing person are positionable, and including a plurality of axial flow propulsion systems positioned about a periphery of the platform base assembly. The propulsion systems generate a thrust flow in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the platform base assembly, where the thrust flow is unobstructed by the platform base assembly. The thrust flow has a sufficient intensity to provide vertical takeoff and landing, flight, hovering and locomotion maneuvers. The vehicle allows the pilot to control the spatial orientation of the platform base assembly by the movement, preferably direct, of at least part of his or her body, and the spatial movement of the vehicle is thus controlled

Some embodiments described herein relate to an aircraft that includes a support frame, at least one gas compartment, and multiple propulsion units. The gas compartment(s) can be coupled to the support frame and configured to contain a gas having a gas density less than the density of atmospheric air surrounding the aircraft during operation. Similarly stated, the gas-filled gas compartment(s) can produce a gas lifting force on the support frame. The propulsion units can each be configured to selectively produce a propulsive force with a thrust vector with a non-zero component along a vertical axis of the support frame. The maximum gross weight of the aircraft can be greater than either the gas lifting force of the maximum vertical propulsion force and less than the sum of the gas lifting force and the maximum vertical propulsion force.

The invention relates to a method for driving an air vehicle using a multilevel converter with at least two converter modules. A first operating voltage is applied to at least one of the converter modules in a first operating state, and a second operating voltage which is lower than the first operating voltage is applied to the converter module in a second operating state. The air vehicle is designed to carry out such a method and comprises an electric drive which has at least one multilevel converter with at least two converter modules, each of which is designed and connected so as to be supplied with a first operating voltage in a first operating state and with a second operating voltage which is lower than the first operating voltage in a second operating state. Advantageously, the air vehicle is an airplane, in particular a hybrid electric airplane.

This document describes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to navigate an unmanned aerial vehicle highway. The UAV includes a navigation system that includes a sensor, configured to gather environmental data, and a computing system configured to navigate the UAV. The computing system compares the environmental data to a specified data signature in the one or more spectra and determines a position of the unmanned aerial vehicle in the unmanned aerial vehicle highway. The UAV includes a hybrid generator system including an engine configured to generate mechanical energy and a generator motor coupled to the engine and configured to generate electrical energy from the mechanical energy generated by the engine. The UAV includes a rotor motor configured to drive a propeller to rotate. The navigation system is powered by the electrical energy generated by the generator motor.

Provided is a high efficiency long range drone, and more particularly, a high efficiency long range drone capable of increasing flight time and efficiently using power during long range cruising flight by selectively using the power among an engine generator and a battery and applying an auxiliary wing.

A converter for an aircraft includes an intermediate circuit for providing a DC voltage between a positive line and a negative line, at least two rectifiers connected to the intermediate circuit to produce the DC voltage from input AC voltages and at least two inverters connected to the intermediate circuit to produce AC output voltages from the DC voltage. The DC voltage terminals of the rectifiers are connected to a first series circuit and the DC voltage terminals of the inverters are connected to a second series circuit. The positive line and the negative line of the intermediate circuit are connected on an input side via the first series circuit and on the output side via the second series circuit. At least one of the DC voltage terminals includes a short circuit for short-circuiting terminal contacts by which the DC voltage terminal is connected to the respective series circuit.