Variations of an aerial vehicle, all with capability of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), with one variation comprising at least three engines, at least three rotors, a flight control system, battery, and propulsion system. The second VTOL aerial vehicle variation being a hybrid with engine-powered rotors and electric-powered rotors configured to work with a flight control system and battery. The first and second variations having the option of a genset system which recharges the battery. The third VTOL aerial vehicle variation being all-electric-powered rotors configured to work with a flight control system and a genset system which powers the rotors and/or recharges the battery.

Variations of an aerial vehicle, all with capability of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), with one variation comprising at least three engines, at least three rotors, a flight control system, battery, and propulsion system. The second VTOL aerial vehicle variation being a hybrid with engine-powered rotors and electric-powered rotors configured to work with a flight control system and battery. The first and second variations having the option of a genset system which recharges the battery. The third VTOL aerial vehicle variation being all-electric-powered rotors configured to work with a flight control system and a genset system which powers the rotors and/or recharges the battery.

A high altitude air start equipment for an aircraft reciprocating engine includes: a compressor configured to suck and compress air, and supply the compressed air to the aircraft reciprocating engine; and a motor configured to supply the compressed air to the reciprocating engine to restart the reciprocating engine or to restore output by outputting rotational power to the compressor when the reciprocating engine stops or malfunctions during flight of the aircraft.

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.

An engine assembly having an improved mounting system or assembly is disclosed. Features of this mounting system include having crankcase arms that are integrally formed with a crankcase of the engine assembly, having multiple mounting legs that each have a dedicated vibration damping subassembly and where the stiffness of at least two of the mounting legs is different (by varying the configurations of the corresponding vibration damping subassemblies), and using a mounting ring or base with having differently oriented mounting pads for securement of the corresponding mounting leg relative thereto.

An engine assembly having an improved mounting system or assembly is disclosed. Features of this mounting system include having crankcase arms that are integrally formed with a crankcase of the engine assembly, having multiple mounting legs that each have a dedicated vibration damping subassembly and where the stiffness of at least two of the mounting legs is different (by varying the configurations of the corresponding vibration damping subassemblies), and using a mounting ring or base with having differently oriented mounting pads for securement of the corresponding mounting leg relative thereto.

A method and system for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle (such as a remotely operable unmanned aerial vehicle) to perform or implement a control strategy for controlling operation of the engine. The method and system comprises providing first and second modes optionally available for operating the engine, and changing operation of the engine from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation following a determination that a characteristic of the operation of the engine (such as engine speed) has been requested to be modified to beyond a predetermined threshold or level. The method and system further comprises reverting control of operation of the engine from the second mode to the first mode once the requested characteristic is no longer beyond the predetermined threshold or level.

An aircraft engine assembly having a turbo-compounded internal combustion engine having an engine shaft. A coolant cooler is fluidly connected to a coolant circuitry of the internal combustion engine and to the environment. A plenum is connected with the environment via the coolant cooler and via an air outlet. A fan is disposed adjacent the air outlet and is operable to drive an airflow from the environment into the plenum via the coolant cooler. The fan is spaced apart from the internal combustion engine in a direction perpendicular to the engine shaft. A method of defining a cooling air circulation is also discussed.

An aircraft engine assembly having a turbo-compounded internal combustion engine having an engine shaft. A coolant cooler is fluidly connected to a coolant circuitry of the internal combustion engine and to the environment. A plenum is connected with the environment via the coolant cooler and via an air outlet. A fan is disposed adjacent the air outlet and is operable to drive an airflow from the environment into the plenum via the coolant cooler. The fan is spaced apart from the internal combustion engine in a direction perpendicular to the engine shaft. A method of defining a cooling air circulation is also discussed.

An unmanned aerial vehicle capable of VTOL operation can include: a vehicle body defining longitudinal and transverse directions and opposing longitudinal sides; a first support boom coupled to the vehicle body at a first transverse axis and extending outwardly from the opposing longitudinal sides; a second support boom coupled to the vehicle body at a second transverse axis positioned rearward from the first transverse axis and extending outwardly from the opposing longitudinal sides; a plurality of electric motors coupled to a one of the first and second support booms, at least two electric motors of the plurality of electric motors positioned on each of the first and second support booms, a rotation axis of each of the at least two electric motors coupled to the second support boom offset in a transverse direction from a rotation axis of each of the at least two adjacent electric motors coupled to the first support boom; a plurality of rotors; and a propulsion system.