An aircraft includes a first outer surface exposed to a hot air flow flowing in a flow direction and a device for generating a film of cold air in contact with a region to be protected of the first outer surface. The device includes a cold air outlet arranged upstream of the region to be protected as seen in the flow direction, and an inlet arranged at a second outer surface of the aircraft in contact with cold air. The inlet is arranged such that a pressure gradient exists between the inlet and the outlet so as to generate a natural flow of cold air from the inlet to the outlet as well as means to cause said inlet to communicate with said outlet.

A fluid system comprising a surface that is fluid washed in use by a fluid flow travelling substantially parallel to the surface is disclosed. The system has a first port through the surface and a second port through the surface, the first and second ports having respective first and second port inlets that are substantially flush with the fluid washed surface. The first and second port inlets are stacked in a direction parallel to the normal flow of fluid over the fluid washed surface such that the first port is upstream of the second port and fluid travelling closer to the fluid-washed surface entering into the first port tends to entrain fluid travelling further from the fluid-washed surface for entry into the second port.

A cooling system is disclosed for cooling charge air in a turbocharged diesel internal combustion engine of an aircraft. The cooling system includes a charge air cooler, a charge air bypass valve, and a bypass valve actuator. The charge air cooler is fluidly coupled between the turbocharger assembly and the intake manifold, wherein the charge air cooler is configured to cool the charge air. The charge air bypass valve is moveable between a first position and a second position. The charge air bypass valve is configured to bypass the charge air cooler when in the second position. The bypass valve actuator is configured to move the charge air bypass valve between the first position and the second position.

A structure ensuring acoustic attenuation of a flow of a first fluid and heat exchange between a first fluid and a second fluid. The structure includes a first wall which is perforated, a second wall, and a plurality of intermediate walls extending between the first wall and the second wall. For each intermediate wall, there is a pipe intended to receive the second fluid and inscribed within the intermediate wall. Such a structure makes it possible to optimally integrate the acoustic wave attenuation function and the heat exchange function.

A directional control system for a rotorcraft having a tail boom including a no-tail-rotor apparatus configured to control rotorcraft yaw using forced air ejected from the tail boom and a duct configured to deliver the forced air to the no-tail-rotor apparatus. The directional control system comprises a heat exchanger having air passages and fluid passages, the air passages in fluid communication with the duct, the fluid passages in heat exchange relationship with the air passages and configured for receiving a cooling fluid, and a forced air driver in fluid communication with the duct for driving the forced air through the duct to the no-tail-rotor apparatus. Methods of providing directional control in a rotorcraft are also discussed.

A cooling system for a gas turbine engine comprises a passage capable of receiving cooling air, a compartment radially adjacent thereto and axially aligned therewith, an opening therebetween, a valve within the opening, and a heat exchanger received in the compartment. The valve is moveable between a maximum open position and a minimum open position for increasing or decreasing airflow from the passage into the compartment. At the valve minimum open position, a leakage path is provided between the passage and the compartment, whereby cooling air is capable of passing from the passage to the compartment and toward the heat exchanger at all valve positions. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

Systems and methods for expanding an operating speed range of a high speed flight vehicle include providing an engine with an inlet air duct, and positioning a heat exchanger in the inlet air duct to cool at least a portion of duct air flow associated with an engine core. Additionally or alternatively, a nozzle assembly includes a cowl fluidly communicating with the engine and having a cowl internal surface defining a cowl orifice, and a plug defines a primary thrust surface. The plug is supported relative to the cowl so that a portion of the primary thrust surface is disposed within the cowl orifice to define a throat therebetween. An actuator is coupled to at least one of the cowl or the plug, and is configured to generate relative movement between the cowl and the plug, thereby to modify the throat.

A hypersonic aircraft includes one or more leading edge assemblies that are designed to cool the leading edge of certain portions of the hypersonic aircraft that are exposed to high thermal loads, such as extremely high temperatures and/or thermal gradients. Specifically, the leading edge assemblies may include an outer wall tapered to a leading edge or stagnation point. A coolant supply may be in fluid communication with at least one fluid passageway that passes through the outer wall to deliver a flow of cooling fluid to the stagnation point. In addition, a nose cover is positioned at least partially over or within the at least one fluid passageway and is formed from a material that ablates or melts when the leading edge is exposed to a predetermined critical temperature, the nose cover being configured for restricting the flow of coolant until the nose cover is ablated or melted away.

An active laminar flow control arrangement may comprise a variable speed constant frequency (VSCF) converter comprising a housing, a compressor, an electric motor operably coupled to the compressor, and a laminar flow control duct. An airflow is received by the housing from the laminar flow control duct in response to the electric motor driving the compressor for cooling the VSCF converter.

A heat exchanger system for a propulsion system inlet duct includes a heat exchanger assembly that is disposed within an inlet duct assembly. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger with a front facing area that is greater than an area of the inlet duct that is transverse to a longitudinal length of the inlet duct.