A positioning and position maintaining device comprises a solenoid having an armature and an electromagnetic holder. The solenoid is arranged to effect positioning of an object upon translation of the armature and the electromagnetic holder is arranged to effect position maintaining in order to maintain the object in the position effected by the solenoid. An apparatus for aircraft autopilot and manual control feel-force control switching comprises an autopilot mechanism and the positioning and position maintaining device. The positioning and position maintaining device is arranged to engage the autopilot mechanism and maintain the engagement thereof. A method of switching between autopilot and manual control in an aircraft is also envisaged.

A positioning and position maintaining device comprises a solenoid having an armature and an electromagnetic holder. The solenoid is arranged to effect positioning of an object upon translation of the armature and the electromagnetic holder is arranged to effect position maintaining in order to maintain the object in the position effected by the solenoid. An apparatus for aircraft autopilot and manual control feel-force control switching comprises an autopilot mechanism and the positioning and position maintaining device. The positioning and position maintaining device is arranged to engage the autopilot mechanism and maintain the engagement thereof. A method of switching between autopilot and manual control in an aircraft is also envisaged.

A coupling comprising a brake plate (70); a first friction pad (64) operable to be selectively biased against the brake plate (70). In a first mode of operation the first friction pad (64) is biased against the brake plate (70) by a first force. In a second mode of operation the first friction pad (64) is biased against the brake plate (70) by a second force. The second force is substantially greater than the first force.

A VTOL inceptor arrangement is handled by a single pilot and consists of or comprises a first inceptor and a second inceptor. The first inceptor is capable of controlling at least one axis of movement and the second inceptor is capable of controlling at least three axes of movement. The first inceptor is configured to be operated by a first hand of the pilot, and the second inceptor is configured to be operated by a second hand of the pilot different from the first hand. These two hand-operated inceptors enable use of reliable operation based on stick motion (i.e., the pilot's respective hands each grasp a respective inceptor) instead of relying on movement of switches, knobs or the like—which may not allow precision control under vibration or turbulent environments or conditions.

A VTOL inceptor arrangement is handled by a single pilot and consists of or comprises a first inceptor and a second inceptor. The first inceptor is capable of controlling at least one axis of movement and the second inceptor is capable of controlling at least three axes of movement. The first inceptor is configured to be operated by a first hand of the pilot, and the second inceptor is configured to be operated by a second hand of the pilot different from the first hand. These two hand-operated inceptors enable use of reliable operation based on stick motion (i.e., the pilot's respective hands each grasp a respective inceptor) instead of relying on movement of switches, knobs or the like—which may not allow precision control under vibration or turbulent environments or conditions.

A device for releasably mounting an autopilot control circuit to a flight control component of an aircraft, includes a frame that holds a component of an autopilot control circuit; a first coupler releasably fastened to the frame and operable to releasably mount the frame to the airframe of an aircraft; and a second coupler releasably fastened to the frame and operable to releasably mount the frame to a flight control component of the aircraft. When the device is releasably mounted in an aircraft's cabin and the autopilot control circuit is engaged, the autopilot control circuit controls an aspect of the aircraft's flight by moving the second coupler relative to the first coupler. With the device one can releasably mount an autopilot control circuit to an aircraft that does not have one and use the autopilot control circuit and device to control one or more aspects of the aircraft's flight.

A device for releasably mounting an autopilot control circuit to a flight control component of an aircraft, includes a frame that holds a component of an autopilot control circuit; a first coupler releasably fastened to the frame and operable to releasably mount the frame to the airframe of an aircraft; and a second coupler releasably fastened to the frame and operable to releasably mount the frame to a flight control component of the aircraft. When the device is releasably mounted in an aircraft's cabin and the autopilot control circuit is engaged, the autopilot control circuit controls an aspect of the aircraft's flight by moving the second coupler relative to the first coupler. With the device one can releasably mount an autopilot control circuit to an aircraft that does not have one and use the autopilot control circuit and device to control one or more aspects of the aircraft's flight.

A flight control actuator for actuating an aircraft flight control system is provided. The flight control actuator comprises a gearbox, an output shaft attached to the gearbox and an output lever provided on the output shaft. The output lever is declutchable from the output shaft.

In some embodiments, a control manager is disposed between the rotor system and the flight control inceptor. The control manager is configured to receive control commands wirelessly from a ground control station, translate the control commands into one or more axes associated with the flight control inceptor, and transmit the translated control commands to the rotor system in place of the instructions received from the pilot via the flight control inceptor.

In some embodiments, a control manager is disposed between the rotor system and the flight control inceptor. The control manager is configured to receive control commands wirelessly from a ground control station, translate the control commands into one or more axes associated with the flight control inceptor, and transmit the translated control commands to the rotor system in place of the instructions received from the pilot via the flight control inceptor.