A remote piloted aircraft comprising a secondary flight assembly adapted to intervene in case of failure or an emergency of the aircraft, said secondary flight assembly being provided with an additional control unit configured to process flight relevant data and which includes an additional receiver configured to receive commands from the remote pilot by means of a remote control unit, in case of failure or emergency said additional control unit being configured to generate, as a response, an activation command adapted to activate a first device to expel an upper wing placed in a first compartment of the aircraft and to inflate a lower wing housed in a second compartment of the aircraft, and also to generate an interdiction command of the primary propulsion unit, said upper wing being maneuverable by means of a further remote control unit.

A parafoil for operation at high altitudes, in low density air, or at low airspeeds, and methods for opening same. Some versions of the parafoil comprise members connected to the parafoil canopy. When the parafoil canopy is in a stowed configuration, the members are constrained. When the canopy is released from its stowed configuration, the members open or assist with opening the canopy. The members may also be attached to a base structure, which is attached to the payload. The members may comprise rods or hollow tubes and use a fulcrum near the base structure, or a spacer plate. The ends connected to the canopy may be restrained by a parachute bag containing the stowed or packed canopy. The parachute bag can be opened prior to or during detachment of the parafoil from the flight vehicle.

A parafoil for operation at high altitudes, in low density air, or at low airspeeds, and methods for opening same. Some versions of the parafoil comprise members connected to the parafoil canopy. When the parafoil canopy is in a stowed configuration, the members are constrained. When the canopy is released from its stowed configuration, the members open or assist with opening the canopy. The members may also be attached to a base structure, which is attached to the payload. The members may comprise rods or hollow tubes and use a fulcrum near the base structure, or a spacer plate. The ends connected to the canopy may be restrained by a parachute bag containing the stowed or packed canopy. The parachute bag can be opened prior to or during detachment of the parafoil from the flight vehicle.

A remote piloted aircraft comprising a secondary flight assembly adapted to intervene in case of failure or an emergency of the aircraft, said secondary flight assembly being provided with an additional control unit configured to process flight relevant data and which includes an additional receiver configured to receive commands from the remote pilot by means of a remote control unit, in case of failure or emergency said additional control unit being configured to generate, as a response, an activation command adapted to activate a first device to expel an upper wing placed in a first compartment of the aircraft and to inflate a lower wing housed in a second compartment of the aircraft, and also to generate an interdiction command of the primary propulsion unit, said upper wing being maneuverable by means of a further remote control unit.

A remote piloted aircraft comprising a secondary flight assembly adapted to intervene in case of failure or an emergency of the aircraft, said secondary flight assembly being provided with an additional control unit configured to process flight relevant data and which includes an additional receiver configured to receive commands from the remote pilot by means of a remote control unit, in case of failure or emergency said additional control unit being configured to generate, as a response, an activation command adapted to activate a first device to expel an upper wing placed in a first compartment of the aircraft and to inflate a lower wing housed in a second compartment of the aircraft, and also to generate an interdiction command of the primary propulsion unit, said upper wing being maneuverable by means of a further remote control unit.

An aircraft includes an airframe parachute system. The parachute system includes an activation system, an extraction system, a harness system, and a parachute assembly.

An aircraft includes an airframe parachute system. The parachute system includes an activation system, an extraction system, a harness system, and a parachute assembly.

An aircraft includes an airframe parachute system. The parachute system includes an activation system, an extraction system, a harness system, and a parachute assembly.

An aircraft includes an airframe parachute system. The parachute system includes an activation system, an extraction system, a harness system, and a parachute assembly.

Parachutes which have a generally circular skirt or hem, such as semi-hemispherical, extended gore, or any variant of axisymmetric parachutes and cruciform parachutes with arms attached are disclosed with a plurality of vertical slits located in a circumferential band adjacent the skirt or hem of the parachute to prevent canopy inversion. During deployment, when the outer portion of the canopy is exposed to air flow, the slits open up and the drag of the skirt of the canopy is reduced, thus limiting the potential for hem migration. The slits are positioned to allow airflow therethrough in order for the pressure on the outside of the canopy to be transferred through the slit openings and released or transferred to inside of the lower section of the canopy. Instead of slits, elongated narrow openings can be utilized.