Patent classifications
B64D27/12
Aeronautical car and associated features
An aeronautical car includes a ground-travel system including a drivetrain; an air-travel system including a detachable portion configured to house a propulsion device configured to provide thrust and to be driven by the drivetrain when the detachable portion is connected to the aeronautical car, and at least one flight mechanism configured to provide lift once the aeronautical car is in motion; and a weather manipulation device. The weather manipulation device may be configured to manipulate at least one aspect of a weather condition while the aeronautical car is in the air.
Rocket-turbine-powered VTOL aircraft
A vertical-takeoff-and-landing (“VTOL”) aircraft including a non-VTOL aircraft equipped for forward takeoff and flight and a modular boom system interoperably coupled to the non-VTOL aircraft. The modular boom system includes a first modular boom and a second modular boom. The first modular boom includes a first rocket-turbine engine. The first modular boom is mounted to a first wing of the non-VTOL aircraft. The second modular boom includes a second rocket-turbine engine. The second modular boom is mounted to a second wing of the non-VTOL aircraft.
Rocket-turbine-powered VTOL aircraft
A vertical-takeoff-and-landing (“VTOL”) aircraft including a non-VTOL aircraft equipped for forward takeoff and flight and a modular boom system interoperably coupled to the non-VTOL aircraft. The modular boom system includes a first modular boom and a second modular boom. The first modular boom includes a first rocket-turbine engine. The first modular boom is mounted to a first wing of the non-VTOL aircraft. The second modular boom includes a second rocket-turbine engine. The second modular boom is mounted to a second wing of the non-VTOL aircraft.
CONVERTIPLANE
A convertiplane is described that comprises: a fuselage, having a first longitudinal axis and, in turn, comprising a nose and a tail portion; a pair of wings arranged on respective opposite sides of the fuselage, carrying respective rotors and generating a lift value; and a pair of engines operatively connected to respective rotors; each rotor comprising a mast rotatable about a second axis between a helicopter configuration and an aeroplane configuration; each rotor is interposed between the fuselage and the relative rotor along the direction of extension of the relative wing.
UNDUCTED THRUST PRODUCING SYSTEM
An aircraft includes a fuselage, a wing connected to and extending outward from the fuselage, and an engine mounted to the wing. The engine includes turbomachine defining a centerline axis, a fan, and an exhaust section with an outlet nozzle. The turbomachine defines a centerline axis. The fan is connected to and is disposed upstream from the turbomachine. The fan is disposed to rotate about the centerline axis. During operation of the engine, an exhaust stream is expelled from the outlet nozzle of the exhaust section. The exhaust stream defines a mean direction of flow in the downstream direction from the exhaust section. The mean direction of flow defines a first angle with the centerline axis of the turbomachine that is greater than zero such that the centerline axis is oriented downwardly along the vertical direction relative to the mean direction of flow of the exhaust stream.
UNDUCTED THRUST PRODUCING SYSTEM
An aircraft includes a fuselage, a wing connected to and extending outward from the fuselage, and an engine mounted to the wing. The engine includes turbomachine defining a centerline axis, a fan, and an exhaust section with an outlet nozzle. The turbomachine defines a centerline axis. The fan is connected to and is disposed upstream from the turbomachine. The fan is disposed to rotate about the centerline axis. During operation of the engine, an exhaust stream is expelled from the outlet nozzle of the exhaust section. The exhaust stream defines a mean direction of flow in the downstream direction from the exhaust section. The mean direction of flow defines a first angle with the centerline axis of the turbomachine that is greater than zero such that the centerline axis is oriented downwardly along the vertical direction relative to the mean direction of flow of the exhaust stream.
Distributed propulsion configurations for aircraft having mixed drive systems
An aircraft propulsion system is disclosed that includes at least one hybrid-electric powerplant for delivering power to an air mover for propelling the aircraft, wherein the at least one hybrid-electric powerplant includes a heat engine and an electric motor arranged in a parallel drive configuration or an in-line drive configuration.
Distributed propulsion configurations for aircraft having mixed drive systems
An aircraft propulsion system is disclosed that includes at least one hybrid-electric powerplant for delivering power to an air mover for propelling the aircraft, wherein the at least one hybrid-electric powerplant includes a heat engine and an electric motor arranged in a parallel drive configuration or an in-line drive configuration.
Vertical take-off and landing aircraft
A vertical take-off and landing aircraft is provided. The aircraft comprises a fuselage which has a nose end, a tail end, and a plurality of seats disposed in the interior. A pair of rear wings extend outwardly from opposing sides of the fuselage between a cockpit and the tail end, and a pair of front wings extend outwardly from opposing sides of the fuselage between the cockpit and the nose end. Each of the pair of rear wings and front wings includes an adjustably mounted turbine which comprises a statically mounted fan pod, a duct rotatably connected to the fan pod, and an adjustable nozzle rotatably connected to the duct. The nozzle can be adjusted to a variety of configurations ranging between a vertical position and a horizontal position via the duct. The adjustably mounted turbine enables the aircraft to adjust thrust through vectors ranging between horizontal and vertical.
TURBINE OVER-SPEED BRAKE FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC GAS TURBINE ENGINE
An engine system of an aircraft includes a gas turbine engine comprising at least one spool and at least one electric machine operably coupled with the at least one spool. A controller is configured to detect if the at least one spool of the gas turbine engine is in or is approaching an overspeed condition and apply a load to the at least one spool via the at least one electric machine.