An aerodynamic lift enhancing system for increasing aerodynamic lift generated by a body of an automotive flying vehicle is disclosed. The automotive flying vehicle includes a vehicle body enclosing a passenger compartment and having an upper surface at least partially defined by a hood, a roof extending over the passenger compartment, and a front windshield disposed between the hood and roof. The front windshield includes a leading edge positioned proximate a trailing edge of the hood and a trailing edge positioned adjacent the roof. The automotive flying vehicle includes wings extending laterally outward from the vehicle body. The aerodynamic lift enhancing system includes an air discharge nozzle located upstream from the leading edge of the front windshield, the air discharge nozzle operable to discharge a stream of air over the upper surface of the vehicle.

A variable geometry suspension structure for suspending a turboprop from a structural element of an aircraft, the structure including a rear cradle for fastening to a structural element of an aircraft and a front cradle for supporting a front portion of the turboprop, the front cradle being connected to the rear cradle, firstly via a pivot connection configured to enable the front cradle to tilt vertically relative to the rear cradle, and secondly by a return spring configured to prevent the front cradle from tilting while thrust from the turboprop is below a predetermined threshold.

A variable geometry suspension structure for suspending a turboprop from a structural element of an aircraft, the structure including a rear cradle for fastening to a structural element of an aircraft and a front cradle for supporting a front portion of the turboprop, the front cradle being connected to the rear cradle, firstly via a pivot connection configured to enable the front cradle to tilt vertically relative to the rear cradle, and secondly by a return spring configured to prevent the front cradle from tilting while thrust from the turboprop is below a predetermined threshold.

An aircraft includes a fuselage, a wing disposed above the fuselage, a pylon connecting the wing to the fuselage, and a plurality of internal combustion engines housed in the fuselage. The pylon vertically traverses the fuselage and is fixed to an upper portion and a lower portion of the fuselage. Among the plurality of internal combustion engines, a first internal combustion engine and a second internal combustion engine are disposed bilaterally symmetrically about the pylon and are fixed to the pylon.

An aircraft includes a fuselage, a wing disposed above the fuselage, a pylon connecting the wing to the fuselage, and a plurality of internal combustion engines housed in the fuselage. The pylon vertically traverses the fuselage and is fixed to an upper portion and a lower portion of the fuselage. Among the plurality of internal combustion engines, a first internal combustion engine and a second internal combustion engine are disposed bilaterally symmetrically about the pylon and are fixed to the pylon.

A lightweight lift system for VTOL/VSTOL operation running in parallel with an existing turbine. This system distributes LP power by switching compressor flow and fuel proportionally over to the lift turbine module. As forward thrust is demanded, some of the power is transitioned back to the flight LP turbine, which can drive a variable propeller, fan or can supply jet thrust. As flight motion occurs, the power to the lift fan can be reduced to zero and lift closed off.

An aircraft (2) comprises at least first and second gas turbine engines (10a, 10b) arranged in a line extending generally normally to an aircraft longitudinal axis (A), each engine (10a, 10b) comprising at least one compressor or turbine rotor disc (32-42) defining a respective rotational plane (D.sub.32-D.sub.42). The rotational plane (D.sub.32-D.sub.42) of at least one of the rotors (32-42) of at least one of the engines (10a, 10b) is angled relative to the aircraft longitudinal line (A) such that a burst disc plane of the respective engine (10a, 10b) is nonintersecting with another engine (10a, 10b).

An aircraft (2) comprises at least first and second gas turbine engines (10a, 10b) arranged in a line extending generally normally to an aircraft longitudinal axis (A), each engine (10a, 10b) comprising at least one compressor or turbine rotor disc (32-42) defining a respective rotational plane (D.sub.32-D.sub.42). The rotational plane (D.sub.32-D.sub.42) of at least one of the rotors (32-42) of at least one of the engines (10a, 10b) is angled relative to the aircraft longitudinal line (A) such that a burst disc plane of the respective engine (10a, 10b) is nonintersecting with another engine (10a, 10b).

An aircraft having a blended-wing-body configuration includes a centerbody, a pair of wings, at least one pair of engines, a pair of air inlets, and a pair of exhaust outlets. The centerbody has an airfoil-shaped cross section, an aircraft centerline, an aft portion, an upper mold line, a lower mold line, and a pair of centerbody leading edge portions respectively on opposite sides of the aircraft centerline. The wings are integral with the centerbody. The pair of engines are located on opposite sides of the aircraft centerline and are mounted within the centerbody between the upper mold line and the lower mold line. The pair of air inlets are located respectively along the centerbody leading edge portions and are respectively fluidly coupled to the pair of engines. The pair of exhaust outlets our located in the aft portion of the centerbody and our respectively fluidly coupled to the pair of engines.

An aircraft having a blended-wing-body configuration includes a centerbody, a pair of wings, at least one pair of engines, a pair of air inlets, and a pair of exhaust outlets. The centerbody has an airfoil-shaped cross section, an aircraft centerline, an aft portion, an upper mold line, a lower mold line, and a pair of centerbody leading edge portions respectively on opposite sides of the aircraft centerline. The wings are integral with the centerbody. The pair of engines are located on opposite sides of the aircraft centerline and are mounted within the centerbody between the upper mold line and the lower mold line. The pair of air inlets are located respectively along the centerbody leading edge portions and are respectively fluidly coupled to the pair of engines. The pair of exhaust outlets our located in the aft portion of the centerbody and our respectively fluidly coupled to the pair of engines.