A rotor assembly for an aircraft operable to generate a variable thrust output at a constant rotational speed. The rotor assembly includes a mast rotatable at the constant speed about a mast axis. A rotor hub is coupled to and rotatable with the mast. The rotor hub includes a plurality of spindle grips extending generally radially outwardly. Each of the spindle grips is coupled to one of a plurality of rotor blades and is operable to rotate therewith about a pitch change axis. A collective pitch control mechanism is coupled to and rotatable with the rotor hub. The collective pitch control mechanism is operably associated with each spindle grip such that actuation of the collective pitch control mechanism rotates each spindle grip about the respective pitch change axis to collectively control the pitch of the rotor blades, thereby generating the variable thrust output.

A system and a method for improving a stall margin of an aircraft during a climb phase of flight are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises using data indicative of a phase of flight of the aircraft and data indicative of an angle-of-attack, and automatically commanding a deployment of leading edge slats movably attached to wings of the aircraft when the following conditions are true: the aircraft is in a climb phase of flight; and the angle-of-attack equals or exceeds a predefined deployment angle-of-attack threshold value.

Example aircraft spoiler actuation systems and related methods are disclosed herein. An example spoiler actuation system includes a rotary actuator, a first output shaft coupled to the rotary actuator, a second output shaft coupled to the rotary actuator, the first output shaft opposite the second output shaft, a first actuator rod coupled to the spoiler at a first location, and a second actuator rod coupled to the spoiler at a second location, the second location spaced apart from the first location. The rotary actuator is operatively coupled to the first actuator rod via the first output shaft and to the second actuator rod via the second output shaft to cause the spoiler to move between one of a stowed position and a raised position or the stowed position and a drooped position.

A system for an aircraft wing including a power drive unit (101), a first actuator (104C) for actuating a first aerodynamic device (103), a second actuator (104A) for actuating a second aerodynamic device (102), a first drive path (109B) configured to operate between the power drive unit (101) and the first actuator (104C), a second drive path (109A) operably connecting the power drive unit (101) and the second actuator (104A), the first drive path (109B) including a lost motion device (108A), the lost motion device (108A) being configured to selectively operably connect the power drive unit (101) to the first actuator (104C) and selectively operably disconnect the power drive unit (101) from the first actuator (104C).

A high-speed vertical take-off and landing aircraft has a lifting structure, a first rotor with a first and second blade, a second rotor with a first and second blade, an auxiliary propulsion unit for providing forward thrust, and a control system for controlling the pitch of each of the rotor blades. The aircraft has a first, rotor-only, flight mode for hovering and low speed maneuvering. It also has a second flight mode where the rotors are held in at fixed azimuth angles and forward thrust is provided by the auxiliary propulsion unit. Three axis control is provided during the second flight mode by adjusting the attack angles of the fixed rotor blades. Between these two flight modes, there is an intermediate flight mode covering a fully controlled transition between the first two flight modes.

A wing for an aircraft including a wing tip section with an inboard section, a fairing in which an opening connecting an exterior of the fairing and an interior of the fairing is formed and which is mounted to the inboard section of the wing tip section, a movable device arranged in the exterior of the fairing, a connecting assembly movably connecting the movable device to the wing tip section such that the movable device is movable between a retracted position and at least one extended position, and a drive mechanism. The connecting assembly includes an actuating element, which extends through the opening and includes a first section, which is arranged in the interior of the fairing and is drivingly coupled to the drive mechanism, and a second section, which is arranged in the exterior of the fairing and coupled to the movable device.

A slat track roller assembly is provided so as to mount a slat track operatively associated with a wing leading edge slat for movements between retracted and deployed conditions relative to a leading edge of an aircraft wing. The slat track roller assembly may include at least forward and aft pairs of roller mechanisms connected to a respective one of opposed wing ribs of the wing leading edge in operatively rolling contact with a respective opposed lateral edge of the slat track. At least one of the roller mechanisms is positionally adjustable relative to the respectively opposed lateral edge of the slat track so as to compensate for mechanical tolerances that may be present.

A rotor system for aerial vehicles where two or more rotor systems are used in a coaxial or tandem arrangement on the aerial vehicle.

A ducted fan assembly includes a duct having an inlet, an inner surface, an expanding diffuser and an outlet. A fan disposed within the duct between the inlet and the expanding diffuser is configured to rotate about a fan axis to generate airflow. An active flow control system includes a plurality of injection zones circumferentially distributed about the inner surface. The expanding diffuser has a diffuser angle configured to create flow separation when the airflow is uninfluenced by the active flow control system such that the airflow has a thrust vector with a first direction that is substantially parallel to the fan axis. Injection of pressurized air from one of the injection zones asymmetrically reduces the flow separation between the airflow and the expanding diffuser downstream of that injection zone such that the thrust vector of the airflow has a second direction that is not parallel to the first direction.

A method and apparatus for positioning a control surface. An apparatus comprises an arm, first link, and second link. The arm has first and second ends, the first end of the arm rotatably coupled to a wing structure to define a first pivot point. The first link has first and second ends, the first end being rotatably coupled to the second end of the arm. The second link has first and second ends, the first end rotatably coupled to the first end of the arm. When the second end of the first link is rotatably coupled to a first control surface and the second end of the second link is rotatably coupled to a second control surface, movement of the first control surface away from the wing structure rotates the arm about the first pivot point such that the second control surface moves in coordination with the first control surface.