Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation

Anna Zolnikov

Andrew Mark Heafitz

Felipe Bohorquez

Jose Antonio L Turalba

Jason Grzywna

Presented are weight distribution systems for aircraft center of gravity (CG) management, methods for making/operating such systems, and aircraft equipped with CG management systems. A method is presented for managing the CG of an aircraft. The aircraft includes first and second landing gears and an airframe that removably attaches thereto one or more payloads and/or hardware modules. The method includes supporting the aircraft on a support leg that operatively attaches to the airframe and, while supported on the support leg, determining if the aircraft pivots onto the first or second landing gear. If the aircraft pivots onto either landing gear, the method responsively identifies a new airframe position for the payload/hardware module that will shift the aircraft's CG to within a calibrated 'acceptable' CG range; doing so should balance the aircraft on the support leg. The payload/hardware module is then relocated to the new airframe position.

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Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Anna Zolnikov