The Boeing Company

Mcdonald Douglas Corporation

Harry Wilbert Slusher

Sergey D Barmichev

Stephen M Stecko

Gary Peter Seagrave

German Von Thal

John Ferencz Takacs

Ronald L Cox

Ronald G Benjamin

Samuel Joseph Cowan

Jerry D Smets

Sunil J Jinadasa

Jerry C Dunlap

Michael Cross

James M Condon

Steven E Easley

Stanley S Lew

Tobie Stockwell

L Frank Sternat

Mario D Cordova

Donald N Hagstrom

Different advantageous embodiments provide a method and apparatus to increase a clearance of a cargo area of an aircraft. The apparatus and method may comprise an aircraft with a cargo area. A tray system may have a plurality of segment trays with each segment tray positioned between a plurality of floor beams located underneath a surface of the floor of the cargo area. A plurality of rollers in the tray system may be configured to allow an object to be moved across the cargo area.

Low profile cargo handling system

Apparatuses, systems, and methods described herein provide for a refueling boom having vertical control surfaces extending primarily downward below the horizontal control surfaces out of the auxiliary power unit (APU) exhaust and airframe-induced turbulent flow fields, while reducing the torque moments applied to the boom beam and increasing control authority. According to one aspect of the disclosure provided herein, a refueling boom includes a boom beam, at least one horizontal control surface, and a pair of vertical control surfaces. The vertical control surfaces are positioned on opposing ends of the horizontal control surfaces and each include an upper portion and a longer lower portion projecting downward below the horizontal control surface. Aspects further improve the aerodynamic characteristics of the boom beam, reducing the drag associated with the refueling boom.

Advanced performance refueling boom

A method for performing missions with a refueling aircraft. A number of control stations are configured to selectively control a plurality of systems in the refueling aircraft to form a number of configured control stations. The plurality of systems includes a refueling system and a number of other systems. Each of the plurality of systems is capable of performing a different mission. A number of missions are performed during flight using the number of configured control stations.

Multi-mission remote aerial refueling operator system

According to an embodiment, an aerial refueling drogue has a coupling having a channel formed there through. One end of the coupling is attached to a hose. A power generator unit is positioned in the channel of the coupling.

Self contained power system for controllable refueling drogues

A method of monitoring an aircraft during use. Flight parameters of the aircraft are monitored to detect an excursion from a flight envelope. While the aircraft is still in flight, the monitored flight parameters are used to determine the severity of a detected excursion, aircraft component(s) possibly affected by the excursion are identified, and flight restrictions and/or inspections responsive to the excursion severity and identified component(s) are specified. This method provides valuable information to a flight crew about flight envelope excursions, can enhance passenger safety and can prevent unnecessary inspections and aircraft downtime.

Responding to aircraft excursions from flight envelopes

An in-flight refueling system, boom, and method are provided for extending the range of motion of an in-flight refueling boom carried by a first aircraft so as to facilitate an in-flight refueling operation between the first and the second aircraft. More specifically, in some embodiments the present invention provides a rotating device, operably engaged with at least one airfoil, and configured to substantially surround and rotate about the in-flight refueling boom such that the rotating device and the at least one airfoil operably engaged therewith, may be actuated so as to extend the range of motion of the in-flight refueling boom.

In-flight refueling system, boom, and method for extending range of motion of an in-flight refueling boom

An in-flight refueling system and method are provided to extend and retract an in-flight refueling device between a stowed position and an extended position relative to a tanker aircraft. The system and method of the present invention provide an induction device configured to extend and retract the in-flight refueling device such that the in-flight refueling system requires less maintenance and may be packaged in a compact, low-profile arrangement so that the in-flight refueling system may be carried by a variety of tanker aircraft in a variety of different configurations.

In-flight refueling system and method for extending and retracting an in-flight refueling device

This invention relates to a hard landing indication system that will provide a quantitative assessment that a hard landing did or did not occur at the last landing of an airplane. A hard landing can cause structural damage to an airplane. An airplane that has been declared to have a hard landing must be grounded until an inspection of the structure has been made to determine if repairs are required.

Airplane hard landing indication system

A rigid cargo barrier for a cargo airplane includes a lightweight structural bulkhead that is attached to the floor and fuselage shell of the aircraft and a plurality of compact attachments that connect the bulkhead to the floor and fuselage shell of the aircraft. The rigid cargo barrier also includes a restraint system that connects the bulkhead to the aircraft floor and fuselage shell. The restraint system restrains fuselage expansion under crash loads to maintain the bulkhead in place during a crash event and, hence, provide protection to the crew from shifting cargo.

Growing community of inventors

Fountain Valley, CA, United States of America

Harry Wilbert Slusher