Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Jeffrey Parkhurst

Mark R Alber

Charles Gayagoy

Jason A Satira

Alexander Quinn Weintraub

Glenn D Tiongson

Jordan Alex Kaye

An aircraft and method of operating an aircraft. The aircraft includes a temperature sensor and a processor. The temperature sensor that obtains an optical signal indicative of a temperature at a selected location of an outer surface of the aircraft. The processor is configured to determine the temperature at the selected location from the optical signal, and operate the aircraft based on the temperature at the selected location.

Active infrared prediction utilizing fiber optic network

An adjustable cable attachment system for a VTOL aircraft includes a VTOL airframe. A winch is operatively connected to an underside of the airframe with the aircraft in a horizontal flight mode. An adjustable cable is operatively connected to the winch to adjustably relocate a slung load with respect to the center of gravity of the aircraft to balance the aircraft. A fixed cable is operatively connected to the underside of the airframe with the aircraft in the horizontal flight mode.

Systems and methods for aircraft balance

An aircraft is provided and includes a fuselage from which a tilt-wing respectively extends, first prop-rotors, which are formed to define first rotor disks and which are respectively disposed on first portions of each side of the tilt-wing, second prop-rotors, which are formed to define second rotor disks and which are respectively disposed on second portions of each side of the tilt-wing such that the corresponding pairs of first and second rotor disks overlap, and a drive shaft system. The drive shaft system is configured to synchronize respective operations of the first and second prop-rotors.

Aircraft with overlapped rotors

An aircraft includes a fuselage defining an aircraft attitude axis. The fuselage houses an engine fixed relative to the aircraft attitude axis. A rotor assembly is operatively connected to rotate back and forth relative to the aircraft attitude axis from a first position predominately for lift to a second position predominately for thrust. The rotor assembly includes a rotor that is operatively connected to be driven by the engine.

Tiltwing aircraft

A method for determining a center-of-gravity of an aircraft in three dimensions includes determining a first center-of-gravity location for an aircraft in a first plane defined by a first axis and a second axis. The method includes positioning the aircraft in a tilted position by rotating the aircraft and determining a second center-of-gravity location for the aircraft in the first plane in the tilted position. The method includes comparing the first center-of-gravity location to the second center-of-gravity location to determine a component of the first center-of-gravity location along a third axis defined out-of-plane from the first plane to determine a three-dimensional center-of-gravity of the aircraft.

Systems and methods for determining aircraft center-of-gravity

An aircraft is provided and includes a fuselage, first and second wings extending outwardly from opposite sides of the fuselage, proprotors operably disposed on each of the first and second wings to drive vertical take-off and landing aircraft operations and horizontal flight aircraft operations and a refueling system including at least one fuel tank disposed in at least one or more of the fuselage, the first wing or the second wing and a refueling apparatus. The refueling apparatus is coupled to the at least one fuel tank such that fuel is movable with respect to the at least one fuel tank during aircraft ground and aerial operations.

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Meriden, CT, United States of America

Jeffrey Parkhurst