Leonardo S.p.a.

Agustawestland S.p.a.

Riccardo Bianco Mengotti

Alessandro Scandroglio

Luca Medici

Stefano Melone

Gabriele Campanardi

Paolo Brughera

Carlo Cassinelli

Luca Sampugnaro

Matteo Pizzagalli

Marco Basaglia

Francesco Scorcelletti

Andrea Bavetta

Tail plane for a helicopter

A series of convertible aircrafts with a core with an airframe defining a first axis is described; a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth rotor which are rotatable about respective first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth axis, and operable independently of each other so as to generate respectively a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth thrust value independent of each other; the core comprises an electric power source and electric motors which are connected to said first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth rotor; each aircraft of the series comprises a module associated with a respective architecture and interfaced with said core.

Series of convertible aircrafts capable of hovering and method for configuring a convertible aircraft capable of hovering

A helicopter is described comprising a fuselage elongated along a first axis and extending between a nose and a tail boom; a tailplane with a pair of first aerodynamic surfaces elongated along a second axis; the first and second axis define a first plane; the helicopter comprises a pair of elements transversal to the first aerodynamic surfaces; and a pair of second aerodynamic surfaces generating respective second aerodynamic forces, connected to first elements, and facing and spaced from respective first aerodynamic surfaces; each second aerodynamic surface comprises one first root end connected to the respective said element, a second free end spaced from said tail boom, a first leading edge, a first trailing edge opposite to said first leading edge, a first chord at said first root end and a second chord at said second free end parallel to said first axis; the first and the second chord define a second plane tilted with respect to said first plane.

Helicopter, helicopter kit and associated reconfiguration method

A series of convertible aircraft with a core with an airframe defining a first axis is described; a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth rotor which are rotatable about respective first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth axis, and operable independently of each other so as to generate respectively a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth thrust value independent of each other; the core comprises first and second portions of respective half-wings and aerodynamic surfaces and each module comprises third and fourth portions of respective half-wings and aerodynamic surfaces.

Series of convertible aircraft capable of hovering and method for configuring a convertible aircraft capable of hovering

An aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing, comprising a first propulsion unit configured to generate a first thrust directed along a first axis; a second propulsion unit configured to generate a second thrust directed along a second axis; the first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit can be operated independently of one another; the first axis and second axis are inclined to one another with respect to a first longitudinal direction of the aircraft; the first axis and the second axis are fixed with respect to the aircraft.

Vertical take-off and landing aircraft and related control method

A convertible aircraft with an airframe defining a first longitudinal axis is described; a pair of half-wings; a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth rotor rotatable about respective first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth axis, and operable independently of each other so as to generate respectively a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth thrust value independent of each other; said fifth and sixth rotor being carried by respective said half-wings and inclinable with respect to said airframe; the aircraft being switchable between a first hovering flight configuration wherein the sixth and seventh axis are arranged orthogonal to the first axis; and a second forward flight configuration wherein the sixth and seventh axis are arranged parallel to or inclined with respect to the first axis; the aircraft comprises first supports adapted to support the fifth and sixth rotor with respect to the respective half-wings; the first supports being arranged spaced apart from respective free ends of respective half-wings according to an extension direction of respective half-wings.

Convertible aircraft capable of hovering

Helicopter toy

Helicopter

A convertiplane is described that comprises: a fuselage, having a first longitudinal axis and, in turn, comprising a nose and a tail portion; a pair of wings arranged on respective opposite sides of the fuselage, carrying respective rotors and generating a lift value; and a pair of engines operatively connected to respective rotors; each rotor comprising a mast rotatable about a second axis between a helicopter configuration and an aeroplane configuration; each rotor is interposed between the fuselage and the relative rotor along the direction of extension of the relative wing.

Convertiplane

A method is described for the folding of a convertiplane with a fuselage having a first axis, a pair of wings and a pair of rotors arranged on respective mutually opposite sides of the respective wings; each rotor comprises a mast rotatable about a second axis and a plurality of blades; each wing comprises a first portion fixed with respect to the fuselage; a second tip portion opposite to the first portion; and a third intermediate portion, which is interposed between the associated first portion and second tip portion; the mast of each rotor is integrally tiltable with the second axis and associated second tip portion about a third axis transversal to the second axis and the fuselage so as to set said convertiplane between a helicopter configuration and an aeroplane configuration; the method comprises the steps i) of arranging the convertiplane in the helicopter configuration and ii) rotating a pair of assemblies of respective wings with respect to the fuselage and the associated first portion about respective fifth axes, so as to arrange the convertiplane in a stowage configuration.

Convertiplane and associated folding method

A convertiplane is described that comprises a fuselage, having a first longitudinal axis, with a nose and a tail portion; a pair of wings arranged on respective opposite sides of said fuselage, carrying respective rotors; a pair of engines operatively connected to respective said rotors; at least one first lifting surface arranged on said tail portion; and a pair of canards arranged on said nose of said fuselage and defining respective second lifting surfaces adapted to generate a third lift/negative lift value; each rotor comprising a mast rotatable about a second axis and about an relative third axis transversal to said second axis and with respect to the fuselage, so as to set said convertiplane between a helicopter configuration and an aeroplane configuration; each second axis, in use, being transversal to the first axis of said convertiplane in said helicopter configuration and being parallel to said first axis in said aeroplane configuration.

A tail sitter aircraft is described that comprises: a fuselage arranged vertically in a take-off/landing position and transversely to a vertical direction in a cruising position of the aircraft; a single wing; at least two first engines configured to exert respective first thrusts directed along respective first axes on the tail sitter; and at least two second engines rotating about respective second axes arranged above said first axes of the first engines, with reference to the cruising position; the at least two second engines being configured to exert respective second thrusts directed along respective second axes on the tail sitter; the first and second engines being carried by the single wing; the single wing comprises a first portion and a second portion mutually staggered from one another; the second portion being arranged above said first portion, with reference to said cruising position; said first portion comprises two half-wings, extending from opposite lateral sides of the fuselage; the wing further comprises a third portion arranged below said first portion with reference to said cruising position of said aircraft.

Tail sitter

A tail sitter aircraft includes a wing with a closed front section and a fuselage, from which the wing extends. The wing includes a first portion projecting from the fuselage and a second portion spaced from the first portion. The aircraft includes first and second connecting section that are interposed between the first and second portions. The fuselage extends parallel to a first axis and the first and second portions extend parallel to a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The first axis is arranged, in use, vertically in a take-off/landing position and inclined with respect to the vertical direction in a cruising position.

A real-time simulation system of the aerodynamic loads generated by the wake of a rotor of a hover-capable aircraft on the aircraft itself is described, said system comprising: a cockpit seat; a simulated control device able to receive a simulated command to simulate a flight condition of the aircraft; a plurality of simulation devices able to generate a simulated representation of the flight condition; and a processing unit configured to receive a first signal associated with the command given via the control device and to generate a second control signal for the plurality of simulation devices associated with the simulated aerodynamic loads. The processing unit cyclically generates a vortex ring, associates one or more control points with the vortex ring, computes the velocity induced on the control points, moves and updates the vortex ring, and generates the second signal on the basis of the velocities induced on the control points.

Real-time simulation system of the effects of rotor-wake generated aerodynamic loads of a hover-capable aircraft on the aircraft itself, and method thereof

Growing community of inventors

Samarate, Italy

Riccardo Bianco Mengotti