Textron Innovations Inc.

Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Bell Textron Inc.

Richard Theodore Perryman

Joshua Andrew Emrich

Yann Lavallee

Derek William Heard

Nathan Craig Clark

Ralph Michael Gannarelli

Timothy Brian Carr

Carl A May

Joseph Daniel Leachman

Bobby Howard Mosier

William David Dennison

Darrell W Wilkerson

Ernest Edward Senn, Jr

Ross D Cosby

Michael Stephen Deslatte

William D Dennison

A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.

System and method for adjustable ballast

A method of adjusting a center of gravity (CG) of an aircraft includes: inputting at least one load parameter into a flight computer, determining, via a processer of the flight computer, the CG of the aircraft. Responsive to a determination by the processor that the CG is outside of a CG envelope, moving at least a first movable ballast of a plurality of movable ballasts from a first ballast dock to a second ballast dock to move the CG toward the CG envelope. Each of the first and second ballast docks may include a housing and a first ballast tray secured within the housing and comprising a plurality of channels.

In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise: a floor panel for a rotorcraft; one or more puck fasteners in the floor panel, wherein each puck fastener comprises an attachment fitting and a plurality of internal flanges, wherein the plurality of internal flanges within each puck fastener are adjacent; and one or more seating fixtures coupled to the floor panel using the one or more puck fasteners.

Flexible aircraft seat configurations

A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray and a first stop plate secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray and a second stop plate secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.

In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise an attachment device configured to be embedded in a structure, wherein the attachment device comprises: a body comprising a first flange and a second flange, wherein the body is configured such that the first flange and the second flange are coupled together internally within the body when the attachment device is embedded in the structure; an attachment fitting for coupling a component to the structure in which the attachment device is embedded.

Puck attachment mechanism for flexible aircraft configuration

In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise: a floor panel for a rotorcraft; and a plurality of passenger seats coupled to the floor panel, wherein: the plurality of passenger seats is arranged into a plurality of seating rows; and the plurality of passenger seats comprises one or more foldover seats arranged to facilitate access to one or more exits of the rotorcraft.

Growing community of inventors

Fort Worth, TX, United States of America

Richard Theodore Perryman