BOMBARDIER INC.

Assemblies and methods for facilitating the assembly of aircraft wings to a fuselage are disclosed. In some embodiments, a wing unit includes features that are configured to define one of more parts of a pressure vessel that is partially defined by the fuselage portion. In some embodiments, the aircraft assemblies disclosed herein comprise one or more first structural interfaces that permit positional adjustment between the wing unit and the fuselage portion so that one or more second structural interfaces may be finished only after such positional adjustment. In some embodiments, the aircraft assemblies disclosed herein comprise one or more structural interfaces that are disposed outside of the wing unit in order to eliminate or reduce the need for assembly personnel to access the interior of the wing unit to carry out the structural assembly of the wing unit to the fuselage portion.

Airstair systems and associated methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the airstair has a deployable upper step, a primary deployment device and a secondary deployment device. The upper step is movable between a stowed configuration when a door of the aircraft is closed and a deployed configuration when the door is open. The primary deployment device resiliently biases the upper step toward the deployed configuration. The secondary deployment device is movable in coordination with a movement of the door and configured to drive the deployable upper step toward the deployed configuration during opening of the door and during a failure of the primary deployment device.

There is disclosed a blended wing body aircraft including a center body having a lower side and an upper side opposed to the lower side. The center body has a central chord extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the center body. The lower side has a lowest point located between a first location forward of a pivot point about which the aircraft rotates during take-off and a second location aft of the pivot point. The first location is at a first distance corresponding to about 10% of a length of the central chord forward of the pivot point.

Systems and methods of improving the operation of an aircraft during flight are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises deploying spoilers as the speed of the aircraft approaches the maximum operating Mach number of the aircraft, and keeping the spoilers deployed when the speed of the aircraft is substantially at the maximum operating Mach number.

Several embodiments of buffer zones are provided that are contemplated to be disposed with respect to two or more adjacent elements on an aircraft. The buffer zones adjust for dynamic spacing between the elements to help control different gapping requirements between the elements installed in the aircraft. Embodiments include an aircraft interior panel configuration, an aircraft interior wall panel configuration, an adjustable width aircraft bulkhead, and an aircraft personal service unit.

A method for controlling a position of a flap of an aircraft includes: receiving, by an actuator, a signal indicative of a desired flap position; when the desired flap position is a retracted flap position: moving the carriage along a track to a first carriage position thereby pivoting the flap to the retracted flap position where the flap is at a neutral flap angle; when the desired flap position is an intermediate flap position: moving the carriage along the track to a second carriage position thereby pivoting the flap to the intermediate flap position where the flap is at a negative flap angle; when the desired flap position is an extended flap position: moving the carriage along the track to a third carriage position thereby pivoting the flap to the extended flap position where the flap is at a positive flap angle. An aircraft flap deployment system is also disclosed.

Apparatus for improving flow characteristics around aircraft wings by obstructing air flow through an aperture formed in a wing skin for a movable duct or track are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a substantially rigid panel movable at least partially across the aperture for at least partially occluding the aperture and for accommodating movement of a slat track extending through the aperture. In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a hinged panel configured to swing outwardly from an outer side of the wing skin toward an open position to accommodate movement of an anti-icing duct extending through the aperture and to swing toward a closed position at least partially occluding the aperture.

A blended wing body aircraft having an interior cabin with a usable volume of at most 4500 ft 3 and a cabin aspect ratio of at most 4, wherein a combination of the wings and center body has a wetted aspect ratio of at least 1.7 and at most 2.8. Also, a blended wing body aircraft having an interior cabin with a usable volume of at least 1500 ft 3 and at most 4500 ft 3 and a cabin aspect ratio of at least 2 and at most 4, wherein a combination of the wings and center body has a wetted aspect ratio of at least 1.9 and at most 2.7. Also, a blended wing body aircraft wherein at least each profile section having normalized half-span values from 0 to 0.3 has a leading edge having a normalized height having a nominal value within the range set forth in Table 4.

An aircraft divan includes a lateral bracket connecting between front and rear legs with lateral bracket front and rear ends, a first track defined by the lateral bracket between the lateral bracket front and rear ends, an upright, having upright top and bottom ends, a second track defined by the upright between the upright top and bottom ends, a seat pan having seat pan front and rear ends, the seat pan being slidingly connected to the first track adjacent to the seat pan rear end, and a backrest having backrest top and bottom ends, the backrest being slidingly connected to the second track adjacent to the backrest top end. The seat pan rear end is pivotably connected to the backrest adjacent to the backrest bottom end such that movement of the seat pan is transmitted to the backrest so as to move together between upright and berth positions.

A ventilation louver ( 10 ) includes a first plate ( 52 ) defining a first opening ( 74 ) therein for permitting fluid flow along a first direction ( 128 ), a second plate ( 54 ) defining a vane ( 82 ) therein, the vane at least partially covering the first opening and directing the fluid flow along a second direction ( 130 ), non-parallel to the first direction, and a third plate ( 56 ) defining a louvered opening ( 108 ) therein wherein the louvered opening directs fluid flow along a third direction ( 138 ), non-parallel to both the first direction and the second direction. In a non-limiting example, the ventilation louver may be disposed in a belly fairing of an aircraft.