VTOL aircraft including a reconfigurable battery thermal regulation system

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft having a propulsion system reconfigurable between a horizontal flight configuration and a vertical flight configuration, the VTOL aircraft comprising:

• an aircraft air inlet and an aircraft air outlet;
• a battery pack comprising battery cells;
• a reconfigurable battery thermal regulation system comprising (i) a first air channel, a surface of which is in thermal communication with the battery cells so that air flowing through the first air channel exchanges heat with the cells through the surface, (ii) a second air channel, (iii) an airflow device arranged in the second air channel, and (iv) actuating means;
• and,
• a controller configured to control the actuating means so as to cause the reconfigurable battery thermal regulation system to switch between a first mode of operation for horizontal flight of the VTOL aircraft and a second mode operation for vertical take-off and landing of the VTOL aircraft, wherein:
• in the first mode of operation, the controller controls the actuating means so that the first air channel is fluidly connected with the aircraft air inlet and the aircraft air outlet whereby, during horizontal flight of the VTOL aircraft, air can enter the aircraft through the air inlet, flow through the first air channel and exit the aircraft through the air outlet;
• and
• in the second mode of operation during vertical take-off and landing of the VTOL aircraft, the controller controls the actuating means to disconnect the first air channel from the aircraft air inlet and the aircraft air outlet and connect the first air channel to the second air channel to form a closed loop in which the first and second air channels are in fluid communication so that the airflow device drives an airflow through the first and second air channels.