Flight control arrangement using separate fixed-wing and VTOL control modules

A method of providing flight control in a hybrid aircraft capable of horizontal fixed-wing flight, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flight, and transitions therebetween, comprising:

• operating a fixed-wing flight control module to control the horizontal fixed-wing flight, the fixed-wing flight control module located in a first housing and having a respective first network interface connected to an aircraft data network, the fixed-wing flight control module using the aircraft data network to obtain sensory input and generate fixed-wing control network messages from the fixed-wing flight control module to network-connected fixed-wing flight components including one or more horizontal-thrust components;
• and
• operating a VTOL flight control module to control the VTOL flight, the VTOL flight control module located in a separate second housing and having a respective second network interface connected to the aircraft data network, the VTOL flight control module providing add-on functionality including (1) observing flight status by monitoring the fixed-wing control network messages on the aircraft data network from the fixed-wing flight control module to the network-connected fixed-wing flight components, and (2) based on the observed flight status, generating VTOL control output to network-connected VTOL flight components including one or more vertical-thrust components,
• wherein the fixed-wing flight control module is further configured and operative as an independent agent without knowledge of the presence and involvement of the VTOL flight control module beyond indirect inertial observations.