Systems and methods for retracting lift propeller in eVTOL aircraft

A method of operating a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft lift apparatus, comprising:

• displacing, by a shaft, a lift propeller vertically between a lift configuration and a stowed configuration, the lift propeller being mounted to a support structure and being displaced further from the support structure in the lift configuration than in the stowed configuration,
• wherein the shaft is configured to couple a motor assembly to the lift propeller, the shaft comprising a linear translation section configured to allow linear translation of the lift propeller while transmitting torque to the lift propeller, wherein the shaft is configured to slide vertically through the motor assembly to displace the lift propeller vertically between the lift configuration and the stowed configuration, the lift propeller being vertically displaced between the lift configuration and the stowed configuration, the lift propeller being vertically displaced further from the support structure in the lift configuration than in the stowed configuration.