Fan apparatus with lift fan and louvered cover

A fan apparatus, comprising

• an airfoil structure including a duct having a duct opening;
• a lift fan mounted in the duct;
• a plurality of louvers positioned at the duct opening, each louver being configured to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein the closed position is rotationally offset and translationally offset from the open position;
• a beam spanning the duct, wherein each of the louvers is coupled to the beam with a respective louver link that is pivotably coupled to the beam at a first end of the respective louver link and pivotably coupled to the louver at a second end of the respective louver link;
• and
• a linkage bar pivotably coupled to each of the louvers, wherein movement of the linkage bar is guided by the beam to cause each of the louvers to translate and pivot between the open and closed positions, wherein the linkage bar slides inside the beam when the plurality of louvers move between the open and closed positions.

An aircraft, comprising:

• an airfoil structure including a duct having a duct opening;
• a lift fan mounted in the duct;
• a beam fixed to and spanning the duct;
• a linkage bar substantially enclosed by the beam;
• a plurality of louvers positioned at the duct opening and each coupled to the linkage bar;
• and
• an actuator configured to drive longitudinal travel of the linkage bar in the beam, such that each louver moves between an open position and a closed position when the aircraft transitions from a vertical flight mode to a horizontal flight mode.