Parallel and Series Multi-Stage Electric Fan

An aircraft comprising:

• a fuselage;
• a wing attached to the fuselage;
• a plurality of propulsion systems configured to generate thrust, wherein each of the propulsion systems comprise a plurality of propulsor fans configured to rotate between a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) flight mode and a vertical/short take-off and landing (V/STOL) flight mode, and wherein the plurality of propulsor fans comprise extendable flaps configured to optimize thrust in the CTOL flight mode and in the V/STOL flight mode;
• and
• a non-transitory-computer readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to at least:
• transmit a control signal configured to selectively actuate the plurality of propulsor fans such that each of the plurality of propulsor fans are actuated with a progressively steeper angle relative to a linear axis along a length of the fuselage, such that a downwind positioned propulsor fan is articulated to a greater angle than an upwind positioned propulsor fan angle when transitioning from the CTOL flight mode to the V/STOL flight mode;
• transmit a control signal configured to selectively adjust the extendable flaps of the plurality of propulsor fans to a first position to optimize thrust in the CTOL flight mode;
• and
• transmit a control signal configured to selectively adjust the extendable flaps of the plurality of propulsor fans to a second position to optimize thrust in the V/STOL flight mode.

An aircraft comprising:

• a fuselage;
• a wing attached to the fuselage;
• a plurality of propulsion systems configured to generate thrust, wherein each of the propulsion systems comprise a plurality of propulsor fans configured to rotate between a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) flight mode and a vertical/short take-off and landing (V/STOL) flight mode, wherein the plurality of propulsor fans comprise extendable flaps configured to optimize thrust in the CTOL flight mode and in the V/STOL flight mode, and wherein a first propulsion system, of the plurality of propulsion systems, is vertically offset from a second propulsion system of the plurality of propulsion systems;
• and
• a non-transitory-computer readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to at least:
• transmit a control signal configured to selectively actuate the plurality of propulsor fans such that each of the plurality of propulsor fans are actuated with a progressively steeper angle relative to a linear axis along a length of the fuselage, such that a downwind positioned propulsor fan is articulated to a greater angle than an upwind positioned propulsor fan angle when transitioning from the CTOL flight mode to the V/STOL flight mode;
• transmit a control signal configured to selectively adjust the extendable flaps of the plurality of propulsor fans to a first position to optimize thrust in the CTOL flight mode;
• transmit a control signal configured to selectively adjust the extendable flaps of the plurality of propulsor fans to a second position to optimize thrust in the V/STOL flight mode;
• and
• transmit a control signal configured to increase a mass flow of the plurality of propulsor fans by aligning exhausts of the plurality of propulsor fans with inlets of the plurality of propulsor fans in the CTOL flight mode.