Patent attributes
An aircraft is configured for thrust-borne lift in a vertical takeoff and landing flight mode and wing-borne lift in a forward flight mode. The aircraft includes an airframe having a first wing and a first payload station. A distributed propulsion system that is coupled to the airframe includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies configured to provide vertical thrust in the vertical takeoff and landing flight mode and forward thrust in the forward flight mode. A control system is operably associated with the distributed propulsion system and is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies. A payload module is configured to be transported by the airframe from a pickup location to a delivery location. The payload module is magnetically coupled to the first payload station during transportation and, responsive to a command from the control system, is magnetically decoupled from the first payload station at the delivery location.
