ADAPTIVE AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

An adaptive aircraft (102) electrical power distribution system includes an aircraft power source (106), a power connector (108), an aircraft power distribution bus (112), and a bidirectional power controller (114). The aircraft power source (106) is operable to generate and supply electrical power. The power connector (108) is mounted on a fuselage (104) of the aircraft (102). The aircraft power distribution bus (112) is operable to distribute electrical power to an aircraft (102) electrical load. The bidirectional power controller (114) is mounted in the aircraft (102) and is electrically coupled to the aircraft power source (106), the aircraft power connector (108), and the aircraft power distribution bus (112). The bidirectional power controller (114) is configured to: sense when the aircraft power source (106) is generating and supplying electrical power, sense when electrical power is being supplied to the power connector (108) from an external power source (202), and selectively couple at least one of the aircraft power source (106) or the power connector (108) to the aircraft (102) power distribution system.