An aircraft having a vertical takeoff and landing flight mode and a forward flight mode, the aircraft comprising: an airframe including a first wing having first and second ends, a second wing having first and second ends, a first outboard pylon extending between the first ends of the first and second wings, a second outboard pylon extending between the second ends of the first and second wings , a first inboard pylon extending between the first and second wings and a second inboard pylon extending between the first and second wings ; a distributed propulsion system attached to the airframe including a plurality of propulsion assemblies ; a flight control system operably associated with the distributed propulsion system and operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies ; and a pod assembly attachable to the first and second inboard pylons ; wherein, in the vertical takeoff and landing flight mode and when the pod assembly is attached to the first and second inboard pylons , the first wing is forward of the pod assembly , the second wing is aft of the pod assembly , the first and second inboard and outboard pylons are lateral of the pod assembly , at least two of the propulsion assemblies are forward of the pod assembly and at least two of the propulsion assemblies are aft of the pod assembly ; and wherein, in the forward flight mode and when the pod assembly is attached to the first and second inboard pylons , the first wing is below the pod assembly , the second wing is above the pod assembly , the first and second inboard and outboard pylons are lateral of the pod assembly , at least two of the propulsion assemblies are below of the pod assembly and at least two of the propulsion assemblies are above of the pod assembly . an airframe including a first wing having first and second ends, a second wing having first and second ends, a first outboard pylon extending between the first ends of the first and second wings, a second outboard pylon extending between the second ends of the first and second wings , a first inboard pylon extending between the first and second wings and a second inboard pylon extending between the first and second wings ; a distributed propulsion system attached to the airframe including a plurality of propulsion assemblies ; a flight control system operably associated with the distributed propulsion system and operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies ; and a pod assembly attachable to the first and second inboard pylons ; wherein, in the vertical takeoff and landing flight mode and when the pod assembly is attached to the first and second inboard pylons , the first wing is forward of the pod assembly , the second wing is aft of the pod assembly , the first and second inboard and outboard pylons are lateral of the pod assembly , at least two of the propulsion assemblies are forward of the pod assembly and at least two of the propulsion assemblies are aft of the pod assembly ; and wherein, in the forward flight mode and when the pod assembly is attached to the first and second inboard pylons , the first wing is below the pod assembly , the second wing is above the pod assembly , the first and second inboard and outboard pylons are lateral of the pod assembly , at least two of the propulsion assemblies are below of the pod assembly and at least two of the propulsion assemblies are above of the pod assembly . <EOS>