CPC B64B 1/005 (2013.01) [B60V 3/08 (2013.01)] | 17 Claims |
1. A landing apparatus for an airship or hybrid air vehicle, the landing apparatus comprising:
a hollow, non-toroidal, flexible enclosure, having a substantially vertical axis, and a substantially circular cross-section centered on said axis, a base of the enclosure being arranged to contact the ground, the enclosure being inflatable with air or gas for landing, and deflatable for retraction of the enclosure during flight; and
a plurality of tensioning devices, each extending helically from an upper circumferential location of the enclosure to a lower circumferential location, to rotate the base during retraction of the enclosure.
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