Abstract: A landing apparatus for an airship or hybrid air vehicle. The landing apparatus comprises a hollow, non-toroidal, flexible enclosure (103), having a substantially vertical axis (104), and a substantially circular cross-section centred on the axis. A base (122) of the enclosure is arranged to contact the ground. The enclosure (103) is inflatable with air or gas for landing, and deflatable for retraction of the enclosure during flight.

Abstract: An air cushioned landing system for an air vehicle comprises an inflatable and deflatable skirt (113) in the form of a tube having inner (101) and outer (100) walls. The inner wall defines a central plenum (116) within the skirt, the skirt including gas pockets (130) arranged to stiffen one or more regions of at least one of the inner (101) and outer (100) sidewalls during deflation of the skirt. A gas pocket fan inflates the gas pockets prior to and during deflation of the skirt, wherein the gas pockets are constrained to move from a mutually spaced apart position when the skirt is inflated, to a mutually closely adjacent position when the skirt is fully deflated.

Abstract: An air vehicle has a gas-filled hull of a flexible sheet material. Strakes extend along an exterior of the hull, each strake comprising a gas-filled tube of a sheet of a flexible sheet material. A rigid board extends outwardly from the gas-filled tube and away from the vehicle. A further sheet of a flexible sheet material extends from one side of the strake over the board to another side of the strake, to provide a strake that is generally triangular in cross section.