Abstract: A controller operative to adjust the supply of compressed air to aircushions, in response to changes in load, includes a pneumatically-driven pressure regulator and damped means to accumulate or vent control pressure in response to a sensed distance between the carrier frame and a gliding surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying and transporting loads over a surface comprises: a supporting platform; a flexible damping ring fixed to the supporting platform along a circular closed-loop line of contact and defining a chamber adapted for inflation upon introduction of a pressurized medium; an uplift chamber defined between the supporting platform, the surface and an interior wall portion of the damping ring, the interior wall portion of the damping ring forming a lateral partition between the chambers during operation and the damping ring having at least one aperture enabling fluid communication between the chambers; and, the interior wall portion of the damping ring being stretchable and the remaining wall portions of the damping ring being substantially unstretchable, whereby introduction of the pressurized medium will effect inflation of the damping ring and pressurization of the uplift chamber, the pressurized medium escaping from the uplift chamber as a fluid film of substantially uniform thickness and pres