Abstract: An airdrop skidboard for a cruise missile or bomb has an elongated platform. A crushable member is fixed to the platform. Two lateral restraints extend upwardly from the platform spaced in a cross direction perpendicular to the flight direction. The lateral restraints restrain lateral displacement of a missile disposed on the crushable member. A nose ballast is fixed to the first end of the elongated platform such that the center of gravity of the skidboard is closer to the first than the second end. A spring opening in the crushable member between a midpoint of the elongated platform and the first end receives a spring disposed to apply an upward force on an overlying missile, such that when a cruise missile on the skidboard is launched from an aircraft, the spring separates the skidboard from the missile, permitting the skidboard to fall away.

Abstract: An air drop rack assembly is mounted within the cargo compartment of a cargo aircraft and has a forward part secured to the load deck and an aft part secured to the aircraft cargo ramp. The rack parts have rollers in conveyor assemblies mounted between C-channels which engage skidboards which support smaller aircraft such as gliders or cruise missiles. When the ramp is up two rack parts are tilted with respect to each other. At payload drop, ramp is deployed to bring the rack part conveyor assemblies into alignment. Although the aligned rack parts are spaced apart, when the cargo aircraft is tilted upwardly, the individual payloads on skidboards are discharged out the aircraft aft opening. Cruise missiles or bombs may be supported on a skidboard with a deformable surface, a forward ballast weight, and a spring, such that once launched the skidboard is pushed away from the payload.

Abstract: An air drop rack assembly is mounted within the cargo compartment of a cargo aircraft and has a forward part secured to the load deck and an aft part secured to the aircraft cargo ramp. The rack parts have rollers in conveyor assemblies mounted between C-channels which engage skidboards which support smaller aircraft such as gliders or cruise missiles. When the ramp is up two rack parts are tilted with respect to each other. At payload drop, ramp is deployed to bring the rack part conveyor assemblies into alignment. Although the aligned rack parts are spaced apart, when the cargo aircraft is tilted upwardly, the individual payloads on skidboards are discharged out the aircraft aft opening. Cruise missiles or bombs may be supported on a skidboard with a deformable surface, a forward ballast weight, and a spring, such that once launched the skidboard is pushed away from the payload.

Abstract: A disposable airdropped glider. The glider body is constructed from precut panels cut from (MDO) or (HDO) plywood and assembled with pocket-screw joinery or piano hinges. A skid board forms a landing surface and a cargo deck roll-off surface. The glider has pivoting wings and struts. The glider has a triple-tail, a flat nose and honeycomb paperboard panels between the nose and the cargo. Wings are pivoted from a position overlying the fuselage to a flying position by gas springs in wing spars which are compressed by a chain attached to the fuselage through a rotating bracket such that the gas springs are compressed when the wings are folded. The airfoils are plastic extrusions with openings that hold the wing spars and co-formed jury spars which attach the upper and lower surface of the wing. A parachute uses a part of the tail structure to form a deployment drogue.

Abstract: A disposable airdropped glider. The glider body is constructed from precut panels cut from (MDO) or (HDO) plywood and assembled with pocket-screw joinery or piano hinges. A skid board forms a landing surface and a cargo deck roll-off surface. The glider has pivoting wings and struts. The glider has a triple-tail, a flat nose and honeycomb paperboard panels between the nose and the cargo. Wings are pivoted from a position overlying the fuselage to a flying position by gas springs in wing spars which are compressed by a chain attached to the fuselage through a rotating bracket such that the gas springs are compressed when the wings are folded. The airfoils are plastic extrusions with openings that hold the wing spars and co-formed jury spars which attach the upper and lower surface of the wing. A parachute uses a part of the tail structure to form a deployment drogue.