Abstract: Air bearing pads enable the installation of a large missile stage in a canister or removal therefrom while the canister is in a horizontal position. Each air bearing pad includes interior passages which channel air through perforated strutted elements to allow air under pressure applied to the pad to reach exit air holes in either the bottom or top thereof. The pressurized air stream into the pad produces a force in the direction of the exit air holes. The sum of this force from several pads in series and several columns of pads positioned between the missile stage and the canister inside wall at the bottom 120 degree area thereof lifts the missile stage sufficiently to allow movement thereof into or out of the canister by means of a powered winch. The number of air bearing pads required for a large number of canisters may be minimized by removal of the air bearing pads after installation of the missile stage in the canister and replacement thereof with prior art semi-solid lateral support pads.