Abstract: An improved VTOL/STOL free wing aircraft providing damping and absorption of shock landing loads upon landing. A pair of resilient struts is provided, projecting forwardly from the trailing edge of either side of the fuselage when the fuselage is tilted. Preferably, the aircraft includes a pair of articulated tail booms, the strut being a portion of the tail boom extending forward from the pivot axis of the tail boom. Landing wheels are disposed on the strut in tandem spaced relationship. The resiliency of the strut causes the strut to act as a leaf spring and thus dampen shock landing loads. Operatively secured to the bottom surface of the fixed wing portions and the forward portion of the landing gear struts is a pair of dashpots for absorbing the shock landing loads.

Abstract: A landing apparatus for use with helicopters comprises a substantially J-shaped cantilevered landing skid having a cantilevered portion and a mounting portion. The cantilevered portion is attached at one end thereof to the mounting portion and extends substantially perpendicularly away the mounting portion. The mounting portion is mountable on a rear portion of an aircraft so that the cantilevered portion can extend forwardly underneath the aircraft.