Abstract: A device for starting an aircraft engine which is capable of being started by rotating a propeller connected to the crankshaft of the engine. The device comprises an anchor device for fixedly positioning on the landing surface below the propeller; this anchor device can be held in place by a portion of the aircraft itself; in one case, the nose wheel and in another case, a separate extension arrangement. A holding device is provided for connection to the anchor device for holding the propeller and the crankshaft of the engine against rotation in a proper starting position while a rotative device is provided for connection to the anchor device for placing a biasing force on the propeller for rotating it. The anchor device has forwardly extending arms, or members, with an attaching device fixed below the propeller, the holding device and rotative device are each fixed between the propeller and the attaching device.

Abstract: An airship and a magnetically operated anchoring assembly adapted to provide rotation of the airship with respect to the ground, includes a gondola mounted to an envelope structure adapted to house lighter-than-air gas as well as any enclosures which may be used for containing the gas and a magnet device mounted to and operable from the gondola for attraction to a magnetically attractive anchoring structure secured to the ground. As preferably embodied, the magnet device is adapted to permit rotation of the gondola about the anchor point and the gondola is mounted to the envelope so as to be positionable at various desirable points under the longitudinal axis of the airship. Alternatively, the magnet may be mounted to a generally front-facing portion of the airship and the anchoring structure includes a mast with a magnetically attracting cylinder rotatably mounted to the mast at a height sufficient to enable mating with the magnet device on the airship.

Abstract: A device for rapidly securing and releasing a helicopter is provided. The vice effects positive haul down of an aircraft from a landing attitude above a landing pad aboard ship to a predetermined landing position on the pad, among other uses, through a plurality of rotatable spring-loaded over-center dogs clamped onto the free end of a haul-down cable and a sliding, cylindrical spring-loaded latching device which maintains the dogs in clamped relationship with the haul-down cable. The haul-down cable is instantly released upon freeing of the dogs.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for anchoring an airship containing lighter-than-air gas includes positioning one or more magnets, flush with the edges of a support member attached to the airship for enabling the magnet to contact a magnetically attractive anchoring structure affixed to the ground when anchoring is desired, and, when ascent is desired, bearing against the anchoring structure with the support member to separate the magnet from the anchoring structure. The support structure may comprise a hollow shaft attached to a downwardly-facing portion of the airship, with a relatively large area base portion at its other end, having a cavity formed in the bottom of the base portion in communication with the hollow portion of the shaft. The magnet is coupled to a lifting device which bears against the top end of the shaft to control the magnet's position in the cavity.

Abstract: The present apparatus for securing a flying craft to a starting and landing rea is especially intended for helicopters. In order to secure such a flying craft with a simple, yet effective device, the starting and landing area is provided with a perforated landing platform or plate. A valve below the perforation is connected to an evacuating pump. The flying craft is provided with landing gear capable of sealing the cavity when landing and to start the evacuation pump. In this manner the flying craft is held in position by the vacuum created in the cavity in the manner of a suction cup.

Abstract: A VTOL launching and retrieval system comprising a single stud type primary landing gear and a mechanical arm equipped with a clamping device arranged to take hold of the VTOL while it is held in upright position using its own flight control system and it is either fully airborne or to some extent supported on its stud. The system allows an orderly transfer of the VTOL motion control from that by means of its flight controls to that by means of the mechanical arm which may be of flexible type, allowing to move the VTOL to stabilize in space its grasping digits or to move the VTOL from the landing site to a hangar.

Abstract: A portable tie-down device detachably mounted to a recessed anchor having a plurality of crossbars. The tie-down device includes a stationary stabilizer plate having a like plurality of depending torque lugs engaging the sides of the crossbars and a body member rotatable between two positions and having a like plurality of engaging dogs alignable with the torque lugs in one position and engageable with the anchor crossbars in the other position for detachably securing the tie-down device to the anchor. A manually operable locking bolt carried by the body member and selectively engageable with a locking groove in the stabilizer mechanically locks the rotatable body member to the stabilizer on the one position, thereby locking the tie-down device to the anchor.

Abstract: A gondola, or cabin structure, is attached to a lighter-than-air gas-containing structure by mounting apparatus enabling rotation of the longitudinal axis of the gas-containing structure through about 90.degree. with respect to the orientation of the gondola. Propulsion devices are mounted on the gas-containing structure to provide propulsion force generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gas-containing structure for generating forward thrust during flight and downward or upward thrust during, respectively, descent or ascent. Accordingly, the present invention embraces a method for effecting descent or ascent, which includes the steps of orienting the gas-containing structure in a generally vertical configuration and initiating downward or upward thrust.

Abstract: Airships for transporting liquid have storage tanks located amidship with their inlet conduits opening through the forward part of the upper deck enabling the tanks to be filled while an airship is moored to a special tower. The tank contents are discharged through outlet conduits that are lowered to the receiving station. Where different liquids are to be carried, the tanks are arranged to minimize ballasting problems during loading and unloading. In one embodiment, the tank has a plurality of outlet conduits and each is provided with a nozzle. The several nozzles are secured to a holder that is raised and lowered with the conduits.

Abstract: Four anchored rope lines which are arranged as boundary vertices of an equilateral square pyramid, terminate at a four way shackle connected through a short line to a hook. The hook terminates lines on the nose of the balloon which are secured by an appropriate number of nose patches, two or three on each side or in the center of the balloon nose. Conventional mooring ropes are tethered to a monorail arrangement in a conventional manner. The four anchored rope lines replace the cumbersome mooring tower and eliminate the necessity of a protective nose framework on the balloon. In another embodiment the four rope lines are secured directly to the nose patches through the four way shackle and carried aloft with the balloon. At the time of mooring the lower ends of each rope line need merely to be connected to appropriate ground terminals.

Abstract: A docking device for a dirigible. A supporting and securing structure is rotatably mounted on a circular track, the structure rotating about a centrally located member which may include a gas conduit for conveying gas into or out of a dirigible docked on the device. The docking device will allow the dirigible to dock and freely weathervane in the wind, even when unloading or loading a gas.

Abstract: A hangar system for compactly storing a plurality of vertically oriented sailplanes upon a rotatable annular platform, including means for withdrawing or inserting any one of the sailplanes without repositioning the remaining sailplanes.