Ralph M Williams

US Patent:

6527226, Mar 4, 2003

Filed:

Feb 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/073596

Inventors:

Matthew V. Clifford - Crownsville MD
Ralph E. Williams - Vienna VA
Andrew R. Bush - Fredericksburg VA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

B64D 300

US Classification:

244115, 244 1717, 244110 E, 244116, 244 50

Abstract:

A remotely controlled movably powered shuttle frame has foundation pads attached thereto at all four corner portions for separating skid pads of a helicopter from the flight deck of a marine vessel, wherein both the skid pads and the fight deck are outfitted with hook and loop fabrics. Skid blades displaced from retracted positions underlying the foundation pads are extended from the shuttle frame underlying a landed aircraft whose weight has been lifted off the flight deck by lifting arms pivotally mounted on the foundation pads. The aircraft carried by the lifting arms on the shuttle frame after the skid blades are retracted is shuttled by wheeled movement of the shuttle frame to a desired location on the flight deck.