Inventors:
Joseph W. Stump - Smithtown NY
Robert W. Kress - Saugerties NY
Robert C. Powers - Virginia Beach VA
Assignee:
Grumman Aerospace Corporation - Bethpage NY
International Classification:
B65D 8568, B65D 622, B64C 700
Abstract:
A metal container stores a VTOL aircraft during shipment to a sea vessel or large vehicle where it then functions as a portable weather-tight hangar which can be secured in available deck space. When on board a ship's deck, the walls of the container unfold so that the structure may be converted to a take-off and landing pad that provides an exhaust system for the hot lift engine gases that eliminates the hazard to ship's crew, prevents heat damage to the deck and eliminates "suck down" effects characteristic of certain VTOL aircraft configurations. Triangular panels are removably secured together to form the cover of the container; and when unfolded and flattened, these panels are inserted in the corners of the unfolded structure so as to extend the heat shield.