A system for protecting occupants of a vehicle during aa catastrophic event includes at least one safety pod that encloses one or more seats within the vehicle. The pod is constructed of a material that is fire proof, waterproof, bomb proof, crash proof, and/or capable of withstanding any other physical or environmental hazards that might be expected during the catastrophic event, and includes a sliding, electrically powered doors that seals the pod when closed. The pod may be configured to be ejected from the vehicle when the catastrophic event occurs or is imminent. When the vehicle is a passenger airplane, pods may be provided for each row of passenger seats, the pods being mounted to tracks by brackets and latched in a stationary position until an emergency occurs. When an emergency that requires ejection from the airplane occurs, the pods are propelled towards the rear of the airplane, and at least a portion of the rear section of the airplane is detachable to provide a space through which the pods are ejected. Sealing of the pods protects the occupants from hazards such as fire and smoke, and provides a waterproof flotation chamber in case of ejection over water.

A system for protecting occupants of a vehicle during aa catastrophic event includes at least one safety pod that encloses one or more seats within the vehicle. The pod is constructed of a material that is fire proof, waterproof, bomb proof, crash proof, and/or capable of withstanding any other physical or environmental hazards that might be expected during the catastrophic event, and includes a sliding, electrically powered doors that seals the pod when closed. The pod may be configured to be ejected from the vehicle when the catastrophic event occurs or is imminent. When the vehicle is a passenger airplane, pods may be provided for each row of passenger seats, the pods being mounted to tracks by brackets and latched in a stationary position until an emergency occurs. When an emergency that requires ejection from the airplane occurs, the pods are propelled towards the rear of the airplane, and at least a portion of the rear section of the airplane is detachable to provide a space through which the pods are ejected. Sealing of the pods protects the occupants from hazards such as fire and smoke, and provides a waterproof flotation chamber in case of ejection over water.

The present invention includes pilotable capsules, detachable from an aircraft and aircrafts including such capsules. According to some embodiments, there may be provided one or more capsules capable of flight and designed to detachably connect to an aircraft. According to some embodiments, detachable capsules may be designed to carry cargo and/or passengers. According to some embodiments, detachable capsules may, after detachment, be piloted by pilots or by automated systems (unmanned) or a combination of the two.

A lighter-than-air airship has an exoskeleton constructed of spokes and hubs to create a set of connected hexagrams comprised of isosceles triangles wherein the spokes flex and vary in length to produce the slope of said airship's surface. In one embodiment, the exoskeleton connects to a nose cone that includes a cockpit cabin for controlling the airship's operation from a single location that can be physically separated from the exoskeleton in response to catastrophic events and for autonomous and/or remotely piloted operation. An improved means is also provided for landing and unloading cargo, and through use of unmanned aerial vehicles in another embodiment, the airship is configured for remote pickup, transport, delivery and return of payloads such as packages. In yet another embodiment, the airship provides a communications platform for beam form transmission and satellite signal relay, including in combination with the foregoing disclosed attributes.

An airplane mainly extending along an axis between a nose group and a tail group is provided. The airplane has a fuselage extending axially between the nose group and the tail group and having a fuselage wall internally defining a fuselage housing, wings extending transversely to the axis from the fuselage, and at least one passenger pod having a pod wall defining a pressurized passenger housing in which passengers are accommodable. The at least one passenger pod is removably housable in the fuselage housing. The airplane is configurable in an operating configuration, suitable for allowing flight of the airplane, in which the at least one passenger pod is housed in the fuselage housing and an emergency configuration, in which, with the airplane in flight, the at least one passenger pod is ejected from the fuselage housing.

An airplane mainly extending along an axis between a nose group and a tail group is provided. The airplane has a fuselage extending axially between the nose group and the tail group and having a fuselage wall internally defining a fuselage housing, wings extending transversely to the axis from the fuselage, and at least one passenger pod having a pod wall defining a pressurized passenger housing in which passengers are accommodable. The at least one passenger pod is removably housable in the fuselage housing. The airplane is configurable in an operating configuration, suitable for allowing flight of the airplane, in which the at least one passenger pod is housed in the fuselage housing and an emergency configuration, in which, with the airplane in flight, the at least one passenger pod is ejected from the fuselage housing.