A device that is capable of creating multiple connections on a grounding point in a single airport hangar, as well as reducing the likelihood of there being a tripping hazard over the connected cables, while also assisting in preventing damage to cable connections which may result from vehicles being driven inside an airport hangar.

A device that is capable of creating multiple connections on a grounding point in a single airport hangar, as well as reducing the likelihood of there being a tripping hazard over the connected cables, while also assisting in preventing damage to cable connections which may result from vehicles being driven inside an airport hangar.

A convex wheel chock includes a contact surface generally facing a vehicle tire, a support element connected to the contact surface to transfer a tire load from the contact surface, and a base portion coupled to the support element to provide structural support to the wheel chock and transfer the tire load to a ground surface. The contact surface includes a convex surface to be engaged by the tire, extending generally upwards from the base portion to the support element, and a concave extension surface joined to an upper end of the convex surface.

A convex wheel chock includes a contact surface generally facing a vehicle tire, a support element connected to the contact surface to transfer a tire load from the contact surface, and a base portion coupled to the support element to provide structural support to the wheel chock and transfer the tire load to a ground surface. The contact surface includes a convex surface to be engaged by the tire, extending generally upwards from the base portion to the support element, and a concave extension surface joined to an upper end of the convex surface.

Off-board gyrocopter take-off systems and associated methods are disclosed. A representative method includes restraining a gyrocopter from vertical and lateral movement, pre-rotating a fixed-pitch lift rotor of the gyrocopter via a power source located off the gyrocopter, and releasing the gyrocopter for vertical movement to allow the gyrocopter to lift under a force provided by the lift rotor. Optionally, the method can further include interrupting or reducing power from the power source to the gyrocopter as a way to release the gyrocopter for vertical movement.

In one embodiment, tie-down assembly is provided for securing a parked aircraft to a slab of an aircraft mooring area. The assembly includes a support structure having a first side wall, a second side wall, a first end cover coupled with the first side wall and the second side wall, and a second end cover coupled with the first side wall and the second side wall. The assembly also includes a connector rod coupled with the first side wall and the second side wall, a talon pivot rod coupled with the first side wall and the second side wall, a first talon rotatably coupled with the talon pivot rod, a second talon rotatably coupled with the talon pivot rod, a first depth adjustment mechanism coupled with the first talon, and a second depth adjustment mechanism coupled with the second talon.

In one embodiment, tie-down assembly is provided for securing a parked aircraft to a slab of an aircraft mooring area. The assembly includes a support structure having a first side wall, a second side wall, a first end cover coupled with the first side wall and the second side wall, and a second end cover coupled with the first side wall and the second side wall. The assembly also includes a connector rod coupled with the first side wall and the second side wall, a talon pivot rod coupled with the first side wall and the second side wall, a first talon rotatably coupled with the talon pivot rod, a second talon rotatably coupled with the talon pivot rod, a first depth adjustment mechanism coupled with the first talon, and a second depth adjustment mechanism coupled with the second talon.

A mobile, unmanned aircraft takeoff and landing system includes a mobile, auto-leveling aircraft takeoff and landing platform, an unmanned aircraft, global position sensors on the landing platform and unmanned aircraft, and local position sensors on the on the landing platform and unmanned aircraft. The unmanned aircraft includes a flight controller that uses the global position sensors to fly to a vicinity of the landing platform and uses the local position sensors to autonomously land on the landing pad.

A mobile, unmanned aircraft takeoff and landing system includes a mobile, auto-leveling aircraft takeoff and landing platform, an unmanned aircraft, global position sensors on the landing platform and unmanned aircraft, and local position sensors on the on the landing platform and unmanned aircraft. The unmanned aircraft includes a flight controller that uses the global position sensors to fly to a vicinity of the landing platform and uses the local position sensors to autonomously land on the landing pad.

A convex wheel chock includes a contact surface generally facing a vehicle tire, a support element connected to the contact surface to transfer a tire load from the contact surface, and a base portion coupled to the support element to provide structural support to the wheel chock and transfer the tire load to a ground surface. The contact surface includes a convex surface to be engaged by the tire, extending generally upwards from the base portion to the support element. The convex wheel chock may further include a concave extension surface joined to an upper end of the convex surface.