An aircraft parachute system includes an aircraft that has a fuselage, a pair of wings, a tail section and a plurality of engines. A plurality of parachute units is provided and each of the parachute units is coupled to the aircraft. Each of the parachute units is selectively deployed when the aircraft experiences an in-flight emergency such that the plurality of parachute units inhibits the aircraft from crashing. A plurality of balloon units is provided and each of the balloon units is coupled to the aircraft. Each of the balloon units is selectively deployed when the aircraft experiences the in-flight emergency. In this way each of the balloon units floats the aircraft in water when the aircraft lands in water.

An aircraft parachute system includes an aircraft that has a fuselage, a pair of wings, a tail section and a plurality of engines. A plurality of parachute units is provided and each of the parachute units is coupled to the aircraft. Each of the parachute units is selectively deployed when the aircraft experiences an in-flight emergency such that the plurality of parachute units inhibits the aircraft from crashing. A plurality of balloon units is provided and each of the balloon units is coupled to the aircraft. Each of the balloon units is selectively deployed when the aircraft experiences the in-flight emergency. In this way each of the balloon units floats the aircraft in water when the aircraft lands in water.

An airlift package protection (APP) airbag may protect a package (e.g., an item or a number of items) that is dropped from within a predetermined height range by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The APP airbag may at least partially surround the package and create a container for the package. In some embodiments, the APP airbag may be inflated just prior to dropping of the package from the UAV. After inflation, the APP airbag may be at least partially sealed to reduce or inhibit deflation of the APP airbag, but possibly not to completely prevent airflow from the APP airbag upon contact with the ground. The APP airbag may exhaust some air upon impact with the ground, thereby reducing a deceleration of a package contained inside of the APP airbag.

An aircraft with an emergency flotation system, the emergency flotation system being activated upon an emergency landing of the aircraft on water, for preventing at least sinking of the aircraft, characterized in that a capsizing avoidance buoyancy system is provided, the capsizing avoidance buoyancy system being activated if predetermined activation criteria are satisfied and only after activation of the emergency flotation system upon an emergency landing of the aircraft on water, for preventing at least capsizing of the aircraft.

An aircraft with an emergency flotation system, the emergency flotation system being activated upon an emergency landing of the aircraft on water, for preventing at least sinking of the aircraft, characterized in that a capsizing avoidance buoyancy system is provided, the capsizing avoidance buoyancy system being activated if predetermined activation criteria are satisfied and only after activation of the emergency flotation system upon an emergency landing of the aircraft on water, for preventing at least capsizing of the aircraft.

An airship is provided. The airship includes a hull configured to contain a gas, at least one propulsion assembly coupled to the hull and including a propulsion device, and at least one aerodynamic component including a plurality of fairing structures including one or more slats, wherein the at least one aerodynamic component is associated with the hull and is configured to direct airflow around the airship.

An airship is provided. The airship includes a hull configured to contain a gas, at least one propulsion assembly coupled to the hull and including a propulsion device, and at least one aerodynamic component including a plurality of fairing structures including one or more slats, wherein the at least one aerodynamic component is associated with the hull and is configured to direct airflow around the airship.

A system for deploying an airbag when an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has failed or is no longer able to sustain flight, comprising a triggering means which releases compressed air into a bag or bags which are configured to expand around the UAV for the purpose of reducing the deceleration forces of the UAV on impact. UAV's are provided that are configured with a system that includes a triggering mechanism that deploys one or more bags when there is a failure or when flight is no longer sustainable.

A system for deploying an airbag when an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has failed or is no longer able to sustain flight, comprising a triggering means which releases compressed air into a bag or bags which are configured to expand around the UAV for the purpose of reducing the deceleration forces of the UAV on impact. UAV's are provided that are configured with a system that includes a triggering mechanism that deploys one or more bags when there is a failure or when flight is no longer sustainable.

An impact protection apparatus is provided, comprising a gas container configured to hold a compressed gas and an inflatable member configured to be inflated by the gas and function as an airbag of a movable object, such as an aerial vehicle. A valve controls flow of gas from the container to the inflatable member in response to a signal from a valve controller. The valve and valve controller are powered by an independent power source than one or more other systems of the movable object. A safety mechanism may also be provided that, unless deactivated, prevents inflation of the inflatable member.