Landing assist apparatus interface bulkhead and method of installation

• US 7,344,108 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Tebon, Darrin, Lahaie, Rolland E., Muylaert, Neal W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ELDRED, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US10/860,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20050269450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 244/115, 244/116, 244/110.R, 244/110.E, 244/110.F, 244/118.1, 244/119
• US Class Current: 244/115
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/062 specially adapted to absorb crash loads
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2025/325 specially adapted for helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2211/00 Modular constructions of airplanes or helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/00 Alighting gear air-cushion alighting gear B60V3/08
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/10 retractable, foldable, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/32 characterised by elements which contact the ground or similar surface arrester hooks B64C25/68
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/68 Arrester hooks
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/125 Mooring or ground handling devices for helicopters

Abstract

An aircraft landing assist apparatus is designed to be retrofit to existing aircraft having internal constructions that have been modified to support the apparatus. The apparatus is designed so that on rough landings of the aircraft on a ship deck, the apparatus will collapse in a controlled manner to avoid any damage to ammunition and/or fuel storage areas of the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method of installing an aircraft landing assist apparatus on an aircraft, the method comprising:

structurally reinforcing a load bearing forward bulkhead wall and a load bearing rearward bulkhead wall of the aircraft fuselage; and

attaching a landing assist apparatus to the aircraft, with the landing assist apparatus being connected to and supported by the reinforced forward and rearward bulkhead walls of the aircraft fuselage.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

attaching the landing assist apparatus to an underside of the aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

positioning the two reinforced bulkheads in the aircraft interior to define a bay area in the aircraft interior between the two bulkheads.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

positioning an ammunition container inside the aircraft between the two bulkheads.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

removing one of the existing forward and rearward bulkheads from the aircraft interior construction;

and

adding a reinforced bulkhead in place of the existing bulkhead removed.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

removing a fuselage panel from the aircraft creating an access opening to an interior of the aircraft; and

removing the existing bulkhead from the aircraft interior construction through the access opening.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

reattaching the fuselage panel to the aircraft after removing the existing bulkhead from the aircraft interior construction.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

reattaching the fuselage panel to the aircraft after removing the existing bulkhead from the aircraft interior construction and adding the reinforced bulkhead to the aircraft interior construction.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

attaching the landing assist apparatus to the aircraft after reattaching the fuselage panel to the aircraft.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

removing an ordinance container from the aircraft interior construction.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising

removing the existing bulkhead from the aircraft interior construction after removing the ordinance container from the aircraft interior construction.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

reattaching the ordinance container to the aircraft interior construction after adding the reinforced bulkhead to the aircraft interior construction.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

removing a fuselage panel from the aircraft creating an access opening to an interior of the aircraft,

removing the ordinance container from the aircraft interior through the access opening;

and then removing the existing bulkhead from the aircraft interior through the access opening.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

reattaching the fuselage panel to the aircraft after adding the reinforced bulkhead as to the aircraft interior construction.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

reattaching the fuselage panel to the aircraft prior to attaching the landing assist apparatus to the aircraft.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

removing one of the forward and rearward bulkheads from the aircraft interior construction;

and,

adding reinforced structural components to the non-removed bulkhead and replacing the removed bulkhead with a structurally reinforced bulkhead.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

connecting the landing assist apparatus to the two reinforced bulkheads.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

positioning the two reinforced bulkheads in the aircraft interior with a spacing between the two reinforced bulkheads that defines an interior bay in the aircraft.