Skirts and skirt handling for air cushion vehicles

摘要

An air cushion vehicle has a plenum structure surrounding the vehicle body and a plurality of skirt segments. Each segment is attached to its own rigid frame which supports a flexible membrane. The frame outer end pivots from the plenum structure, while the frame inner end can move upwardly relative to the vehicle body from an inclined deployed position to a horizontal retracted position. The skirt membrane is extended from the frame during hovering and can be furled to its frame for replacement. The skirt segments are replaceable from inside the vehicle's air plenum.