Flexible wings for transportation.

Abstract

The possible uses of flexible wings for transportation of passengers and cargo from point to point on earth are discussed along with emergency applications of flexible wings in connection with conventional aircraft. Topics considered include gliding and soaring as a sport, towing of flexible-wing gliders for cargo delivery, powered flight with small aircraft having folding flexible wings, aerial dropping of personnel and cargo on flexible wings instead of parachutes, landing and recovery of rocket payloads by means of flexible wings, and use of flexible wings with ejection seats and as an emergency landing system for conventional aircraft.