An apparatus (170, 190) for stabilizing takeoff and landing of a vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a vertically-oriented support element, said vertically-oriented support element comprising: a vertically-oriented support element first end; and a vertically-oriented support element second end, said vertically-oriented support element extending from the vertically-oriented support element first end to the vertically-oriented support element second end, said vertically-oriented support element further comprising at least one first cooperating stabilizer element proximate to the vertically-oriented support element second end; an enclosure (174, 194), said enclosure dimensioned to substantially surround the at least one vertically-oriented support element; and wherein the at least one first cooperating stabilizer element comprises at least one of: a male attachment portion (62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e), and a female attachment portion (52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e, 52f), wherein said enclosure comprises at least one moveable enclosure panel (176, 196), said at least one moveable enclosure panel positioned proximate to the vertically-oriented support element first end, and wherein the apparatus further comprises: a detector for detecting pressure within at least a localized region of the enclosure; a controller in communication with the detector; and an actuator in communication with the controller, said actuator further in communication with a drive mechanism, said drive mechanism further in communication with the at least one moveable enclosure panel. a vertically-oriented support element, said vertically-oriented support element comprising: a vertically-oriented support element first end; and a vertically-oriented support element second end, said vertically-oriented support element extending from the vertically-oriented support element first end to the vertically-oriented support element second end, said vertically-oriented support element further comprising at least one first cooperating stabilizer element proximate to the vertically-oriented support element second end; a vertically-oriented support element first end; and a vertically-oriented support element second end, said vertically-oriented support element extending from the vertically-oriented support element first end to the vertically-oriented support element second end, said vertically-oriented support element further comprising at least one first cooperating stabilizer element proximate to the vertically-oriented support element second end; an enclosure (174, 194), said enclosure dimensioned to substantially surround the at least one vertically-oriented support element; and wherein the at least one first cooperating stabilizer element comprises at least one of: a male attachment portion (62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e), and a female attachment portion (52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e, 52f), wherein said enclosure comprises at least one moveable enclosure panel (176, 196), said at least one moveable enclosure panel positioned proximate to the vertically-oriented support element first end, and wherein the apparatus further comprises: a detector for detecting pressure within at least a localized region of the enclosure; a controller in communication with the detector; and an actuator in communication with the controller, said actuator further in communication with a drive mechanism, said drive mechanism further in communication with the at least one moveable enclosure panel. a detector for detecting pressure within at least a localized region of the enclosure; a controller in communication with the detector; and an actuator in communication with the controller, said actuator further in communication with a drive mechanism, said drive mechanism further in communication with the at least one moveable enclosure panel.