Patent ID: 8403260

Claim:
An airship handling device, comprising: a first support member mountable to a ground vehicle, wherein the first support member has a generally curved shape with a first end mountable to a front portion of the ground vehicle, and a second end spaced apart from the first end and approximately over a center of gravity of the ground vehicle; a second support member operably coupled to the first support member and configured to rotatably move relative to the first support member about a support member axis, wherein the second support member is out of contact with the ground vehicle wherein the second support member includes a first end rotatably mounted to the second end of the first support member, and a second end spaced apart from the first end and having a lower elevation relative to the ground vehicle than the first end, and wherein the second support member has a generally curved shape corresponding, at least in part, to the curved shape of the first support member; and a line attachment portion carried by the second support member and positioned to releasably couple a flexible handling line from an airship to the second support member, wherein the handling line is not coupled to a winch.