Aerodynamically-stabilized collapsible personnel and cargo basket for helicopters

An elongated rectangular basket for carrying a load suspended from a helicopter comprising:

• a. an elongated rectangular bottom frame and a floor having a plurality of slats;
• b. a collapsible side-frame assembly and four mesh screens, said collapsible side-frame assembly comprising four rectangular side frames, each side frame pivotally mounted to different sides of the rectangular bottom frame, each mesh screen connected to a different side frame, thereby providing turbulent and separated airflow ahead and around the load such that two stable flight modes are provided, an empty flight mode with the basket aligned longwise in the direction of flight and a loaded flight mode with the basket aligned crosswise to the direction of flight;
• c. two pairs of hooks for attaching the basket to a suspension harness, each pair being oppositely attached to the top ends of two oppositely-facing side frames;
• and
• d. a suspension harness having a spreader assembly to separate suspension lines leading to the basket hooks and a ring assembly for attachment to the helicopter lifting point.