Again, thanks for the input, fellas. Clay, I have been thinking about the speed. A pulley system could be used to adjust the speed, and while sacrificing pound lift, I would have lots to spare. The control problem is definately something to consider. And I am thinking of failure mechanisms. How about this... Four tubes, attacked to the platform, (sched. 40 pvc?)with tubes inside of them acting as rams and gasketed, letting air out of a relief hole at a set pace, acting as pneumatic resevours, like those on a hatch back lid of a car.
