Helicopter-mediated system and method for launching and retrieving an aircraft

• US 10,144,511 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2014
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hood Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hood Technology Corporation
• Inventors: von Flotow, Andreas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Hara, Brian M
• Application Number:
  US14/230,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20150314871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/12 Releasing
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 3/00 Aircraft adaptations to facilitate towing or being towed B64D39/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 5/00 Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight flying units formed by separate aircraft B64C37/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/60 Tethered aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/20 for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a helicopter-mediated system and method for launching and retrieving an aircraft capable of long-distance efficient cruising flight from a small space without the use of a long runway.

Claims

1. A method for launching an aircraft into wing-borne flight using a helicopter, said method comprising:

mechanically connecting a first mating device attached to the aircraft to a second mating device connected to the helicopter;

engaging a locking mechanism of the helicopter to prevent the first mating device from disconnecting from the second mating device;

after connecting the first mating device to the second mating device and after engaging the locking mechanism, hoisting the aircraft using the helicopter and bringing the aircraft to a designated air speed using the helicopter; and

after bringing the aircraft to the designated air speed;

disengaging the locking mechanism to enable the first mating device to disconnect from the second mating device; and

after disengaging the locking mechanism, initiating, via the second mating device, disconnection of the first mating device from the second mating device to release the aircraft into wing-borne flight.

2. The method of claim 1, further including retrieving the aircraft from wing-borne flight using the helicopter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second mating device is positioned below the helicopter.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first mating device extends above the aircraft.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mating device extends toward a tail of the aircraft.

6. A helicopter-mediated system for launching an aircraft, said system comprising:

a helicopter;

a first mating device connected to and positioned below the helicopter, the first mating device releasably connectable to a second mating device attached to the aircraft; and

a locking mechanism engageable to prevent the second mating device from disconnecting from the first mating device and disengageable to enable the second mating device to disconnect from the first mating device,

wherein the first mating device is configured to, when the locking mechanism is disengaged, initiate disconnection of the second mating device from the first mating device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second mating device extends toward a tail of the aircraft.

8. A method for launching an aircraft into wing-borne flight using a rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by rotors, said method comprising:

mechanically connecting a mating device connected to the rotorcraft to a portion of the aircraft;

engaging a locking mechanism to prevent the mating device from disconnecting from the portion of the aircraft;

after connecting the mating device to the portion of the aircraft and after engaging the locking mechanism, hoisting the aircraft using the rotorcraft and bringing the aircraft to a designated air speed using the rotorcraft; and

after bringing the aircraft to the designated air speed;

disengaging the locking mechanism to enable the mating device to disconnect from the portion of the aircraft; and

after disengaging the locking mechanism, initiating, via the mating device, disconnection of the portion of the aircraft from the mating device to release the aircraft into wing-borne flight.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the rotorcraft is a helicopter.

10. A rotorcraft-mediated system for launching an aircraft, said system comprising:

a rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by rotors;

a mating device connected to and positioned below the helicopter, the mating device releasably connectable to a portion of the aircraft; and

a locking mechanism engageable to prevent the portion of the aircraft from disconnecting from the mating device and disengageable to enable the portion of the aircraft to disconnect from the mating device,

wherein the mating device is configured to, when the locking mechanism is disengaged, initiate disconnection of the portion of the aircraft from the mating device.

11. The rotorcraft-mediated system of claim 10, wherein the rotorcraft is a helicopter.