System and methods for airborne launch and recovery of aircraft
First Claim
1. A method for airborne launch of an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
- deploying a flexible tether from an airborne mother ship;
translating an aircraft, including wings, rearward along the flexible tether away from the mother ship with the aircraft in a zero-lift or near zero-lift configuration;
transferring the weight of the aircraft from the flexible tether to the wings while the aircraft is secured to the flexible tether; and
releasing the aircraft from the flexible tether after transferring the weight of the aircraft from the flexible tether to the wings.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and methods for airborne launch and recovery of aircraft. In one embodiment the system comprises a flexible tether configured to be towed behind an airborne mother ship. A drag device is secured to a distal end of the flexible tether to generate drag and maintain tension in the flexible tether. A reel associated with the mother ship anchors a proximal portion of the flexible tether and selectively lets out and takes up the flexible tether to adjust a length of the flexible tether. A capture mechanism associated with the aircraft engages the flexible tether to enable the aircraft to translate along the flexible tether. In embodiments of the present methods, a flexible tether is deployed from an airborne mother ship. An aircraft translates forward and rearward along the flexible tether. Prior to launch, the weight of the aircraft is transferred from the flexible tether to the wings. During recovery, the weight of the aircraft is transferred from the wings to the flexible tether.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for airborne launch of an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
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deploying a flexible tether from an airborne mother ship; translating an aircraft, including wings, rearward along the flexible tether away from the mother ship with the aircraft in a zero-lift or near zero-lift configuration; transferring the weight of the aircraft from the flexible tether to the wings while the aircraft is secured to the flexible tether; and releasing the aircraft from the flexible tether after transferring the weight of the aircraft from the flexible tether to the wings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for airborne recovery of an aircraft, the aircraft including wings, the method comprising the steps of:
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deploying a flexible tether from an airborne mother ship; the aircraft engaging the flexible tether; transferring the weight of the aircraft from the wings to the flexible tether by the aircraft assuming a zero-lift or near zero-lift configuration after engaging the flexible tether; and translating the aircraft forward along the flexible tether toward the mother ship with the aircraft in the zero-lift or near zero-lift configuration. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A capture mechanism associated with an aircraft and configured to engage a flexible tether during airborne launch and recovery of the aircraft, the capture mechanism comprising:
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a guide member extending from the aircraft; and a latch located at a base of the capture mechanism; wherein the guide member is configured to guide the flexible tether toward the latch along a surface of the guide member during recovery of the aircraft and the latch is configured to engage the flexible tether to enable the aircraft to translate along the flexible tether; and wherein the guide member is rotatable between a first position in which the surface of the guide member follows a contour of a fuselage of the aircraft and a second position in which the surface of the guide member is configured to guide the flexible tether toward the latch. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification