Patent ID: 9708077
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: B64C,B64F

Claim:
1. A method of launching an unmanned air vehicle, comprising: supporting the unmanned air vehicle on a surface vehicle, the surface vehicle adapted to travel on a ground surface, the surface vehicle supporting the unmanned air vehicle in a nose down position wherein a nose of the unmanned air vehicle is oriented downwardly with respect to the ground surface; connecting a towline to the surface vehicle; pulling the towline to force the unmanned air vehicle in a forward direction at a speed sufficient for take-off, wherein the nose down position of the unmanned air vehicle has sufficient incline to produce a negative angle of attack to provide a negative lift at lift surfaces of the unmanned air vehicle as the unmanned air vehicle moves in the forward direction, and wherein the surface vehicle is configured to prevent rearward movement of the unmanned air vehicle relative to the surface vehicle while permitting the unmanned air vehicle to move relative to the surface vehicle in at least one non-rearward direction; and after the unmanned air vehicle has reached the speed sufficient for take-off, adjusting lift surfaces of the unmanned air vehicle to counteract the negative lift and launch the unmanned air vehicle from the surface vehicle.