Patent ID: 9656765
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: B64C,B64D,B64F

Claim:
1. A copter-mediated method for launching an aircraft into and retrieving an aircraft from wing-borne flight, said method comprising: attaching the aircraft to a rigid first connector of a copter; releasing the aircraft into free flight by detaching the aircraft from the rigid first connector of the copter; flying the copter above an anchor assembly such that a first portion of a tether attached to both the copter and the anchor assembly extends between the copter and the anchor assembly; station-keeping the flying copter generally above the anchor assembly; and contacting and capturing a part of the first portion of the tether extending between the tether and the anchor assembly with the aircraft, thereby causing the anchor assembly to pay out a second portion of the tether and impose a resistive force on the tether that opposes movement of the aircraft.