A system for recovery of a target aircraft by a host aircraft during forward flight, the system comprising: a towline comprising a proximal section configured to be coupled with the host aircraft and a distal section configured to be paid out from the host aircraft; a fitting coupled with the distal section of the towline; and a capture mechanism comprising a first movable portion and a second movable portion configured to be coupled with a fuselage of the target aircraft; wherein: the first movable portion of the capture mechanism is configured to move from a first position to a second position in which the first movable portion extends away from the fuselage of the target aircraft, the second movable portion of the capture mechanism is configured to move from a first position to a second position in which the second movable portion extends at an angle away from the fuselage of the target aircraft, the capture mechanism is configured to receive the towline in an opening defined by the first and second movable portions in the second positions and to permit vertical movement of the towline through the opening, and characterised in that the capture mechanism is configured to prevent the fitting attached to the towline from moving vertically through the opening. a towline comprising a proximal section configured to be coupled with the host aircraft and a distal section configured to be paid out from the host aircraft; a fitting coupled with the distal section of the towline; and a capture mechanism comprising a first movable portion and a second movable portion configured to be coupled with a fuselage of the target aircraft; wherein: the first movable portion of the capture mechanism is configured to move from a first position to a second position in which the first movable portion extends away from the fuselage of the target aircraft, the second movable portion of the capture mechanism is configured to move from a first position to a second position in which the second movable portion extends at an angle away from the fuselage of the target aircraft, the capture mechanism is configured to receive the towline in an opening defined by the first and second movable portions in the second positions and to permit vertical movement of the towline through the opening, and characterised in that the capture mechanism is configured to prevent the fitting attached to the towline from moving vertically through the opening. the first movable portion of the capture mechanism is configured to move from a first position to a second position in which the first movable portion extends away from the fuselage of the target aircraft, the second movable portion of the capture mechanism is configured to move from a first position to a second position in which the second movable portion extends at an angle away from the fuselage of the target aircraft, the capture mechanism is configured to receive the towline in an opening defined by the first and second movable portions in the second positions and to permit vertical movement of the towline through the opening, and characterised in that the capture mechanism is configured to prevent the fitting attached to the towline from moving vertically through the opening.