Patent ID: 6851647

Claim:
An apparatus for launching an aircraft, comprising: a multiplicity of interconnected elongated tracks of rigid material forming a track system and wherein each elongated track has a predetermined elongated track cross-sectional design; a winch system connected to the track system wherein the winch system has a variable mechanical advantage; one or more elongated surgical latex tubes wherein one end of each of the one or more surgical latex tubes is adjustably connected to the track system, wherein the adjustable connection of the one end of the one or more latex surgical tubes to the track system is formed of a first mounting plate adjustably connected to the track system, a first set of one or more capture screws connected to the first mounting plate on one end of the first set of one or more capture screws and connected to one end of the one or more latex surgical tubes on the other end of the first set of one or more capture screws, and a first set of one or more tie devices wrapped around the one end of the one or more latex surgical tubes connected to the first set of one or more capture screws; and a carrier slidably mounted to the track system wherein the carrier is connected to the winch system and to the other end of each of the one or more elongated elastic members.