Patent ID: 7128294

Claim:
An apparatus for launching an unmanned aircraft, comprising: a first launch member; a second launch member positioned at least proximate to the first launch member, at least one of the first and second launch members being movable relative to the other between a first position and a second position; and a launch carriage having an aircraft support positioned to releasably carry an unmanned aircraft during a takeoff operation, the launch carriage touching the launch members and being movable relative to the launch members between a first launch carriage location and a second launch carriage location as the at least one of the first and second launch members moves from the first position to the second position, wherein the launch carriage moves in a first direction between the first launch carriage location and the second launch carriage location, and wherein the at least one launch member moves in a second direction transverse to the first direction between the first position and the second position.