Patent ID: 6869042

Claim:
A system for the airborne launch refuelling and recovery of an aircraft from/by a larger carrier aircraft and for refuelling and recovering the aircraft, the system comprising a holder on the carrier aircraft to which the aircraft is detachably connectable, and an extendible and retractable refuelling device mounted on or in the holder detachably connectable to the aircraft, whereby to launch the aircraft the aircraft is disconnected from the holder and the refuelling device is extended with the aircraft detachably connected thereto to cause the aircraft to trail behind the carrier aircraft and the refuelling device is disconnected from the trailing aircraft, the system enabling the aircraft to be refuelled in flight by connecting the aircraft in flight to the extended refuelling device and passing fuel from the carrier aircraft to the aircraft through the refuelling device, the aircraft also being recoverable by connecting the aircraft in flight to the extended refuelling device, retracting the refuelling device with the aircraft connected thereto and reconnecting the aircraft to the carrier aircraft.