Patent ID: 7530527

Claim:
A method of launching a heavier-than-air air vehicle comprising at least an aerodynamic lifting surface and thrust-producing powerplant, the method comprising: raising the heavier-than-air vehicle to a desired altitude by means of a lighter-than-air vehicle; when said desired altitude has been reached, operating said powerplant to produce thrust with the heavier-than-air vehicle suspended at a high bank angle below the lighter-than-air vehicle by means of a tether attached to said lifting surface of the heavier-than-air vehicle at a substantially outboard position thereof, causing the tethered heavier-than-air vehicle to describe an upwardly-spiralling path relative to the lighter-than-air vehicle; and releasing said tether to permit free flight of the heavier-than-air vehicle when the latter has reached a desired attitude; wherein the heavier-than-air vehicle is initially supported by a pivotable structure in a substantially level attitude; said structure is pivoted to place the heavier-than-air vehicle in a substantially 90° banked attitude; and the heavier-than-air vehicle is released from said structure while tethered to the lighter-than-air vehicle to be raised as aforesaid.