Aerial vehicle launcher

An aerial vehicle launcher comprising:

• a rail having a first end and a longitudinal axis;
• wherein the launcher further comprises a piston movable in a passageway formed in the rail, the piston connected to a carriage by at least two elongate flexible members;
• the carriage having a support device for releasably engaging the aerial vehicle;
• wherein upon the carriage and the aerial vehicle approaching one end of the rail, the support device controllably disengaging the aerial vehicle, permitting the aerial vehicle to be launched from the launcher;
• and
• a pneumatic device connected to a pressurized gas source;
• wherein the pneumatic device controllably provides pressurized gas from the pressurized gas source to the passageway for drivingly moving the piston, the carriage, and the aerial vehicle along the rail for launching the aerial vehicle;
• wherein the pneumatic device includes a reservoir for holding gas pressurized to a predetermined level in preparation of launching the aerial vehicle, the pressurized gas in the reservoir providing the driving force for launching the aerial vehicle;
• wherein the rail includes a circular tube with the piston nested inside a structural, noncircular tube;
• wherein the structural, noncircular tube is reinforced with load-distributing features conducive for use with thin-walled tubes.