US 4,757,959 A · Method and arrangement for providing safe vertical landing of airplanes and extrinsically supported zero-run takeoff of airplanes

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method and arrangement for providing safe vertical landing of airplanes, which are not provided with VTOL equipment or which are hindered with respect to their actual flight capabilities, as well as for providing extrinsically supported zero-run takeoff of airplanes. An airplane equipped with lower takeup means is coupled in flight to upper takeup means carried by a rotary wing aircraft flying above the airplane. The rotary wing aircraft generates the propulsion necessary to transport the airplane and the lifting force and sets it down vertically. Zero-run takeoff is initiated by lifting the airplane and accelerating it into its direction of flight by the rotary wing aircraft. When sufficient height, speed against wind and self-propulsion are gained, the airplane releases the connection to the upper takeup means and flies without assistance.

Claims13

Dependent claims

Arrangement for taking up an airplane, which has a fuselage and is at rest on the ground or in controlled flight, with the aid of a rotary wing aircraft, the arrangement comprising:

lower takeup means mounted on the airplane;
upper takeup means carried by the rotary wing aircraft;
remotely-controlled guidance means for guiding said upper takeup means relative to the rotary wing aircraft;
coupling-uncoupling means for coupling and decoupling said upper takeup means and said lower takeup means;
said lower takeup means being mounted on said fuselage;
said coupling-uncoupling means being configured so as to cause said upper takeup means to be coupled with said lower takeup means in a form-tight manner;
and,
said upper takeup means including:
an aerodynamically maneuverable unit remotely guided by said guidance means so as to be movable in three translatory axes and in three rotational axes relative to the rotary wing aircraft;
and, flexible supporting means for supporting said aerodynamically maneuverable unit from the rotary wing aircraft.

7 more elements

Arrangement for taking up an airplane, which has a fuselage and is at rest on the ground or in controlled flight, with the aid of a rotary wing aircraft having a lower wall as well as energy supply means and control means, the arrangement comprising:

lower takeup means mounted on the airplane;
upper takeup means carried by the rotary wing aircraft;
remotely-controlled guidance means for guiding said upper takeup means relative to the rotary wing aircraft;
coupling-uncoupling means for coupling and decoupling said upper takeup means and said lower takeup means;
said lower takeup means being mounted on said fuselage;
said upper takeup means being carried from the lower wall of the rotary wing aircraft;
said coupling-uncoupling means being configured so as to cause said upper takeup means to be coupled with said lower takeup means in a form-tight manner;
said upper takeup means including a maneuverable unit remotely guided by said guidance means, said maneuverable unit being a small airplane suspended from the rotary wing aircraft;
transmitting means for transmitting energy and signals to said small airplane from said energy supply means and said control means;
said small airplane defining a longitudinal axis;
and, said upper takeup means including a carrying bail defining a plane and mounted on the lower side of said small airplane so as to cause a normal to said plane to be substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis;
said lower takeup means including:
frame means mounted on said fuselage of the airplane;
a lever mounted on said frame means and having a lever arm for engaging said carrying bail when said small airplane is brought into a coupling position above said fuselage;
said lever being pivotally mounted on said frame means so as to pivot in a vertical plane about a horizontal pivot axis between a locked position wherein said lever arm is inclined downwardly toward said fuselage and an unlocked position wherein said lever arm is inclined upwardly so as to point away from said fuselage;
and,
releasable locking means for locking said lever in said locked position.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and arrangement for providing safe vertical landing of airplanes and extrinsically supported zero-run takeoff of airplanes

Life of this patent

Method and arrangement for providing safe vertical landing of airplanes and extrinsically supported zero-run takeoff of airplanes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13