An imaging system has a tether sub-system deployable and retrievable from an aircraft, an imaging device attached at a deployable end of the tether, and control apparatus comprising control and communication circuitry receiving images captured by the imaging apparatus and storing the images. The tether is deployed to a predetermined length, the aircraft is piloted in a flight pattern causing the imaging device at the deployed end of the tether to attain a fixed position proximate an imaging target, and the control apparatus is operated to capture images of the target.

A data delivery system has a tether deployable from an aircraft having a first data repository, a transmission pod at a deployed end of the tether, the transmission pod having first wireless communication circuitry, a communication conductor in parallel with the tether connecting the data repository in the aircraft with the first wireless communication circuitry in the transmission pod, and a receiving station on ground surface having a receiving antenna, second wireless communication circuitry compatible with the first wireless communication circuitry in the transmission pod, and a second data repository. The tether is deployed from the aircraft in a manner to position the transmission pod stationary proximate the receiving station antenna, and data is downloaded from the data repository in the aircraft to the data repository in the receiving station via the communication conductor and the wireless communication circuitry in the transmission pod.

An ordnance delivery system has a cable deployable by a winch from an aircraft, an end effector comprising controllable thrusters attached at a deployed end of the cable, first control circuitry in the end effector and second control circuitry in the aircraft, the first and second control circuitry in communication, an ordinance delivery region in the end effector carrying ordnance for delivery on a target, and a release mechanism by which the ordnance is released to fall on the target. The aircraft is piloted to a position over a target, the end effector is controlled to position more accurately over the target; and the release mechanism is activated, releasing the ordnance to fall on the target.

Disclosed is an unmanned, autonomous, cargo transport system comprising at least one towed aircraft coupled to a tractor aircraft for inflight towing.

Disclosed is an unmanned, autonomous, cargo transport system comprising at least one towed aircraft coupled to a tractor aircraft for inflight towing.

Features for in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight to recover an in-flight target UAV. The towline or portion thereof may be oriented nearly vertical. The towline may have a fitting thereon. A capture mechanism on the target UAV may have one or more deployable flaps that engage with the near vertical towline and fitting. The flaps may stow to secure the target aircraft to the towline and fitting. The host aircraft may then retract the towline to pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft using a hoist system having a winch. A latching system located in a pylon of the host aircraft, which may be under a wing, may have a towline connector that engages with and secures the target UAV. The host aircraft may have multiple hoist systems for deployment and/or recovery of multiple target UAV's.

A tow cable system and method of use wherein, in the context of towed flight of a glider behind an aircraft, positive load or tension of the cable therebetween is achieved through one or more of cable design and material selection, cable pre-tensioning, in-flight cable tensioning, and/or load dampening device(s), and the related interplay of such various components or sub-systems of the overall tow cable system.

A tow cable system and method of use wherein, in the context of towed flight of a glider behind an aircraft, positive load or tension of the cable therebetween is achieved through one or more of cable design and material selection, cable pre-tensioning, in-flight cable tensioning, and/or load dampening device(s), and the related interplay of such various components or sub-systems of the overall tow cable system.

A tow-bar fitting for connecting a tow-bar to an aircraft landing gear is disclosed including a tow-bar attachment to which, in use, the tow-bar is coupled. The tow-bar fitting also includes a first fuse member via which linear loads but not torque loads are transmitted from the tow-bar attachment to the rest of the landing gear. The first fuse member is configured to fail at a predetermined linear load threshold. The tow-bar fitting includes a second fuse member via which torque loads are transmitted from the tow-bar attachment to the rest of the landing gear. The second fuse member is configured to fail at a predetermined torque load threshold. A method of towing an aircraft is also disclosed.

A tow-bar fitting for connecting a tow-bar to an aircraft landing gear is disclosed including a tow-bar attachment to which, in use, the tow-bar is coupled. The tow-bar fitting also includes a first fuse member via which linear loads but not torque loads are transmitted from the tow-bar attachment to the rest of the landing gear. The first fuse member is configured to fail at a predetermined linear load threshold. The tow-bar fitting includes a second fuse member via which torque loads are transmitted from the tow-bar attachment to the rest of the landing gear. The second fuse member is configured to fail at a predetermined torque load threshold. A method of towing an aircraft is also disclosed.