An unmanned aircraft system includes an automated recovery system that can recover aircraft in a reliable, economical manner, using a dual-pole and line mechanism.

Launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft and/or other payloads, including via parachute-assist, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative method for lofting a payload includes directing a lifting device upward, releasing a parachute from the lifting device, with the parachute carrying a pulley and having a flexible line passing around the pulley. The flexible line is connected between a tension device (e.g., a winch) and the payload. The method further includes activating the tension device to reel in the flexible line and accelerate the payload upwardly.

A tailhook with a telescopic lever, a fixed jaw, a sliding jaw, a pivot arm, and a cam arm. The lever has a second lever and a first lever end attached to a ring to which a pulling force can be applied, which allows the tailhook to test and exercise an arresting cable. The sliding jaw and the fixed jaw communicate such that the arresting cable can be accepted and clamped. The second lever end is attached to the fixed jaw, while the fixed jaw includes a thumb screw that provides tension adjustment for the fixed jaw. The pivot arm provides a clamping force, and the cam arm provides a mechanical linkage between the fixed jaw and the sliding jaw such that when force is applied to the pivot arm, the cam arm moves the sliding jaw to clamp together or unclamp the fixed jaw and the sliding jaw.

Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with kites are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to recover a UAV during flight includes a tether line, a tensioner operatively coupled to the tether line, and a kite operatively coupled to the tether line to support the tether line for recovery of the UAV

Line capture devices for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a line capture device body having a line slot with an open end and a closed end. A retainer is positioned proximate to the line slot and has a rotor with a plurality of rotor arms positioned to extend at least partially across the line slot as the rotor rotates relative to the body. A joint rotatably couples the rotor to the body, and a ratchet device is operably coupled to the rotor to allow the rotor to rotate in a first direction and at least restrict the rotor arm from rotating in a second direction opposite the first. In other embodiments, the retainer can include other arrangements, for example, one or more wire-shaped elements.

An asymmetric aircraft and an aircraft that can operate from small ships and be stored in high density with three aircraft or more in one helicopter hangar without needing a landing gear or wing fold. These aircraft slide into and out of the hangar on dollies like circuit boards in a computer and are launched and recovered using a large towed parafoil.

Aerial launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods are described. A representative system includes a first, carrier aircraft having an airframe, a propulsion system carried by the airframe and positioned to support the carrier aircraft in hover, and a capture line carried by the carrier aircraft and deployable to hang from the carrier aircraft. The capture line is sized to releasably engage with a capture device of a second, carried aircraft. The system further includes a retrieval device positioned to support the carried aircraft for detachment from the capture line.

A rotorcraft-assisted system for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft into and from free flight. The launch and retrieval system is usable with a rotorcraft to launch a fixed-wing aircraft into free, wing-borne flight and to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from free, wing-borne flight.

Launch and land system for a tethered aircraft (in connection with FIG. 1) The invention provides for a launch and land system (1) for a tethered aircraft (90) comprising a runway (12) for the aircraft and a winch (62) for the tether (92), wherein the runway comprises a funnel-shaped target area (14) with a wide end oriented towards one end of the runway and a narrow end opposite of the wide end, wherein said target area is laterally bordered by restriction devices (80) extending from one end of the target area to the other for preventing the aircraft to roll out of the target area.

Locking line capture devices for unmanned aircraft are disclosed. An example line capture device is configured to be attached to a wing of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The example line capture device includes a body having a line capture slot. The line capture slot has an open end and a closed end. The example line capture device further includes a retainer having a first lobe, a second lobe, and a third lobe. The retainer is movable relative to the body between a first position in which the first and third lobes are positioned on opposite sides of the line capture slot and the second lobe is positioned over the line capture slot, and a second position in which the first and second lobes are positioned over the line capture slot and the third lobe is positioned clear of the line capture slot.