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The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Patent No.:

US 12384559 B1

PDFFull Text
Date of Patent:
Aug. 12, 2025

Filed:

Feb. 16, 2023

Rotorcraft-assisted system and method for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft into and from free flight

Applicant:

Hood Technology Corporation, Hood River, OR (US);

Inventors:

Andreas H. Von Flotow, Hood River, OR (US);

Corydon C. Roeseler, Hood River, OR (US);

Daniel Pepin Reiss, Hood River, OR (US);

Jessie Massong, Hood River, OR (US);

Assignee:

Hood Technology Corporation, Hood River, OR (US);

Attorney:

Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP

Primary Examiner:

Brian M O'hara

Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64U 70/30 (2023.01); B64F 1/02 (2006.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 20/80 (2023.01); B64U 20/94 (2023.01); B64U 30/291 (2023.01); B64U 70/00 (2023.01); B65H 54/28 (2006.01); F15B 1/02 (2006.01); F15B 1/26 (2006.01); F15B 9/14 (2006.01); F15B 13/02 (2006.01); F15B 13/04 (2006.01); B64U 70/70 (2023.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B64F 1/0295 (2020.01); B64F 1/029 (2020.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 20/80 (2023.01); B64U 20/94 (2023.01); B64U 30/291 (2023.01); B64U 70/00 (2023.01); B65H 54/28 (2013.01); F15B 1/021 (2013.01); F15B 1/26 (2013.01); F15B 9/14 (2013.01); F15B 13/024 (2013.01); F15B 13/0417 (2013.01); B64U 70/30 (2023.01); B64U 70/70 (2023.01); B64U 2201/20 (2023.01); B64U 2201/202 (2023.01); B65H 2403/93 (2013.01); B65H 2404/40 (2013.01); B65H 2404/742 (2013.01); B65H 2701/30 (2013.01); F15B 2201/51 (2013.01);
Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a rotorcraft-assisted system and method for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft into and from free flight. The launch and retrieval system includes a modular multicopter, a storage and launch system, an anchor system, a flexible capture member, and an aircraft-landing structure. The multicopter is attachable to the fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launching the fixed-wing aircraft into free, wing-borne flight. The storage and launch system is usable to store the multicopter (when disassembled) and to act as a launch mount for the fixed-wing aircraft by retaining the fixed-wing aircraft in a desired launch orientation. The anchor system is usable with the multicopter, the flexible capture member, and the aircraft-landing structure to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from free, wing-borne flight.

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