Abstract: A lifting body is suspended from a satellite by a long tether extending downwardly into the atmosphere of a planet about which the satellite is orbiting. The lifting body is oriented so as to provide a horizontal force upon the satellite through the tether tension, thereby changing the orbital plane of the satellite. The tether is wound on a reel in the satellite, which may be the NASA Space Shuttle, and the lifting body may be repeatedly deployed and retrieved. The lifting body is provided with remotely controlled aerodynamic surfaces to control its angle of attack.

Abstract: Lateral forces exerted on an air inflated, airfoil canopy of an aerial device during towline launching are balanced by slidable displacement of the coupling between the towline and a flexible guide attached at spaced locations to the aerial device. The flexible guide has a triangular configuration to control the distribution of towing force components and corresponding changes in orientation of the aerial device.

Abstract: An aerial towed battle target having a mechanism for radar detection and including a hollow body which is reinforced in the front in a ring-like manner and is composed of sewn together woven lengths of fabric into which are integrated elongated metal elements. The hollow body has a base and towing gear associated with the front. The problem with heretofore known targets is locating and taking bearings with shortwave radio beams during approach and take-off when the direction of flight coincides extensively with the beam direction. To improve the inventive target in this respect, the elongated metal elements are contained in the fabric lengths as weft threads which are disposed essentially transverse to the direction of towing. These metal weft threads are incorporated between the woven weft threads, with the spacing between the metal threads increasing over the length of a woven fabric pattern uniformly from a relatively small dimension to a relatively large dimension.

Abstract: A balloon-inflation and load-lowering device which comprises an inverted cup-shaped member containing one or more side-opening ports operative when covered by the neck of a balloon to cooperate therewith and form a one-way valve effective to trap the lifting gas inside the balloon once the latter is inflated and the inflation pressure released. Spaced-parallel disk-supporting arms journal a shaft mounting a notched disk. A load-letdown device is operative to slowly lower a load to the end of a tether.

Abstract: A system for connecting a towing, pushing, or hoisting self-propelled vehicle to a non-propelled vehicle utilizes two, three, four or five links connected to each vehicle by respective ball joints. The links converge so that the centers of the non-propelling vehicle's forces and motions can be located at places favorable to the steering, stability, and weight distribution of the two vehicles, usually at or near the center of gravity of the self-propelled vehicle. The locations of steering and carrying centers are determined by point-centers or two- or three-degree-of-freedom linear combinations of line-centers where lines extended from the links intersect in points or lines of intersection. The invention includes apparatus for varying the location of the virtual steering and support centers when the vehicles are at rest or in motion, by changing the separation of the hinge points or ball joints on either vehicle.

Abstract: A method of reducing the destructive effects of a tornado, which has a rotary motion about a center and has at least one clear air inflow region at its periphery, comprises towing through the inflow region one or more fluid dynamic converters which impart a rotary motion to a column of air and thereby disturb the balance of the rotary motion of the tornado so as to reduce its intensity. The fluid dynamic converter comprises a cylindrical casing which is towed in a lengthwise direction by an airplane and has inside the casing a screw-like vane which imparts a rotary motion to the airstream flowing through the casing.

Abstract: A tow target system for use with a remotely piloted aircraft, including deployment of the target(s) from wing launchers on a tow line, braking of the tow line, release of target and tow line from the aircraft, and parachute recovery of the jettisoned target. A dual tow reel and two tow target launchers are provided on the carrier aircraft for sequential operation of more than one towed target. Signals received from the ground control only the target deployment from its carrier and the later jettisoning of the towed target when desired. The braking system has automatically operative control means for pay-out speed, slowing, and stopping of the reels at predetermined line lengths. The parachute recovery is automatically initiated by aerodynamic control forces when target release is commanded.

Abstract: Apparatus, such as a chute or boom, attached to the stern of a ship permits towed body to be launched and retrieved without damaging the hull of the ship. The chute includes a plurality of telescoping sections coupled to one another through a locking and release mechanism operated by a cable assembly. In a preferred embodiment, launch contemplates extension of the chute and activation of the cable assembly so that the chute telescopes open to a locked full extension. The towed body may then be released through the chute to its towing position. Retrieval involves first recapturing the towed body and drawing it up through the chute into the ship and then activating the cable assembly and retracting the chute so that the chute is telescopically folded back to its initial position with the towed body stowed in the chute ready for its next launch.

Abstract: A banner towing adapter for use in the towing of a banner or target by an rcraft of the type having an arresting tail hook assembly. The towing adapter is installable in the hollow tail hook attachment pin of the aircraft by means of an expanding sleeve. The sleeve is fixed to a first upwardly extending immovable arm which secures the sleeve to the tail hook support structure located on the aircraft. A second arm, rotatably attached to the sleeve and coupled to the tail hook, is provided at its distal end with a hook suitable for securing a towline from the banner to be towed. The towline securing hook is disposable between two hook retainers which act as a constraint when the towline is on the hook. One of the retainers is disposed at the far end of the first arm while the other hook retainer is rotatable about a point fixed on the first arm. The second retainer is lockable in a retaining position by a ball lock pin.

Abstract: A reel launcher having a saddle operationally deployable beneath an aircr for carrying and towing an aerial tow target. The tow target is connected to the tow cable by an adapter which includes a notch for registration with a latch in the launcher. The adapter includes a nose section and one of a plurality of end fittings specially formed to engage a corresponding connection in different tow targets. The length of the adapter is adjustable by a threaded connection between the nose section and the end fitting which may be locked with the notch in proper alignment by a slot, key and notch arrangement between the two ends. Thus, a single nose section operable with a launcher may be used with different end fittings and tow targets with no other modifications.

Abstract: A ram-air inflatable, fabric, towed gunnery target for air, land, and naval defense practice having a rigid enclosed nose cone and a flexible inflatable envelope with aft inflation inlets and finlet stabilizers is presented. The gunnery target is foldable for storage and deployment, said envelope folded into a rigid extraction module canister and said nose cone serving as the nose cone for said module. The target may be air launched or ground-snatch deployed, said module being air deployed from a pod launcher on the tractor aircraft. The target may be towed for gunnery sorties at speeds and distances exceeding current tow target performance limits. The nose cone contains housing for sensitive detection devices to record hits or near-misses of said target simulated to be hits on an actual aircraft. The target is capable of withstanding multiple bullet perforations and may be recovered from land, sea, or air and refurbished and reused.

Abstract: A container for a line or cable for towing an aerial target, the container having a streamlined cylindrical body stowed under the towing airplane, with an open rear extremity into which the cable cartridge or loader is inserted. A pyrotechnical release device located near this rear extremity permits release of the line after the towing maneuver is completed. The loader is a tubular casing in which a piston is frictionally mounted. The cable is coiled in the casing on top of the piston. The front and rear ends of the cable project from the rear extremity of the loader.

Abstract: This invention relates to a control system for the release of a parachute contained within an aircraft adapted to be towed by a cable secured thereto, the cable being electrically conductive and having electrical contact to a control system in the aircraft, and an electrically conductive contact ring on the contour of the aircraft and being insulated with respect to the skin of the aircraft, whereby in case of separation of the cable from a towing aircraft, the cable touches the contact ring and closes a circuit composed of the contact ring, the cable, and the control system which releases the parachute.