Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An aircraft has a fuselage, a wing assembly coupleable to the fuselage, and an empennage including a pair of tail booms configured to be removably coupled to the wing assembly. The wing assembly includes a pair of boom interfaces located on laterally opposite sides of the fuselage. Each tail boom has a boom forward end configured to be mechanically attached to one of the boom interfaces using an externally-accessible mechanical fastener.

Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) tethered wing recovery is disclosed. An example apparatus includes a detachable portion of a wing that is couplable to a fixed portion of the wing, a lock configured to fasten the detachable portion to the fixed portion, where the lock is to disengage the detachable portion from the fixed portion upon contact of the wing with a recovery device, and a tether configured to extend between the detachable and fixed portions.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Aerial launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods. 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.

Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) tethered wing recovery is disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a detachable portion of a wing that is couplable to a fixed portion of the wing, a lock configured to fasten the detachable portion to the fixed portion, where the lock is to disengage the detachable portion from the fixed portion upon contact of the wing with a recovery device, and a tether configured to extend between the detachable and fixed portions.

Abstract: An aircraft has a fuselage, a wing assembly coupleable to the fuselage, and an empennage including a pair of tail booms configured to be removably coupled to the wing assembly. The wing assembly includes a pair of boom interfaces located on laterally opposite sides of the fuselage. Each tail boom has a boom forward end configured to be mechanically attached to one of the boom interfaces using an externally-accessible mechanical fastener.

Abstract: Aerial launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods. 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.