Abstract: Aerial launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods. A representative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprises an airframe, a plurality of rotors, and a capture line. The rotors are coupled to the airframe and configured to support the UAV in hover. The capture line is carried by the UAV and is operatively coupled to an immersible anchor. The immersible anchor is configured to be immersed within a body of water during a capture operation involving the capture line.

Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage module and at least two vertical lift rotor modules supporting at least four rotor assemblies. Each rotor assembly is supported by a rotor boom having at least one boom free end and a boom mounting portion. Each rotor assembly has at least one vertical lift rotor mounted on the boom free end. Each boom mounting portion is removably couplable to the fuselage module. The vertical lift rotor modules are configured such that when coupled to the fuselage module, a pair of the rotor assemblies are located on each of laterally opposite sides of the fuselage module, and the rotor assemblies of each pair are respectively located forward of and aft of a wing center portion. A pair of wings are configured to be removably couplable to the wing center portion. The aircraft includes a forward thrust module removably couplable to the fuselage body.

Abstract: Aerial launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods. A representative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprises an airframe, a plurality of rotors, and a capture line. The rotors are coupled to the airframe and configured to support the UAV in hover. The capture line is carried by the UAV and is operatively coupled to an immersible anchor. The immersible anchor is configured to be immersed within a body of water during a capture operation involving the capture line.

Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage module and at least two vertical lift rotor modules supporting at least four rotor assemblies. Each rotor assembly is supported by a rotor boom having at least one boom free end and a boom mounting portion. Each rotor assembly has at least one vertical lift rotor mounted on the boom free end. Each boom mounting portion is removably couplable to the fuselage module. The vertical lift rotor modules are configured such that when coupled to the fuselage module, a pair of the rotor assemblies are located on each of laterally opposite sides of the fuselage module, and the rotor assemblies of each pair are respectively located forward of and aft of a wing center portion. A pair of wings are configured to be removably couplable to the wing center portion. The aircraft includes a forward thrust module removably couplable to the fuselage body.

Abstract: Aerial launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods. A representative method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system includes directing a first, multi-rotor carrier aircraft to carry a second, carried aircraft aloft, and release the second aircraft for flight, while powering the first aircraft with an on-board battery. The method can further include directing the first aircraft to position a capture line in a flight path of the second aircraft to capture the second aircraft.