An apparatus for saving a flyaway aircraft, the apparatus comprising a cord 1 having at least one parachute attached to either end 2. A semi flexible aerodynamic nose cone 3 and/or net means is attached midway between the parachutes. The parachutes and cord are packed up against the nose cone (figure 1) for dropping in front of a flyaway aircraft 4. Reduced nose cone drag deploys the cord and parachute to snag on the flyaway aircraft, such as a wing 5 (figure 2) enabling it to parachute. The nose cone may be foam/rubber and have wings (6, figure 8). The apparatus may be deployed from an interceptor aircraft or a surface to air guided missile or air vehicle. The parachutes may have opposing aerodynamic forces to each other assisting snagging. The apparatus may safely land an out-of-control aircraft, e.g. a de-pressurised commercial airliner with unconscious and unresponsive pilots.
Apparatus for saving pilotless flyaway aircraft
2023-06-21
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
Method of saving a pilotless flyaway commercial aircraft
European Patent Office | 2023
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