Launching air vehicles or projectiles

Citation

(1998), "Launching air vehicles or projectiles", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 70 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.1998.12770dad.004

Launching air vehicles or projectiles

Launching air vehicles or projectiles

Keywords Aircraft, Launching, Patents

In British patent 2301 566 Airscrew Howden Ltd describe a method of launching air vehicles or projectiles. An unmanned air vehicle or other projectile is launched by an apparatus. It comprises a flywheel and a twin fusee drum or pulley coupled to the flywheel. A length of belting can be wound onto the drum or pulley as the drum or pulley rotates. The belting is arranged to be releasably coupled to the unmanned air vehicle or other projectile. Energy stored in the flywheel is released by winding the belting onto the drum or pulley, thereby accelerating the unmanned air vehicle or other projectile to launch velocity, at which point the releasable coupling is released. The thickness of the belting may vary along its length so as to achieve substantially constant acceleration of the vehicle or projectile.