CPC B63C 9/01 (2013.01) [B64D 1/22 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A method for extracting a rescue subject from a surface position, comprising:
lowering a rescue pod having an enclosed compartment with a door from an aircraft, the rescue pod having a height greater than a width, a top dome portion, a bottom, the bottom and conical portion joined by a tubular body, a main parachute and a control system with wireless communication circuitry, the rescue pod connected by a tether from the top dome portion to an apparatus with a winch in the aircraft;
controllably releasing the tether from the winch in the aircraft while maneuvering the aircraft into a circular orbit at a specific altitude, diameter and airspeed, creating a gravity well in which the tether describes a descending spiral configuration with the rescue pod descending along a vertical centerline of the circular orbit;
lowering the rescue pod to the surface position;
loading the rescue subject into the enclosed compartment; and
lifting the rescue pod from the surface position by retrieving the tether with the winch or altering path and speed of the aircraft, or both, thereby causing a gradual increase in tension in the tether lifting the rescue pod from the surface position.
|