Aircraft survival kit glider

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12479574-B2
Application number	US-202318458017-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2023
Priority date	Aug 29, 2023
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

A supply glider is disclosed herein. The supply glider includes a body having a first end and a second end, the body being configured to be coupled to a host aircraft, a container disposed between the first end and the second end of the body, wings coupled to the body between the first end and the second end, and stabilators coupled to the body adjacent the second end.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a host aircraft comprising a launch controller; an ejection seat disposed in a cockpit of the host aircraft; the ejection seat configured to eject from the aircraft in response to an ejection signal; a supply glider coupled to the host aircraft separately from the election seat, wherein the supply glider is configured to launch from the host aircraft in response to the ejection signal or the launch controller, the supply glider including: a body; a container detachably coupled to the body; wings coupled to the body; a sensor disposed in the body; and a processor disposed in the body and operatively coupled to the sensor; and the processor configured to: receive a first signal from the sensor; modify a flight path of the supply glider based at least in part on the received first signal; identify a target destination, wherein the target destination is the ejection seat; receive a second signal from the sensor; modify the flight path based on the target destination and the second signal; and a communication module coupled to the processor, the processor further configured to: receive a communication from the communication module, the communication indicating flight information of the ejection seat; and control the flight path of the supply glider to follow the ejection seat based at least in part on the received communication at a following distance.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the following distance of is between 50-1,000 feet.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the launch controller disposed in the cockpit; and a hardpoint mount disposed on an underside of a fuselage of the host aircraft, wherein the supply glider is configured to couple to the hardpoint mount and be deployed from the hardpoint mount in response to a launch signal from the launch controller.

4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an ejection handle disposed in the cockpit and adjacent the ejection seat; and a bay disposed in the host aircraft, the bay being a space aft of the cockpit configured to store the supply glider and deploy the supply glider in response to the ejection signal from the ejection handle.

5 . The system of claim 1 , the supply glider further comprising:
a seal disposed between the body and the container; and a plurality of mechanical attachments coupled to the body and configured to secure the container to the body.

Assignees

• Rockwell Collins Inc

Inventors

• Husband Casey
• Santos Julia Francesca
• Cooke Grace Elizabeth
• Tewksbury Allison
• Van Schaick Nathan
• Niner Alex James
• Hampton John L

Classifications

• B64D25/10

  Ejector seats · CPC title

• B64D1/12

  Releasing · CPC title

• B64D1/10

  Stowage arrangements for the devices in aircraft · CPC title

• B64C31/02

  Gliders, e.g. sailplanes (hang-gliders B64C31/028) · CPC title

• B64U2101/60

  for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons · CPC title