Aerial Recovery and Cargo Delivery Systems

The current application and future potential of aerial recovery and delivery systems are discussed. Part One describes the present aerial recovery systems in use to effect both air-to-air pickup and surface-to-air pickup. The first involves the recovery of an object in the air, usually suspended from a parachute; the latter is accomplished when a recovery aircraft flies over a surface pickup station and removes an object from the ground or water surface. Part Two of the paper discusses methods of aerial delivery of cargo to military personnel in the field. With rear loading aircraft and new breakthroughs in low-altitude delivery under radar surveillance and ground fire, new concepts in the deployment and support of battle troops will be possible.