Detachable power transfer device for a rotary-wing aircraft

1. A detachable power transfer device for a rotary-wing aircraft comprising:

a docking station including at least a mechanical power connector attached to the rotary-wing aircraft; and

a power pod constructed and arranged to detachably connect to the docking station for transferring power to the rotary-wing aircraft, the power pod being configured to convert electrical energy into mechanical power that is transferred to the rotary-wing aircraft through the mechanical power connector during at least one of take-off, landing, and hovering.

2. The detachable power transfer device set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

at least one umbilical cord configured to transfer power with respect to the power pod.

3. The detachable power transfer device set forth in claim 2 , wherein the power transferred from the power pod to the rotary-wing aircraft further includes electrical power.

4. The detachable power transfer device set forth in claim 1 , wherein the power pod includes an unmanned aerial vehicle.

5. The detachable power transfer device set forth in claim 3 , wherein the power pod includes an electrical plug configured to mate with the docking station.

6. The detachable power transfer device set forth in claim 3 , wherein the rotary-wing aircraft is a hybrid helicopter.

7. The detachable power transfer device set forth in claim 1 , wherein the power transferred comprises at least one of electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic power.

8. The detachable power transfer device set forth in claim 1 , wherein the power pod includes at least one electric battery.

9. The detachable power transfer device set forth in claim 3 , wherein the rotary-wing aircraft is an electric helicopter.

10. The detachable power transfer device set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

an electric controller configured to facilitate at least one of an engagement and a disengagement of the power pod in response to one or more of an aircraft state parameter, ambient conditions, and pilot command.

11. A method of operating a rotary-wing aircraft comprising:

connecting a power pod to a docking station including a mechanical power connector carried by the rotary-wing aircraft;

converting electrical power into mechanical power at the power pod;

transferring the mechanical power from the power pod to the rotary-wing aircraft during at least one of take-off, landing, and hovering; and

disengaging the power pod from the docking station after completion of at least one of the take-off, landing, and hovering.

12. The method set forth in claim 11 including:

transferring electrical power through an umbilical cord and to the power pod.

13. The method set forth in claim 11 including:

operating an unmanned aerial vehicle of the power pod after disengagement to land the power pod.