The Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk connected the airship's endurance to the reach of a small reconnaissance aircraft. Trapeze recovery avoided the structural shock of a deck landing: the pilot flew a skyhook above the upper wing onto a crossbar that latched shut. The engine stayed at idle during hoisting and was cut as the aircraft passed through the hangar door. An overhead monorail then moved the aircraft into a parking position for refuelling and rearming. For launch, the trapeze lowered the aircraft into the slipstream with its pilot aboard and engine running, ready to release the hook and fly away.
Notable Point · 53:08-55:17
Launching and recovering parasite fighters
Curtiss Sparrowhawks launched from a lowered trapeze and returned by hooking on beneath the airship, turning Akron into a flying base for scouts and fighters.