"Jim Logajan" wrote in message
.. .

Assuming an aircraft of large vertical dimension...

If the point of an altimeter is to directly display to the pilot how far
the lowest point on the aircraft is above surface obstructions (or wheels
above a runway), then I would presume the altimeter would be calibrated so
that when the aircraft rests on the ground it reads the same altitude as
that ground level.


If that was the aim the altimeter would have to be calibrated to read the
same altitude as ground level when the aircraft was in a pre-touchdown nose
high attitude.