View Single Post
  #20  
Old March 23rd 17, 12:53 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Frank Whiteley
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,099
Default Will circular runways ever take off?

On Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at 11:24:42 AM UTC-6, wrote:
On Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 11:18:32 AM UTC-7, wrote:
I saw this story and it reminded me, has anyone ever tried landing on a curved flat road or something similar to a circular runway?

I supposed the banked sides of this concept help.

BBC story "Will circular runways ever take off?"
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-39284294

http://www.endlessrunway-project.eu/project/index.php

SAE paper Flight Operations on a Circular Runway
http://papers.sae.org/660283/
Abstract:
Inherent advantages of an infinitely long runway, optimum technical location at the center of the circle, and safety enhancement by increased directional stability during aircraft ground roll generated interest in the circular runway concept. The Bureau of Naval Weapons originated a project to determine, within the realm of aircraft behavior, the feasibility of flight operations from a circular runway.Utilizing an existing circular track at the General Motors Proving Ground near Mesa, Arizona, tests were conducted with a T28, an A1-E, an A4-B, and a C54. It was determined that pilots readily adapt to operations from a circular runway, that aircraft lateral and directional stability is more positive than on a flat runway, that tangential approaches are no more difficult than approaches to a straight runway, and that low visibility approaches are much simpler than to a straight runway. Flight operations from a circular runway are feasible.


Chris


This might be a good idea for auto towing. We have 2800 ft of straight runway at our gliderport. At 780 ft field elevation with a tow vehicle like a V-8 Chevy Suburban or a V-8 pickup truck, we can get a maximum of about 800ft AGL auto towing a 1-26, and maybe 475ft AGL auto towing a 2-33 with two people in it. Except for the problem of the wind causing a portion of the circle to be towing the glider downwind, a circular runway would seem to be a good way to extend the runway length indefinitely, and get more altitude for a given rope length.


Reverse pulley is what you need.
http://www.coloradosoaring.org/think...ey/default.htm