Circular runways for airports?

On 26 Dec 2006 08:47:26 -0800, "Kev" wrote in
. com:

It reminded me that old ideas do have a way of coming around again,
though.

For example, I read they're considering airplane-parachutes for
airliners again, a la the CAPS setup for Cirrus/Cessna/whatever,
because of an old concept:

It's an old concept alright:


http://mlsandy.home.tsixroads.com/Co...NDY/rt044.html

The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, April 16, 1929:

MEMPHIS PILOT FLIES AIRPLANE IN 'CHUTE TEST ON WEST COAST

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SHIP FLOATS SAFELY DOWN FROM 5,000-FOOT ALTITUDE
MOTOR DEAD, WHEN 60-FOOT PARACHUTE OPENS.
CAPTAIN TURNER NOW STUNT FLIER

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Capt. Roscoe Turner, once an automobile salesman in Memphis,
later a member of the army air corps in France and after that a
stunt flier headquartering in Memphis, yesterday proved that a
parachute, attached to an airplane, can become the greatest safety
device yet offered to aviation, in a test at Los Angeles.

An inventor, working for more than two years, has at last
designed a 60-foot parachute which can be attached to an airplane
and controlled from the pilot's cockpit. Recently, his plans
perfected and his model 'chute constructed, he went in search of a
pilot who would risk life and limb to test the appliance and
demonstrate its practicability, or its fallibility.

Captain Turner, now a stunt flier at Hollywood, Cal., was
approached. He agreed to make the test and yesterday was set as the
date.

Captain Turner took an airplane which weighs 2,800 pounds,
dead weight, up 5,000 feet. At that altitude he killed his motor,
and as the ship slipped into a spin, pulled the cord that released
the parachute which was attached to the upper wing.

The great spring, holding the chute cords to the plane wind,
took up the snap of the opening of the chute. The plunging ship
righted and floated softly to earth in a field three miles from the
Martin Airport [now KSNA] from which the plane had taken off.

The 'chute. for the first time, had proved its
practicability as a safety factor.

Captain Turner is a native of Corinth, Miss., where his
parents now live. When the United States entered the World War,
Captain Turner enlisted in the aviation section of the army signal
corps and was assigned to the old Driving Park squadron. From there
he went to Park Field and learned to fly.

Soon after he had won his wings and his commission as a
second lieutenant he was ordered to France. He flew in the aviation
schools there and later served with a pursuit squadron at the front.

After the war he returned to Memphis. But selling
automobiles held no attraction for him and he went into aviation as
a business. There were no transport lines for him to turn to in
those days and he started "barnstorming."

As a stunt flier he visited most of the fairs and carnivals
in the south. Then he moved to the west coast and entered the
movies as a stunt flier.

PICTURE- captioned "Pilots Plane in Test"

Capt. Roscoe Turner, former Memphis flier, yesterday piloted a
plane at Los Angeles in a demonstration of practicability of a
parachute for airplanes as a safety device. Since moving from
Memphis Captain Turner has been a stunt flier at Hollywood.

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