Do you really need wheels to land airplanes?

mscard88

mscard88

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Who needs wheels! Excluding seaplanes, why can't a plane be landed by landing on it's belly? Big rudder for directional control, or maybe runways with channels for the belly of a plane to settle in and land.

I mean I've seen a couple of T-37s land on their bellies and none worse for the wear.

Whatya think?
 
mscard88 said:
Who needs wheels! Excluding seaplanes, why can't a plane be landed by landing on it's belly? Big rudder for directional control, or maybe runways with channels for the belly of a plane to settle in and land.

I mean I've seen a couple of T-37s land on their bellies and none worse for the wear.

Whatya think?
Click to expand...
I think your Avitar says it all.
 
mscard88 said:
Who needs wheels! Excluding seaplanes, why can't a plane be landed by landing on it's belly? Big rudder for directional control, or maybe runways with channels for the belly of a plane to settle in and land.

I mean I've seen a couple of T-37s land on their bellies and none worse for the wear.

Whatya think?
Click to expand...
Full power to taxi will be one drawback.
 
Of course not but you'll need a hook and a rubber deck.

 
Runways could be put in as such.
Of course you'd have to use your Slip n Slide Indicator.

This one is based at Fun Air looks like.

I guess the kids fell out..

giant-50-foot-slip-and-slide-640x533.jpg
 
How many times do you want to land it? You can land on anything once!
Would you have to fly only planes where the prop clears the ground or shut off the engine when landing?
Would it take a team like a hot air balloon chase team use to put it up on a cart/trailer so you could take off?
Why am I putting so much thought into this?
Something like this?
 
Skyrys62 said:
Runways could be put in as such.
Of course you'd have to use your Slip n Slide Indicator.

This one is based at Fun Air looks like.

I guess the kids fell out..

giant-50-foot-slip-and-slide-640x533.jpg
Click to expand...

See now we making progress! Hell could even use water or some type of fluid like the slip n slide to cushion the arrival, uh landing. This has possibilities. :idea:
 
I've seen seaplanes take off on a dolly when departing after maintenance. Apparantly it's not all that uncommon. It's unclear how they safely land though.
 
Lowflynjack said:
How many times do you want to land it? You can land on anything once!
Would you have to fly only planes where the prop clears the ground or shut off the engine when landing?
Would it take a team like a hot air balloon chase team use to put it up on a cart/trailer so you could take off?
Why am I putting so much thought into this?
Something like this?
Click to expand...

No floats Jack. But when we figure this shet out you'll be the official photographer. :thumbsup:

Deal?
 
I thought they were called 'training wheels' because you took them off once you stopped training. no? was I wrong?
 
Greg Koontz doesn't need the wheels on his plane to land on the truck. Instead of tracks he could just put a big trough on the truck. Then every highway becomes a runway.
 
cgrab said:
Greg Koontz doesn't need the wheels on his plane to land on the truck. Instead of tracks he could just put a big trough on the truck. Then every highway becomes a runway.
Click to expand...

I'll ask him next time I see him!
 
Skyrys62 said:
I guess the kids fell out..
Click to expand...

Actually upon closer inspection, this looks like students in the pattern practicing belly landings.
The one girl up front didn't listen to her instructor (in the background frustrated) and tried to land on her rear main gear. Looks pretty messy for her...

giant-50-foot-slip-and-slide-640x533.jpg
 
I hear the next gen cirrus will loose it’s wheels to match the Mooney cruise speed. I mean who needs them with the chute
 
Kritchlow said:
I've seen seaplanes take off on a dolly when departing after maintenance. Apparantly it's not all that uncommon. It's unclear how they safely land though.
Click to expand...
On the grass.
 
If he'd flared a little harder he wouldn't have to run so much.


The dog doesn't care either way.
 
Kritchlow said:
I've seen seaplanes take off on a dolly when departing after maintenance. Apparantly it's not all that uncommon. It's unclear how they safely land though.
Click to expand...

I am guessing they landed on wheels and had the floats put on, or as Tom suggested, landed on the grass.
 
Landing on skis must be a little bit like landing on a belly.

In Ice Pilots (on Netflix) they fit a DC-3 with skis to deliver building supplies to a camp in winter. It’s really cool to see a plane that big land on skis.
 
NoHeat said:
Landing on skis must be a little bit like landing on a belly.

In Ice Pilots (on Netflix) they fit a DC-3 with skis to deliver building supplies to a camp in winter. It’s really cool to see a plane that big land on skis.
Click to expand...
Then I’m guessing you might like to see a C-130 on skis...I think it’s a squadron in the New York Air Guard that has the mission.
 
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