The Circular Runway

[Gromit]

An interesting idea?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39284294

[douglas9401]

Maybe for round trips.

[Old_Geezer]

Unsure I like the idea of my aircraft going around the bend on trying to take off or land. I'll let them test out the idea on other test crash dummies first.

[Cloverjo]

I think it sounds interesting. Must be worth looking into as a possibility at Heathrow, at least.

[cassa333]

I just this minute watched that.

It said it was capable of doing the work of four standard runways and because the planes can come and go from any point around the circle there is less noise pollution for any one area. Surely it would mean that although the noise may be slightly less or less frequent for people, more people world be effected? Spread the misery rather than eliminate it.

Perhaps they need to trial it somewhere first!!

[Hopkirk]

What about when a heavy aircraft has major technical problems, needs to make an urgent emergency landing and may slide on landing - perhaps with a collapsed undercarriage?

It just won't happen.

Is it April 1st already?

[douglas9401]

That's exactly the kind of thinking that defeated the jet pack and hover boots, Hopkirk. :)

[mikey4444]

It sounded a bit daft to me...if it were possible and practical,
I am sure that it would have been tried somewhere already.

[jno]

perhaps it shuld have an escape lane like those running down hillsides, Hopkirk?

The idea of being able to avoid heavy headwinds is a good one, but in that case you presumably won't be able to land three planes at once as suggested

[Gromit]

The Kings Cross Central Airport c.1931

https://darkestlondon.com/2011/10/23/kings-cross-airport-1931/

[Samjenko]

Douglas;

[Samjenko]

What is it with this site and video links?

[OldBather]

Gromit,
There was a very interesting documentary about circular(and other bizarre) runway ideas some two years ago on BBC2. It came to the conclusion that they were interesting ideas,but would never work effectively.Given our present health and safety rules, it seems impossible that they would get the go ahead now.

[Karolina82]

As Hopkirk mentioned, an aircraft landing at say 120 knots with a collapsed undercarriage will travel in a straight line since Isaac Newton will now be in the left-hand seat.

[Bazile]

I think the time has come to abandon this air travel experiment .
It clearly hasn't taken off

[237SJ]

Imagine going round and round in circles until you can get to the exact spot where the wind is on the nose for take off

[douglas9401]

Never ending or beginning on an ever spinning reel.