Reinventing the airport runway

[RustyAxe]

Interesting idea ... that would not work in the real world. ILS couldn't be implemented. SIDs would need to specific to each possible takeoff heading, STARs would need to do the same for arrivals. Sometimes thinking outside the box just leaves you outside the box.

[fazool]

how about a nice "square" track like Indy?

[HHP]

More likely we will have VTOL airliners

[frankmcr]

How about a spiral runway? Round and round, up and up, and then ta-da! and away.

In fact if you did it that way almost all of the runway could be underground. No worries about wind direction at all. And think of the space saving - you could have an airport right smack in the middle of downtown!

[HHP]

Originally Posted by frankmcr

How about a spiral runway? Round and round, up and up, and then ta-da! and away.

In fact if you did it that way almost all of the runway could be underground. No worries about wind direction at all. And think of the space saving - you could have an airport right smack in the middle of downtown!

If you fly into or out of Jackson Hole, WY that's about the size of it. They land after a steep turn and turn steep on takeoff because of the Tetons.

[HHP]

The main thing that worries me about the concept is that, in a turn, you have limited visibility beyond the curve. You can't see anything coming like a long , flat straight. Birds for example.