Revolutionary Device For Landing of Aircraft

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 66, 21 March 1944, Page 7

Revolutionary Device For Landing of Aircraft

LONDON, March 17. A revolutionary device, whereby j plane* on wheels may bo swivelled at I an angle to the wings, enabling a crablike landing, has been invented by a young Scottish flying-instructor, Mr. O, Maelaren. Dianes at present laud or tako off only when facing the wind, for which roason airfields have soveral runways, but planes equipped with a Maclareu under-carriage will need only a single runway, i The device is based on the principle of the plane’s behaviour. Normally, when a plane is flying out of the wind, | that is when not flying directly into the iwind, or with the wind directly behind 1 it, it drifts like a crab sideways as well ’ as flies forward. With the now under-carriage the plane’s wheels, bo--1 fore larding, are set at the appropriate > angle of the wind in relation to the runwky, so that the plane lands with a similar crab-like movement as is maintained in the air, and, consequently, it will not bo necessary to turn the piano into the wind. The pilot simply sets tho wheels, then lands or takes off, no ! matter which way tho wind is blowing.