this post was submitted on 14 Jun 2025
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Today I Learned

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[–] ohwhatfollyisman@lemmy.world 93 points 2 weeks ago

and the aircraft manufacturer for such runways would be called Boing.

[–] frezik@midwest.social 60 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Important to note this is the Royal Air Force. Unlike the US, the Royal Air Force covers both land and naval based aircraft.

It's a surprisingly good idea for carrier aircraft. The landing gear on carrier planes has to be extra durable because carrier landings are rough. Getting rid of landing gear would save a lot of weight and a big source maintenance.

Worked pretty well. The only reason it wasn't pursued was because carrier aircraft do land on regular runways, and nobody wants to convert every single runway to a bouncy version.

[–] TheRedSpade@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

The only reason? So they had a solution for that massive amount of friction too?

[–] bus_factor@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago

Soapy water! And a filled kiddie pool at the end of the runway to stop.

[–] frezik@midwest.social 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Take a look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zZGi0Y1EPmo

You can see here how the arresting wire--which carriers have used anyway for a long time--tends to be the thing that takes up most of the speed. The plane doesn't slide against the runway so much as bounces a few times and stops.

There must be heat built up in the arresting wire system, of course, but no more than a traditional plane with landing gear doing the same. In fact, there is probably more energy transferred to the deck and the airplane skin than with rolling wheels, so the arresting wire system should have less kinetic energy turned into heat. All that heat is spread out more.

Also, not all of the energy is transferred as heat, either. Some of the momentum will make the boat go a little faster.

[–] glinncor@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

How would the planes taxi after landing

[–] Olgratin_Magmatoe@slrpnk.net 4 points 2 weeks ago

A plane that caught the wire was pulled down onto the flexible carpet and slowed to a halt with a runout of only a few feet. A crane then lifted the aircraft onto a trolley; the trolley was winched forward for lowering to the hangar deck by elevator or to the catapult for launching.

Sounds like a pain in the ass

[–] d00ery@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I think that's a little incorrect. The Fleet Air Arm falls under the Royal Navy.

  • 1914 (As the Royal Naval Air Service)
  • 1924 (as the naval branch of the Royal Air Force)
  • 1937 (as part of Naval Service)

In 1938, Admiralty Fleet Orders 2885 announced the formation of an Air Branch of the Royal Naval Reserve.

As of 1 December 2013, the Regular Fleet Air Arm has a reported strength of 5,000 personnel,[23] which represents approximately 20% of the Royal Navy's total strength (excluding Royal Marines).

Though it seems that they have merged and split since original inception of the Royal Flying Corp and Royal Navy Air Service

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Flying_Corps

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleet_Air_Arm#today

[–] MadMadBunny@lemmy.ca 18 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Is that the true issue with Boeing? Their planes need a bouncing runway when landing?

[–] NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world 23 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

No, they let suits and business majors take over for actual engineers who know what they're doing.

[–] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

To frame it another way; they were enshittified by the infinite-profit-growth fallacy and corruption of capitalism.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

No. The issue with boeing is that they're poorly constructed due to corrupt ownership/management.

[–] MadMadBunny@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

So, they’re not supposed to go Boing Boing Boing when landing….

[–] faercol@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 weeks ago

That's only for RyanAir

[–] Stillwater@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 weeks ago

Seems logical

[–] d00ery@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

new concepts have to be evaluated, and we had learned a great deal about that one. I had made seven wheels up landings—six of them intentionally.

Vice Admiral Engen (U.S. Navy test pilot)

[–] RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Just don't have any emergency landings, during a war.

[–] HelluvaKick@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Gear 5 pilots get full freedom smh