GB563426A - Improvements in or relating to runways for aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

563,426. Launching and landing aircraft. REID & SIGRIST, Ltd., REID, G. H., BOWER, C., and FRENCH, C. F. July 11, 1942, No. 9680. [Class 4] In a landing and take-off runway comprising a plurality of track elements slung between a pair of supporting members so as to extend there between in mid-air, each track element comprises a flaf belt-like flexible strip for engagement with the aircraft. According to Fig. 1, the runway comprises a pair of supports 13, 15 extending from the side of a ship and between which are slung a pair of spaced flexible track members 11 connected by downwardly converging braces 18 to a single steady wire 17. The supports 13, 15 are mounted on vertical pivots so that they may be folded against the side of the ship and are held in position by cables or rods 27, 28. In a modification, the runway extends over the stern of the ship, the track members being attached at the rear to a structure extending rearwardly from the stern. In this case, steadying cables diverge downwards to the deck from each track member and may be provided with tension springs. In a further arrangement, Fig. 5, the track supports 13a, 15a are hinged at 34, 35 to the ship so that they may be folded upwardly and are supported in the operative position by floats 36. The aircraft, Fig. 8, may be provided beneath the wings with slider plates 40 for engagement with the tracks 11, 12 and there may be an auxiliary trough-shaped track 41 for co-operation with a tail-wheel 42. Rollers for running on the tracks 11, 12 to reduce the frictional resistance during take-off, but which are retractable or detachable for alighting may be provided. Each track member 11, 12 may comprise a series of transverse slats 50 of . vulcanized fibre of. channel-section and a number of wires, rods or chains 47 that are threaded through holes in the downwardly extending limbs of the channels. To increase the braking action during alighting, the aircraft may engage a cable connected to a drogue in the water. The runway may be mounted upon land vehicles or on the ground, means being provided for bringing it into the wind and for adjusting its inclination. It may be provided with a catapult device to assist take-off. The tracks may be illuminated by lamps of different colours to indicate the effective direction of the runway. According to the Provisional Specification, the aircraft may have a central skid to engage a central flexible trough extending between the rails. The skid may extend forwardly to protect the propeller and may serve for emergency landing on the ground.