Taking off in circles
May 25, 2016 | 12:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Taking off in circles
I found some footage showing a rather strange take off system. The footage is from a news broadcast in the 1950s. I had never heard of this system before and am quite curious as to what happened to it. I've attached a link to the footage. In case it doesn't work automatically, you can skip to 12:11.
May 25, 2016 | 12:16 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA 2.996MM & Plat Pro, DL 1MM, GM & Flying Colonel
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No reason it shouldn't work. However, I see a lot of practical problems: the area it would need (much larger than for a linear runway; it was tested on a frozen lake with a light plane that didn't need much of a take-off run to begin with); the difficulty of creating both a rope and a central pivot that will take the weight of a 300-ton jet; and especially the fact that you still need a long, straight runway to land on so there aren't any benefits from reducing runway length.
May 25, 2016 | 12:46 pm
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Denver, CO
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Lots of pax get queasy due to turbulance, and now you want to subject them to spinning around in circles before leaving the ground? 
Could you also imagine the weight shift in cargo (and pax ... and carry-ons)?
How about a tailhook and arresting cable like on aircraft carriers? What could possibly go wrong?
Could you also imagine the weight shift in cargo (and pax ... and carry-ons)?
May 26, 2016 | 6:21 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2012
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