Can an airplane land over another one both in flight?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter mohlam12
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Airplane Flight
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of an airplane landing on another airplane that is in flight, specifically in the context of airborne aircraft carriers. Participants explore the technical challenges and considerations involved in such a maneuver.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the possibility of a plane landing on another plane in flight, particularly over an aircraft carrier.
  • Another participant asserts that it can be done but emphasizes the complexity involved, comparing it to landing on various surfaces like the ground or an aircraft carrier.
  • Concerns are raised about the synchronization of speed and altitude, as well as the need to compensate for wake turbulence during the landing process.
  • A later reply highlights the numerous conditional factors that make the maneuver challenging, suggesting that the risks involved are significant.
  • Another participant introduces the concept of experimental airborne aircraft carriers, providing a link for further exploration.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility and complexity of the maneuver, with some agreeing that it is possible while others emphasize the significant challenges involved. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the practicality of such landings.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not fully explore the assumptions underlying the technical claims, such as specific aircraft capabilities or environmental conditions that could affect the maneuver.

mohlam12
Messages
153
Reaction score
0
don't know if this is the right place to ask, but I've been wondering:
can ever a plane land over an aircraft carrier, which is also a plane, both in flight? if so, how should they do that?
 
Science news on Phys.org
Yes, it can be done, but it would be tricky. Essentially, it's the same as landing on the ground, or an aircraft carrier at sea, or a flatbed truck on a highway. As long as the pilot can synchonize speed and altitude properly, and compensate for any wake turbulence, there won't be a problem.
 
Danger said:
Yes, it can be done, but it would be tricky. Essentially, it's the same as landing on the ground, or an aircraft carrier at sea, or a flatbed truck on a highway. As long as the pilot can synchonize speed and altitude properly, and compensate for any wake turbulence, there won't be a problem.
That's a LOT of tricky ifs. No wonder we have to call you Danger.
 
turbo-1 said:
That's a LOT of tricky ifs. No wonder we have to call you Danger.
Hence my signature... :wink:
 

Similar threads

In-Flight Incident: My Experience with a Throttle Malfunction | Pilot's Story
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K
How to calculate airplane noise as a function of distance?
  • · Replies 49 ·
2
Replies
49
Views
12K
Undergrad How does NASA achieve zero gravity on their zero gravity flights?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
New Electric Airplane for Package Delivery
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
2K
Admissions Can I cancel a physics PhD visit day, after they've booked my flight?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Undergrad Does an airplane have to nose down in order to follow a curve?
  • · Replies 122 ·
5
Replies
122
Views
13K
High School Understanding air flow and resistance
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
How Does Drag Affect Airplane Dynamics in a Four-Dimensional Universe?
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
4K
High School Is airspeed irrelevant in determining airplane travel time?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Engineering a Desk-Mounted Flight Stick for Flight Simulation
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K