Will circular runways ever take off?
 

Think again: Will circular runways ever take off? - BBC News

But I thought they already had then at < insert that airport that annoys you>

The idea has some merit, but the greatest single disadvantage of his design is that no expansion of airport buildings or airport size is possible (they could go up, I guess, but there are limitations there, too); and the need to install subways for vehicular access to the airport infrastructure is also a costly and limiting factor.
You would need subways large enough to take the biggest construction equipment in and out, as repair and maintenance, and any building expansion would need items such as large cranes, earthmovers, etc., to be able to access the airport infrastructure.
In essence, the banked runway is a block to movement. You could build roads over the embankment, but then you have the additional hassle of juggling substantial numbers of vehicle movements across a very active runway.
I do not see the advantages of his radical design outweighing the disadvantages.

Another idea would be to use say, 3 runways offset by 60 degrees, ensuring that at worst, the crosswind would be at worst 30 degrees off the nose ... I doubt it has been tried though ;)

For modern large passenger planes, and with runways aligned with the prevailing wind, and with competent crews, crosswind components are usually within limits. There are of course notable exceptions, and some airports could definitely use some runway options, but for busy international airports, with significant pressure on groundspace availability, the minor inconvenience of a little crosswind does not justify the operational problems of a circular runway ... I'd love to see how he plans to get 3 of those into use at LHR for example ...

Ever seen the damage a banked circuit does to the tyres (tires) of a high performance car? Now put a 300+ ton/tonne aircarft on those tyres.

Imagine the torsion stress on the gear. Imagine the potential winshear once you cleared the lip of the bowl. Engine stalls due lack of airflow in sheltered parts of the bowl....what clown proposed this?

Funny, but thirty odd years ago as we flew over southern Italy there was a large circular race/ test track. I called up one of the Hosties to show her saying it was a new Italian runway design ...... poor girl believed me! :)

Nardiello?

It's been dumped as a concept by supercar designers because their cars cannot reach top speed on them.

Nardo Ring.

There we go...

A circular runway would be perfect for those times when someone might need to attempt a single engine take off with a 777 as discussed in an earlier thread.

Airfields with runways as a connected triangle were pretty common in Canada especially in the west where a lot of training was done during and after WWII.

Even as late as the fifties and sixties the format was in use. RCAF 2FTS Moose Jaw where a lot of the sixties training was done was a triangle.

The format became a couple of parallel runways rather than the triangle, probably as it could accommodate more traffic.

Nope, never...(from a cherished book I have...)

http://i66.tinypic.com/96xftl.jpg http://i68.tinypic.com/xd5fr5.jpg

BTW, just as a thought on the circular concept, the max bank angle, and turns below 400 would make some interesting designs and issues. With max bank angle, you would probably look at close to a 4nm radius, and then many aircraft would have issues with any turn below 400 feet.

Most aircraft would be close to 100 to 140 kts at the threshold, given the weight, and coeff of friction on the tires, it would be like Daytona with a 40 degree bank for a 4nm radius, make it about 30nm radius.

Imagine DEP?!?!?!

http://i67.tinypic.com/35jmn3t.jpg

Amazing how much research can go into a patently stupid idea.

Lmfao. Best windup I have seen for a while. First FTL, now this, the European Commission really do have a sense of humour.

Makes Brexit seem entirely sensible:D

Capacity will be doubled at a stroke when aircraft can go in both directions. And it makes an ILS a very interesting proposition.

And some airfields combined both concepts - Claresholm, Alberta, for example:

http://www.claresholmmuseum.com/wp-c...7.012.064r.jpg

Only one of those six runways is now maintained, but the others are still usable, with care.

I42 - you are forgetting LHR. Also designed with three sets of parallel runways.

No, I could never forget LHR. Putting the terminal buildings in the centre. What a clever idea. What could possibly go wrong with that? ;)

A error resulted in this article being published seventeen days too early.

If proof were ever needed that the EU has more money than sense:

The Endless Runway Project - Final Report

I suspect we will need full computer flown aircraft in use before this idea becomes viable.
Options for expansion would be another 'strip' as a second ring runway around the first circular runway.
Issues: Turbulance... in any sort of steady wind there'd likely be a beautiful roller come off the high side embankment, and where exactly is the wake turbulence going?





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