#1445: Rollway

Today’s invention is an airport runway which consists of a bed of tightly packed rollers. Each of these can be rotated at a variable speed and is provided with a controllable, vertical spring and damper.

This arrangement, although more expensive than tarmac, has certain advantages.

  • It allows planes to do without heavy, complicated, fuel-sapping undercarriages (using reinforced fuselage skid strips instead.
  • It maintains the runway free of debris and ice
  • It provides a much safer and smoother landing (including a surface profile and springiness tailored to each individual plane)
  • It can help power take-off, in either direction, thus reducing noise
  • Any fuel spillage is drained away rapidly.
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