Martin Gregorie wrote:
Tuno wrote:
Interesting airport numbers from the FAA's NASR datamabase:

I've read about an experimental circular runway being built in the USA
during the '20s or '30s:
- where it was
- does it still exist
- how many runways should it be counted as in this database?

Enquiring minds want to know.


Likewise, I've read 'somewhere' of the same circular runway concept
being made and tested, as well as an account by one of the pilots chosen
to take off and land on it.

Unfortunately, I can't lay my hands on the reference (boo hiss). Can't
remember where it was (SW USA, I seem to remember), or when, but I seem
to remember a picture of a 'Douglas SkyRaider-like' plane on the upper
banking (imagine the upside down circumferential bits of a frisbee, from
level through 25-degrees or so of banking).

I also seem to remember: 1) the pilot reporting nothing fundamentally
concept-killing was discovered during the tests...though certainly
re-thinking the concept of 'airport' would've been necessary, and,
making the requisite access tunnels for interior road access would add
to initial costs, and 2) reference to it eventually being torn up.

IIRC, crosswinds weren't an issue during their tests...

Workable circular logic???

Rgds,
Bob W.