In more than a century in which aviation processes were standardized, the only thing that has not shown an evolution in its design are the tracks that carry the same model year after year. However, this could be about to end with the project called “The Endless Runway” or endless track. A circular track model that promises to end some efficiency problems at airports or technicians for pilots looking for a soft landing.
However, the first time something like this was experienced was in the 1960s, when military airplanes did some tests to land on car racing tracks that have a practically circular shape.
The implementation of the Donuts-type tracks has demonstrated a better use of the wind, which helps to solve the main problem of the pilots when landing that has been classified as “Cross Winds”, since in this way the pilots could decide which is the point more favorable to touch the earth, taking into account the direction in which the wind blows at the time of landing.
In addition, this type of runway could help improve the effectiveness of air terminals, as it allows up to 3 planes to take off or land at the same time, while airports could be considered greener since this type of runway will help reduce consumption made out of fuel .
This new concept has been presented in 2017 by Henk Hesselink, a researcher at the Netherlands Aerospace Center, but within 3 decades we will not be able to enjoy this type of innovation; because its implementation cannot be applied to airports already built thanks to its distribution, but future projects will be sought, since the construction of this 3,500mt diameter runway will house the airport facilities in the center.
This is a very daring concept, but absolutely functional and that seeks to solve the main problems of the airport, avoiding collapse and allowing a less polluting management, so we are anxious to see the first airport of this type.
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