Short runway aircraft launching and landing system

摘要

A system and method for facilitating take-off from or landing on aircraft on a short runway includes a linear array of individual linear induction motors placed along the short runway. A reaction plate mounted to the aircraft is either accelerated or decelerated by the individual linear induction motors. A control system associated with each individual linear induction motor senses the presence of the aircraft, determines its speed, and applies a predetermined amount of electrical energy to either accelerate or decelerate the aircraft.