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US 5,704,568 AGranted
Airplane pirouette steering system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJohn Watts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An airplane steering system which permits 180 degree turns with minimum tire scrub. The system involves steering of both the nose landing gear and the front and rear wheels of both main landing gear each consisting of three inline wheels; thus, the center of turn is placed between the main gears and allows the airplane to make 180 "pirouette" turns.
Claims4
In an aircraft having nose wheels and main gear wheels including a three axled truck beam having forward and aft axles steered relative to the truck beam, a method for aircraft pirouette turning comprising the steps of:
- steering the aircraft nose wheels to a steering angle of about 90 degrees;
- generating a turning moment around a turn center located substantially at the aircraft centerline between the aircraft's main gear wheels;
- and wherein said step of generating a turning moment around a turn center located substantially at the aircraft centerline between the aircraft's main gear wheels comprises using differential engine thrust between left and right engines.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.