Airplane emergency supplemental braking system and method

A landing gear system for an aerospace vehicle, the landing gear comprising:

• a force bearing portion connected to the aerospace vehicle that at least partially supports the aerospace vehicle;
• an arm having a first portion connected to said force bearing portion and a second portion generally distal to said first portion;
• an actuator connected to said arm to selectively move said arm between said first position and said second position;
• and
• at least one debris deflector device that generally deflects away from said landing gear debris which may arise upon said engagement portion engaging the landing surface with a force sufficient to significantly decelerate the aerospace vehicle;
• said second portion of said arm including an engagement portion configured to forcefully engage the landing surface;
• and
• said arm being movable between a first position wherein said engagement portion is substantially disengaged from the landing surface and a second position wherein said engagement portion engages the landing surface with a force sufficient to significantly decelerate the aerospace vehicle.

An aerospace vehicle that lands on a landing surface, the aerospace vehicle comprising:

• a fuselage;
• an airfoil connected to said fuselage;
• at least one power source connected to at least one of said fuselage and said airfoil;
• a landing gear configuration connected to the fuselage that provides support of the aerospace vehicle on the landing surface;
• an arm having a first portion connected to the landing gear and a second portion generally distal to said first portion;
• at least one debris deflector component connected to said arm that generally deflects away from said landing gear debris which may arise upon said engagement portion engaging the landing surface with a force sufficient to significantly decelerate the aerospace vehicle;
• said second portion of said arm including an engagement portion configured to forcefully engage the landing surface;
• said arm being movable between a first position wherein said engagement portion is substantially disengaged from the landing surface and a second position wherein said engagement portion engages the landing surface with a force sufficient to significantly decelerate the aerospace vehicle;
• and
• an actuator connected to said arm to selectively move said arm between said first position and said second position.

A method of decelerating an aerospace vehicle on a landing surface, the method comprising:

• possessing landing gear connected to said aerospace vehicle, an arm connected to said aerospace vehicle, and at least one debris deflector component connected to said arm, the arm having a first portion connected to the aerospace vehicle and a second portion generally distal to said first portion, said second portion of said arm including an engagement portion configured to engage the landing surface;
• moving said arm between a first position wherein said engagement portion is substantially disengaged from the landing surface to a second position wherein said engagement portion engages the landing surface;
• applying a force against the landing surface with said engagement portion sufficient to significantly decelerate the aerospace vehicle;
• and
• deflecting away from said landing gear debris which may arise upon said engagement portion engaging the landing surface with a force sufficient to significantly decelerate the aerospace vehicle, wherein said deflecting of said debris is accomplished using said debris deflector.

An aerospace vehicle braking system for decelerating an aerospace vehicle on a landing surface, the aerospace vehicle braking system comprising:

• a force bearing portion connected to the aerospace vehicle that at least partially supports the aerospace vehicle;
• an arm having a first portion connected to the aerospace vehicle and a second portion generally distal to said first portion;
• at least one debris deflector component connected to said arm that generally deflects away from said force bearing portion debris which may arise upon said engagement portion engaging the landing surface with a force sufficient to significantly decelerate the aerospace vehicle;
• said second portion of said arm including an engagement portion configured to engage the landing surface;
• and
• said arm being movable between a first position wherein said engagement portion is substantially disengaged from the landing surface and a second position wherein said engagement portion engages the landing surface with a force sufficient to significantly decelerate the aerospace vehicle.