Decrease in ground-run distance of airplanes by applying electrically driven wheels

Abstract

A new takeoff method for small airplanes that employs electrically driven landing gear is proposed. Experiments using a model airplane driven by electrically powered wheels showed that the ground-run distance is decreased by half by using a combination of powered wheels and propeller without an increase of energy consumption during the ground-roll. A study was also conducted of the trade-off between the ground-run distance and flight performance of a full-size propeller airplane assuming that the motors and controllers of an existing electric vehicle were used to power the landing gear.