Nailing the landing is a big test for gymnasts, birds, and in the near future – for electric commuter aircraft. Landing in an impossibly short distance seemed like a mission only for helicopters until recently. Fixed-wing machines seem at a disadvantage here, rotary-wing craft having the edge in being able to set down almost anywhere, and on the proverbial dime. Brien Seeley’s TAG may make it possible for fixed-wing craft to emulate birds. Fixed-wing craft have the advantage in point-to-point speed – a big selling point for commuter craft. High cruising speeds and short ground runs seem mutually exclusive, although new designs and inspired amateurs are showing the way to combining the best of both worlds. First, it’s apparent from the demonstrations of the Valdez STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft at Oshkosh’s Airventure that simple, light aircraft can come close to single-plane-length ground rolls coming and going. It’s a skill bush pilots have worked on for years, and with …
