Aircraft arrester gear

Claim 2

An arrester net comprising at least two groups of subnets, each subnet comprising a top edge member and a bottom edge member and a plurality of vertical members extending normally between said top and bottom edge members, there being a major group of subnets the vertical members of each of the subnets thereof being 31/2 m to 6 m apart, and a minor group the vertical members of each of the subnets thereof being 1 m to 3 m apart, said subnets being superposed one upon another with said top edge members bunched together and said bottom edge members bunched together and with the vertical members of substantially each subnet staggered in respect to those of the next adjacent subnet.

Claim 3

An arrester net as claimed in claim 1 and having just two groups of subnets.

Claim 4

An arrester net as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said top edge members are bunched together with frangible ties which remain intact during erection of the net but break during enmeshment of an aircraft.

Claim 5

An arrester net as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said bottom edge members are bunched together with frangible ties which remain intact during erection but which break during enmeshment of an aircraft.

Claim 6

A net as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said top and bottom edge members have connectors at both ends thereof for connection to energy absorption means and said top edge members have frangible connectors for connection to net support means.

Claim 7

A net as claimed in claim 5 having a breakaway unit in series with said frangible connectors on said top edge members.

Claim 8

A net as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said top and bottom edge and vertical members comprise a man-made fibre fabric tape.

Claim 9

A net as claimed in claim 1 and wherein there are more subnets in the group whose vertical elements are the more widely spaced than there are in the other group or groups, said vertical members being fabricated of a nylon tape, said subnets being superposed one upon the other with said top edge members bunched together with frangible ties and said bottom edge members bunched together with frangible ties, said top and bottom edge members being linked together at each end of the net and adapted for connection to energy absorption means, frangible connectors attached to said top edge members for connection thereof to support means, and said subnets being constructed so that when superposed the vertical members of substantially any subnet are staggered with respect to those of the next adjacent subnet.

Claim 10

An aircraft arrester net comprising a major group and a minor group of subnets, there being at least as many subnets to a major group as to a minor group, each subnet comprising a top edge member and a bottom edge member and a plurality of vertical members extending normally between said top and bottom edge members, said members being fabricated of a nylon tape, the vertical members in each subnet of the major group being 31/2 m to 6 m apart and of the minor group 1 m to 3 m apart, said subnets being superposed one upon another with said top edge members bunched together with frangible ties and said bottom edge members bunched together with frangible ties, said top and bottom edge members being linked together at each end of the net and adapted for connection to energy absorption means, frangible connectors attached to said top edge members for connection thereof to support means, and said subnets being constructed so that when superposed the vertical members of substantially any subnet are staggered with respect to those of the next adjacent subnet.

Claim 11

An aircraft arrester net comprising a major group and a minor group of subnets, there being at least as many subnets to a major group as to a minor group, each subnet comprising a top edge member and a bottom edge member and a plurality of vertical members extending normally between said top and bottom edge members, said members being fabricated of a nylon tape, the vertical members in each subnet of the major group being 31/2 m to 6 m apart and of the minor group 1 m to 3 m apart, said subnets being superposed one upon another with said top edge members bunched together with frangible ties and said bottom edge members bunched together with frangible ties, said top and bottom edge members being linked together at each end of the net and adapted for connection to energy absorption means, frangible connectors attached to said top edge members for connection thereof to support means, and said subnets being constructed so that when superposed the vertical members of substantially any subnet are staggered with respect to those of the next adjacent subnet.

Claim 12

An aircraft arrester system comprising a net as claimed in claim 9, frangible ties connecting said bottom edge members to ground, an erectable stanchion at each end of the net and linked with the appropriate frangible connectors, and energy absorption means, located one at each end of the net and connected with said top and bottom edge members at the appropriate ends thereof, the net being arranged with the major group upstream.