2 large poles. One has a fully loaded aeroplane ready to take off perched on top. The other is empty. When another comes into land, it collides with the first, knocking it up to full air speed with an elastic collision. The one that was flying immediately comes to rest on the previously empty pole.-- saedi, Mar 29 2011 Ah yes - the Newton's Cradle airport, kind of. I see no problems with crashing a massive aeroplane into another which contains a full load of fuel.-- hippo, Mar 29 2011 I think there would need to be some minor changes in the shape of the aircraft.-- lurch, Mar 29 2011 Giant elastic croissant for you [+]
Can you elaborate on the poles? Why not have the collision occur at ground level? Would make access by the emergency and firefighting services easier.-- pocmloc, Mar 29 2011 It would be better as a connected system akin to aircraft carrier arrestor-hook cables and a tow-launch. Clever geared transmission would take the fast-to-slow of the landing plane and translate it into slow-to-fast for the leaving plane. Avoids nasty collisions too.-- neutrinos_shadow, Mar 29 2011 Trampoline.-- FlyingToaster, Mar 29 2011 Tram... damnit!-- daseva, Mar 29 2011 dumb,but funny. or should I say funny, but dumb? (-)-- sqeaketh the wheel, Mar 30 2011 random, halfbakery