Author Topic: One of the reasons Eisenhower built the Interstate system with wide lanes. (Read 592 times)

gofaster · « **on:** January 29, 2004, 12:47:01 PM »

From my AvWeb email bulletin:

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A Cessna 210 with four people on board landed on Interstate 40 in Memphis on Sunday morning, after the engine quit. The airplane's gear nicked the top of a GMC Jimmy in the westbound lane, but then touched down on the pavement, with no injuries and little damage. The pilot, who wasn't identified, did a good job except for running out of fuel, Memphis Police Maj. Harvey Sullivan told local reporters. The pilot was on his way from Albany, Ga., to Fayetteville, Ark., the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported, and planned to refuel in Memphis. "Next time, he should use an airport," Sullivan said.

Mickey1992 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 29, 2004, 01:10:24 PM »

I saw the video of it last night. They said that they fixed a "mechanical problem", and then simply took off using the highway as a runway. I didn't know he ran out of fuel.

It was weird seeing the plane take off. They didn't even stop traffic that was headed in the opposite direction. Imagine seeing that.

rpm · « **Reply #2 on:** January 29, 2004, 01:20:58 PM »

A neighbor down the road got a surprise visit from some relatives in a Cessna 210 a few years back. The pilot used the State Highway for a runway, unfortunately a DPS trooper drove by and saw the aircraft sitting in the driveway. Don't know the final outcome, but I did see the plane hauled away on a trailer a few days later.

Chairboy · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2004, 01:31:02 PM »

I've heard that the Eisenhower freeway system has straight segments at least a mile long every five miles (where possible) for use as emergency fighter bases in time of war. Anyone else hear this?

Ripsnort · « **Reply #4 on:** January 29, 2004, 01:34:04 PM »

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Originally posted by Chairboy
I've heard that the Eisenhower freeway system has straight segments at least a mile long every five miles (where possible) for use as emergency fighter bases in time of war. Anyone else hear this?

Yeah, I heard that too. It was built with moving military units fast too, not just aircraft.

The Navy was pissed because it wanted canals beside each freeway (just kidding)

United · « **Reply #5 on:** January 29, 2004, 01:37:09 PM »

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Originally posted by Chairboy
I've heard that the Eisenhower freeway system has straight segments at least a mile long every five miles (where possible) for use as emergency fighter bases in time of war. Anyone else hear this?

Thats why it was made. It was intentional for them to put 1 out of every 5 miles straight for use as emergency fighter bases if war ever came to America. The interstate's official name is the "National Defense Highway" or "National Highway of Defense" or something like that.

boxboy28 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2004, 01:43:01 PM »

Here in Michigan there a special segmet of road like that but it was built specifically for bombers! it in the lower peninsula but up north like Greyling area.

john9001 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2004, 01:50:38 PM »

it's sweden that uses it's roads for fighter runways.

Ping · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2004, 02:01:05 PM »

Canada has got ya beat.
Were just gonna phase out the Air Force and never need any a that crap.

Staga · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2004, 02:10:57 PM »

Aircrafts made for carrier use fits well in Finnish small roads too.

More pics

Blammo · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2004, 02:45:24 PM »

Wrong answer, but thanks for playing...

http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/airstrip.asp

Ripsnort · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2004, 03:23:45 PM »

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Originally posted by Blammo
Wrong answer, but thanks for playing...

http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/airstrip.asp

But who is snoping Snopes.com? No one!

Dinger · « **Reply #12 on:** January 29, 2004, 06:32:33 PM »

Don't know if they still do it, but back in the 80s, when NATO would do exercises in W. Germany, they'd close off a section of the autobahn, take out the divider and land F-16s on it. And there are plenty of highways in places like Syria that suddenly become very, very wide.

Krusher · « **Reply #13 on:** January 29, 2004, 07:00:45 PM »

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Originally posted by Staga
Aircrafts made for carrier use fits well in Finnish small roads too.

Looks like the Finns have the radar cops in the states beat to hell ! Talk about your police interceptor cars

Scootter · « **Reply #14 on:** January 29, 2004, 07:02:32 PM »

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Originally posted by Krusher
Looks like the Finns have the radar cops in the states beat to hell ! Talk about your police interceptor cars

naaa, ever see the signs "speed limits enforced by aircraft"?

there ya go