Wheel Suspension for an Advanced Flying Automobile

Principles and important parameters for design of landing gears for general aviation airplanes and suspensions for automobiles are described. A comparison between automobile, aircraft and Advanced Flying Automobile (AFA) design requirement reveals that a new generation of suspension has to be developed to gain the flexibility, efficiency and high kinetic energy absorption capability needed for an AFA suspension system.

AFA design concepts and advantages were described and explained in previous SAE-papers e.g. “Design concepts and market opportunities for Flying Automobiles” and “Design Methodology and Infrastructures for Flying Automobiles”.