Underground Runways

[TOPGUN]

We do have unground hangers and runways?

 

[Wingman]

It is a very good Idea and should be sought by PAF.... Specially in Potohar region and Baluchistan where there are mountains.

Please explain your point in detail, how it is possible to have underground hangers in mountaineous area? Dont we need a runway for takeoff?

 

[Comet]

Please explain your point in detail, how it is possible to have underground hangers in mountaineous area? Dont we need a runway for takeoff?

I am talking about construction of underground(inside mountain) hangers with horizontal exhausts and a tunnel towards nearest runway. these hangers will be difficult to locate since you cant find one with satellite and will save aircraft from enemy attack.

 

[FireFighter]

We do have unground hangers and runways?

Yes! We do have underground hangers, not sure about runways though, i doubt it.


We had underground hangers for a few decades. Most countries with long-standing conflicts and vulnerable air force bases have underground hangers.


I was told by a PAF official that we do have them esp at Sargodah, however its very difficult to pinpoint their locations. So does India. As a matter of fact when Google Earth was first launched, i actually pinpointed entrances leading to underground hangers at India's Adampur AFB and showed them to one of my relative who's a very senior officer in the military and he shook his head in agreement

However I tried really hard to find the underground hangers at Sargodha but I couldn't find them as they're covered in too many trees and fields ...very deceptive

 

[Safriz]

Long time ago i heard that PAF pilots were practicing landings and takeoff on a sub terranian runway within Pakistan..That was during the soviet Afghan war,when Pakistan was constantly under threat from all sides..
I dont know if those reports were true or not,but after looking at this thread,i remembered that.
It will sound like a conspiracy theory,but maybe there are existing underground runways in Pakistan,may well be disused..
There are numerous underground hideouts and missile silos here in UK.Some are really massive,specially those built as shelters in case of a nuclear strike..Now all those multimillion pound projects are abandoned and forgotten,and don't get repaired and maintained.

Similar may be the story of Pakistani subterranean runways...

 

[SBD-3]

Long time ago i heard that PAF pilots were practicing landings and takeoff on a sub terranian runway within Pakistan..That was during the soviet Afghan war,when Pakistan was constantly under threat from all sides..
I dont know if those reports were true or not,but after looking at this thread,i remembered that.
It will sound like a conspiracy theory,but maybe there are existing underground runways in Pakistan,may well be disused..
There are numerous underground hideouts and missile silos here in UK.Some are really massive,specially those built as shelters in case of a nuclear strike..Now all those multimillion pound projects are abandoned and forgotten,and don't get repaired and maintained.

Similar may be the story of Pakistani subterranean runways...

I think I do know a place rumored to be such type of installation, but no one knows exactly about the existence

 

[Safriz]

I think I do know a place rumored to be such type of installation, but no one knows exactly about the existence

Once again i cant present a proof,but i do remember villagers from Kala chitta mountain range near Jhelum claiming they had seen such landings and takeoffs from within the mountain range.


Antheer thing is that PAF was recently practicing Motorway landings..Its all about providing alternate options for the military jets,if the airfields and runways are attacked and destroyed.
Why not improvise an Aircraft carrier style arresting cable on selected location and build short hidden landing and takeoff strips.
Instead of the American catapults,the Russian Trigger type mechanism looks cheaper and feasible...can be used on land..thus making possible making numerous short runways across the country,instead of a few large runways.

 

[Moorkh]

the problem with such underground airstrips is not with launching the aircraft. there are several means to do that. the tough part will be landing on them.

being underground that the pilot might have to fly towards a small tunnel giving very very little leeway to something going wrong. when landing on carriers, the plane can fly off if something goes wrong. in case of the underground airstrips, the plane will end up on the side of the mountain.

 

[Safriz]

the problem with such underground airstrips is not with launching the aircraft. there are several means to do that. the tough part will be landing on them.

being underground that the pilot might have to fly towards a small tunnel giving very very little leeway to something going wrong. when landing on carriers, the plane can fly off if something goes wrong. in case of the underground airstrips, the plane will end up on the side of the mountain.

Thats a good point,may be thats why such airstrips are not too popular.These runways are used as a last resort,when existing airfields have been hit and destroyed.
As far as i know,any such runway is part inny,part outy.
The aircraft touches ground on the open part of the runway,which is not underground,so if error is made,pilot can push throttle and go airborne.After landing the aircraft enters the subterranean part of the runway.

 

[Moorkh]

having the part where the plane actually lands outside the mountain/above surface beats the purpose of an underground runway. this part which is outside might be identified and damaged, knocking the airstrip out of commision temporarily atleast.

also if the mountain in which the other part of the runway is present is steep and/or tall, the pilot might not be able to go airborne safely.

seems the only way the purpose of the underground runway can be realised is if the entire runway can be raised and lowered. but then that is just way too costly and possibly impractical

 

[muse]

Not just "launch venues" but also defense production and the use of underground transport and sanctuary systems to ensure that the Pakistani state and nation will continue to live on, to survive and prevail, in the event of a attack on the country - all these should be developed as a necessity .

 

[Safriz]

having the part where the plane actually lands outside the mountain/above surface beats the purpose of an underground runway. this part which is outside might be identified and damaged, knocking the airstrip out of commision temporarily atleast.

also if the mountain in which the other part of the runway is present is steep and/or tall, the pilot might not be able to go airborne safely.

seems the only way the purpose of the underground runway can be realised is if the entire runway can be raised and lowered. but then that is just way too costly and possibly impractical

I cant elaborate on the design of such runways,but there may be many variants.

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

According to laws of physics---air dynamics---it is not possible to land in a tunnell----.

There can be underground jetways---where a plane can taxi to an open runway----but other than that it is all a story.

Just imagine--------trying to see the hole that you are going to land into from a thousand feet up in the air---.

Now imagine a wind gust of 20 knots or the surface----you have your plane torqued to the air pressure---and then youi would get into a tunnel where there is no pressure---the plane would immediately blow into a different direction of the air current.

Gentlemen---you are educated people---talk to your physics teacher before you embark on such a journey---erros in judgement can happen but stupidity is not a virtue.

Even if there are jetways to taxi underground---we have bombs that penetrate deep---so---one strike---and all those 100's of million dollars are wasted in building those undergorund taxiways are wasted.

 

[Safriz]

Hi,

According to laws of physics---air dynamics---it is not possible to land in a tunnell----.

There can be underground jetways---where a plane can taxi to an open runway----but other than that it is all a story.

Just imagine--------trying to see the hole that you are going to land into from a thousand feet up in the air---.

Now imagine a wind gust of 20 knots or the surface----you have your plane torqued to the air pressure---and then youi would get into a tunnel where there is no pressure---the plane would immediately blow into a different direction of the air current.

Gentlemen---you are educated people---talk to your physics teacher before you embark on such a journey---erros in judgement can happen but stupidity is not a virtue.

Even if there are jetways to taxi underground---we have bombs that penetrate deep---so---one strike---and all those 100's of million dollars are wasted in building those undergorund taxiways are wasted.

May be that's why the rumor is about art open part subterranean design?
Once the plane has touched the ground and slowed down to a certain speed,laws of aerodynamics are no more important.
I agree that trying to land a plane in a tunnel will be extremely difficult,because of a sudden increase in air pressure as the plane approaches at a speed.Then the airflow going haywire around the wings due to air bouncing off the walls and roof of tunnel.

 

[MastanKhan]

May be that's why the rumor is about art open part subterranean design?
Once the plane has touched the ground and slowed down to a certain speed,laws of aerodynamics are no more important.
I agree that trying to land a plane in a tunnel will be extremely difficult,because of a sudden increase in air pressure as the plane approaches at a speed.Then the airflow going haywire around the wings due to air bouncing off the walls and roof of tunnel.

Hi,

You are right. Where are you going to find a pilot who is going to land in a hole----it is impossible---planes land in different places on the tarmac---wind gusts---wind shears---high winds---there are a thousand and one thing going against the pilot just to land on a plain surface---I don't know who and hw someone came up with this idea.