How Much Highway Does It Take to Land a Plane?

An automobile on the sweeping curves of the Au...

The Autobahn

Cows. Eisenhower. Smoke. How Much Highway Does It Take to Land a Plane?

Somewhere I once read that the U. S. Interstate Highway System requires that one mile out of every five be straight and flat so planes can land, inspired by Eisenhower’s experience in World War II with Germany’s Autobahn.

This appealed to me because when I was taking lessons to get my private pilot’s license I had to make an emergency landing on my first solo flight.

I had taken off from a dirt strip. I was surrounded by fields and fences, trees, cows and powerlines.

Nothing focuses your attention like seeing smoke coming out of your engine and looking for a clear, flat place to set down.

I had to do a 360 and come around to land on the dirt strip where I’d taken off. Then, I waited for an hour for my engine to cool down.

Lincoln Highway Sets the Model

As it happens, only part of the story about our highways is true.

It is true that Eisenhower was struck by the Lincoln Highway. Built in 1913 from New York City to San Francisco, it was the first road to span the country.

Eisenhower was part of an Army convoy that took the highway from Washington, DC to California in 1919, presumably celebrating the end of World War I.

The Autobahn in Germany Is the Next Piece

The next part of the story that is true is that Eisenhower was struck by the flat Autobahn in Germany during World War II.

Indeed, after the war, highways were prepared to do double duty as airstrips, with removable central barriers to allow planes to use the whole width of the highway.

The two Germanys, Switzerland, Sweden, Poland and Czechoslovakia all made these preparations, as backup airstrips if airports were destroyed.

The U. S. Highway Was for Transport

But, the U.S. did not.

Eisenhower did support the legislation authorizing the U.S. Interstate Highway, and it is named after him, the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways.

He understood the value of good roads crossing the country to improve the movement of troops and vehicles should this ever be necessary again.

But, the legislation did not include a provision for flat, straight highways with removable central barriers for alternate airstrips.

Completion of the Plan

The Interstate Highway System was completed in 35 years, and includes 46, 876 miles of highway. It cost $425B in 2006 dollars.

One-third of miles driven in the U.S. (as of 2003) are on the U.S. Interstate Highway System.

Do you like driving on the Interstate or prefer small secondary roads?

How old were you when you got the courage to drive on an Interstate highway?

How long did your parents ride in the car with you before they let you drive alone?

Who is teaching your grandchildren to drive?

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To you and the open road.

Carol Covin, “Granny-Guru”