Definition

1. Noun:
   • A landing in which all three wheels of the aircraft touch the ground simultaneously: This is the standard and primary meaning in aviation. It describes a smooth, controlled landing where the main wheels and the nose (or tail) wheel make contact with the runway at the same time.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The pilot executed a perfect three-point landing on the grass strip.
  • Student pilots practice for a three-point landing to master tailwheel aircraft.

Advanced Usage

• The term is most commonly associated with tailwheel aircraft (also called "taildraggers"), where the three points are the two main wheels and the tailwheel.
• In modern tricycle-gear aircraft (with a nose wheel), a similar smooth touchdown is often described as a "full-stall landing" or "wheel landing," but the specific term "three-point landing" is less frequently used in that context.

Variants and Related Words

• Wheel landing: (noun) A landing technique for tailwheel aircraft where the main wheels touch down first while the tailwheel is held off the ground.
• Full-stall landing: (noun) A landing where the aircraft is held in a nose-high attitude until it stalls just above the runway, resulting in a gentle touchdown.

Synonyms

• Simultaneous touchdown: (noun phrase) A more general description of the wheels contacting the ground at the same time.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "To stick a three-pointer": (informal, aviation slang) To perform a very smooth and precise three-point landing.
  • After hours of practice, she finally stuck a perfect three-pointer.

Noun

1. a landing in which all three wheels of the aircraft touch the ground at the same time