Tailhooks

A tailhook is a device, typically a metal hook or bar, attached to the rear of an aircraft designed to catch a wire. This wire is usually part of an arresting gear system on an aircraft carrier or a runway, used to rapidly decelerate an aircraft. The hook is lowered from the aircraft's fuselage or tail section just before landing. Upon touchdown, the tailhook engages a stretched cable laid across the landing area. This cable is connected to a braking mechanism, such as a hydraulically operated drum or a jet-powered system, which rapidly slows the aircraft to a safe taxiing speed. Tailhooks are essential for carrier-based aircraft, enabling them to land on the short, confined decks of aircraft carriers. They are also employed on some land-based runways, particularly those used by military aircraft, to allow for emergency landings or to reduce landing distances. The design and strength of tailhooks vary depending on the aircraft type and its intended operational environment. After a successful arrestment, the hook is retracted back into the aircraft.