three-point landing

[ three-point ]

noun

, Aeronautics.

1. an aircraft landing in which the two wheels of the main landing gear and the tail or nose wheel touch the ground simultaneously.

three-point landing

noun

1. an aircraft landing in which the two main wheels and the nose or tail wheel all touch the ground simultaneously
2. a successful conclusion

Word History and Origins

Origin of three-point landing¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

They made a three-point landing on the outskirts of Capetown, and she told Jem he hadn’t given her anything to say for ten minutes and she wasn’t going to play any more if he didn’t.

From Literature

The pilot brought it in over the big radar antenna on the laboratory roof, then dropped onto the runway for a three-point landing opposite the orchard.

From Project Gutenberg

He slowed to supersonic speed, brought back his great red wings and made a neat three-point landing without injuring the needle-sharp dart at the end of his long, black tail.

From Project Gutenberg

Her nose brought slightly up, she dropped to a perfect three-point landing, the brakes screeching as she was brought to a standstill at the hangar of the transportation company.

From Project Gutenberg

It froze me like a hunk of Greek statuary and I went forward and toppled over until I came on a three-point landing of elbow, the opposite knee, and the side of my face.

From Project Gutenberg