Question

Why is the radio altimeter placed in the tail of aircraft?

(a) Can be placed anywhere

(b) When landing tail is closer to the ground

(c) When landing nose is closer to the ground

(d) Weight balance

I had been asked this question in my homework.

This key question is from Radar Altimeter in portion Celestial Navigation, Doppler and Altimeter Radars of Avionics

Answer 1

Correct answer is (b) When landing tail is closer to the ground

Easiest explanation: When an aircraft lands it has to do the flare maneuver where the pilot pitches the aircraft’s nose up to slow down the plane. Radio altimeter measures precise distance from the ground and since the tail is closer to the ground than the nose, to measure the minimum distance it is placed in the tail.