three-point landing

American  

[three-point] / ˈθriˌpɔɪnt /

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.

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three-point landing British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of three-point landing

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

The instruments can pick up a plane 15 to 35 miles away at 3,000 feet altitude and glide it in to a perfect three-point landing.

From Time Magazine Archive

While firemen, police and an ambulance assembled, he made several bungling attempts to land, then made a neat three-point landing before them all.

From Time Magazine Archive

Mr. McCain came home later to find that a celestial visitor had made a three-point landing on his property, about 50 feet from where Mrs. Crum was standing.

From Time Magazine Archive

David's plane circled prettily, made a three-point landing.

From Time Magazine Archive

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 "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee