Types of landing

thumb|Landing of Hawker Sea Fury FB 10 Landing is the last part of a flight, where a flying animal, aircraft, or spacecraft returns to the ground. When the flying object returns to water, the process is called alighting, although it is commonly called "landing", "touchdown" or "splashdown" as well. A normal aircraft flight would include several parts of flight including taxi, takeoff, climb, cruise, descent and landing.

aircraft landing performed in response to a crisis

aircraft landing done without the undercarriage correctly positioned or where the undercarriage fails during landing

thumb|upright=1.14|Airflow through a helicopter rotor. Above, the rotor is powered and pushing air downward, generating lift and thrust. Below, the helicopter rotor has lost power, and the craft is making an emergency landing.

thumb|Apollo 15 makes contact with the Pacific Ocean. thumb|Locations of Atlantic Ocean splashdowns of American spacecraft prior to the 21st century thumb|Locations of Pacific Ocean splashdowns of American spacecraft

type of emergency landing where an aircraft is unable to remain in flight

aircraft or spacecraft landing which causes substantial damage to the vehicle

landing of an aerospace vehicle on water, either by design or in an emergency

forced landing of an aircraft which has lost its propulsive power