Chinese landing

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

The landing of an aircraft with one wing lower than the other.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Undershootings, overshootings, skewshootings and Chinese landings (with one wing low) were a constant worry to Station Commanders, and inability, by reason of shot and shell, to lower or lock landing wheels took a heavy toll.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “Chinese landing” mean?

The landing of an aircraft with one wing lower than the other.

Is “Chinese landing” formal or informal?

Chinese landing is generally slang.