Abstract: An airplane arresting gear has a generally planar frame (20) having a front end and a rear end that is adapted to be attached at the front end to a structure of the airplane for pivotal movement about a frame pivot axis (FPA) substantially parallel to the airplane z-axis between a stowed position in which the frame (20) resides within the fuselage skin and a deployed position in which the frame (20) extends rearwardly and obliquely downwardly with respect to the x-axis of the airplane. A shank (30) having a cable hook (80) at the rear end is coupled at its front end to the rear end of the frame (20) for pivotal movement about a shank pivot axis between a deployed position in which the shank (30) extends rearwardly from the shank pivot axis and a stowed position in which the shank (30) extends generally forwardly from the shank pivot axis and lies abreast of the frame (20).