An aircraft landing wheel assembly comprising a set of rotating components and a set of static components wherein an applied electrical current applied to conductive elements associated with one set of components gives rise to primary magnetic fields which interact with reactive magnetic fields associated with the other set of components whereby the interaction of magnetic field forces gives rise to rotational forces which act on the rotating components of said aircraft landing wheel assembly to induce controlled forward rotation of the landing wheel prior to contact with the runway and controlled retardation assistance as required during deceleration of the aircraft after touch down with the runway.