An extension of Bruen chains (Q1120820)

To construct new translation planes one looks for regular spreads in \(\mathrm{PG}(3,q)\) and partial spreads of it which can be replaced by other partial spreads. \textit{A. A. Bruen} [Geom. Dedicata 7, 81--98 (1978; Zbl 0373.50006)] has found out that a set of lines of a chain of reguli is suitable for such a partial spread. Generalizing chains of reguli to nests of reguli the author finds a new class of partial spreads. Nests contain at least \((q+3)/2\) reguli. It is not known in general whether such nests are replaceable but several necessary conditions are given in this paper. Examples of non regular spreads can be given with the help of a computer.