Simviation Forum - how do you land a tail wheel?

Reply #15 - Aug 20^th, 2003 at 1:55pm

ozzy72 Offline
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Like I said Doug it was probably the airframe they were trying to save. Its lost the control surfaces on the starboard wing, and I'd guess the U/C is FUBAR, but the main part of the plane would be repairable from the stores.
To the best of my knowledge this was taken during the War in the Med. and it was an early Seafire III (hence the rescue exercise). The wings are not the folding type so this would seem to be accurate with what little I've found out. I'm trying to trace the serial (from the site I found the shot at) for the full story. I'll keep you posted Wink

Mark

There are two types of aeroplane, Spitfires and everything else that wishes it was a Spitfire!

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Reply #16 - Aug 21^st, 2003 at 1:26am

Professor Brensec Offline
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I do believe you are right Steve. Well spotted mate, I missed that.

Mark Wink

I think I can even make out a leather 'skullcap' too (or whatever they called them)................ Grin

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Reply #17 - Aug 21^st, 2003 at 2:42am

ozzy72 Offline
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Pity its not in colour, then you could identify him by his brown trousers Grin

Mark

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Reply #18 - Aug 21^st, 2003 at 5:02am

Hagar Offline
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I reckon it's either a very relieved pilot or a very disconcerted "Bats" the DLCO. Roll Eyes

Thought you might like this little poem I found. Wink

Quote:

And a mysterious person by the name of Harry keeps cropping into the conversation. If you've "had it", it's Hadders; if you're going to bash the spine, or "flake out", it's Harry Flakers and so on. The men of the Fleet Air Arm have their songs, too. One night in the Wardroom I was introduced to some of them, one of the lyrics went -

They say in the Air Force the landing's okay

If the pilot can step out and still walk away;

But in the fleet Air Arm the prospect is grim

If the landing is poor and the pilot can't swim;

When the batsman gives lower, I always go higher

Straight into the barrier and prang a Seafire;

The boys up in goofers all think that I'm green

But I get a commission from Supermarine.

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Reply #19 - Aug 21^st, 2003 at 5:19am

ozzy72 Offline
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Great poem there Hagar Grin

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Reply #20 - Aug 21^st, 2003 at 10:37am

Professor Brensec Offline
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I just noticed the Title of this topic!

"How do you land a tail wheel?"

I suppose it's much easier if it's attached to a plane....... Grin

(Maybe 'Tail dragger' would be more apt). Grin

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Reply #21 - Aug 21^st, 2003 at 1:30pm

southerndandy Offline
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Watch Nancy Lynn on discovery wings, she never screws up(according to her) lol Wink

Jimi Hendrix for president

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Reply #22 - Aug 21^st, 2003 at 1:50pm

Rifleman Offline
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I can't believe how similar Brensec and me are in thought.....his reply almost exactly matches the one which has been in my head since the beginning........

My answer now to the question, is one I learned from a very good friend......when you get down to 1-2 feet above the runway, with the power set to something less than that which is required for level flight.....try not to let it land (keep the plane at the height it is, by flaring) and it will settle softly......so when you want to land, try not to let it ! Alex told me and I never forgot, and when I do it nicely, I see him smiling at me, even though he departed a few yrs ago.......... 8)

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Reply #23 - Aug 21^st, 2003 at 2:08pm

Hagar Offline
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My answer now to the question, is one I learned from a very good friend......when you get down to 1-2 feet above the runway, with the power set to something less than that which is required for level flight.....try not to let it land (keep the plane at the height it is, by flaring) and it will settle softly......so when you want to land, try not to let it ! Alex told me and I never forgot, and when I do it nicely, I see him smiling at me, even though he departed a few yrs ago.......... 8)

Exactly what I was taught. My instructor was the legendary Cecil Pashley who was also my employer. http://shoreham.adur.org.uk/images/storyofshoreham/storyshoreham_0135.htm
He was the most experienced flying instructor in the world at the time. Possibly that record still stands today. Learned to fly in 1908 & instructed RFC/RNAS/RAF fighter pilots through 2 world wars. He was forcibly retired from instructing at the age of 73 (or was it in 1973? - can't remember) although he passed the medical with flying colours. They used to say if you were "Pash taught" you could fly anything.

I remember what he taught me as if it were yesterday. When landing a taildragger - point it directly into wind & try to keep it in the air as long as possible. Hold off, hold, hold off, hold off, down. Takes practice but it's great when it comes off. Wink

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Reply #24 - Aug 21^st, 2003 at 5:46pm

Professor Brensec Offline
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I don't know whether Rifle is referring to the answer I gave regarding the actual landing of the plane, or the smart comment about landing 'just a wheel' on it's own.

I any case, I think what I was trying to get across in my post regarding the way I do it in Sim, is pretty much what Rifle and Hagar have just said. Although I described it as 'keeping it off the ground at just above stall speed and cutting power to let the plane settle to the ground while still keeping the nose in the slightly up position'.

At least that's what I reckon I said, anyway.................lol Grin

I almost always get a stall warning just before I touch down. Wink

However, don't do what I keep doing with 'tricycle wheel' planes.
I always let the nose hit too hard and break the front wheel, or the tail hits the ground and the plane 'jack knifes'and I flip arse over head (it sounds hard to do, but I can do it almost on request)......lol Grin

I think it's because I used CFS2 (without any addons) for many months before I got FS2000, so all I had in the 'tricycle' range was the P38, which I almost never flew because I don't like the way it handles and it didn't land on carriers (until I found out how to fit a 'tail hook')

Bit long winded, wasn't it! Wink

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Reply #25 - Aug 21^st, 2003 at 6:07pm

Hagar Offline
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Bit long winded, wasn't it! Wink

No more than we would expect from you Brensec. Never use one word when a dozen will do. LOL Tongue

Quote:

However, don't do what I keep doing with 'tricycle wheel' planes.
I always let the nose hit too hard and break the front wheel, or the tail hits the ground and the plane 'jack knifes'and I flip arse over head (it sounds hard to do, but I can do it almost on request)......lol Grin

I think it's because I used CFS2 (without any addons) for many months before I got FS2000, so all I had in the 'tricycle' range was the P38, which I almost never flew because I don't like the way it handles and it didn't land on carriers (until I found out how to fit a 'tail hook')

The little plane in my sig pic is a good representaion of landing with a nosewheel type. My old boss hated the very idea when the tricycle gear Cessnas & Pipers first became popular & said it wasn't proper flying at all. Wink

Quote:

I almost always get a stall warning just before I touch down.

He made me disconnect the stall warning horn on our Beagle Terrier (taildragger). They weren't fitted to our Tiger Moths. Said he couldn't teach pupils to land properly with that darned thing going off & startling them at the inappropriate moment. Roll Eyes

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Reply #26 - Aug 21^st, 2003 at 6:16pm

Rifleman Offline
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Bren, first part was being a smartass.........second part is on the level........... 8)

I missed this addition to the first part .... " Roll Eyes

"

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Reply #27 - Aug 21^st, 2003 at 11:27pm

Professor Brensec Offline
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I find it the handiest way to hit a carrier (Either CFS2 or Arrcab in FS2002). The LSO is usually having apoplexy and the CAG is already in the process of drawing up the Court Marshal papers, but it works for me.

This is a tad off topic but kind of what we were talking about for a while. Anyway.................

I have the 'Operation Dragoon' and also an 'Ark Royal' add on campaign in CFS1.
I cannot, for the life of me, get any plane (including the ones supplied that have a 'tail hook' arrangement that you have to turn on) to catch the cables. In 12 months, I've never had one success.
In the 'Dragoon' one, the F6F has a 'spoiler' which, if you hit it, is more effective than three sets of brakes. That's what I use to land on a carrier, just hit the 'D' button on the deck and it stops within 20 or 30 feet.

Has anyone experienced this? Grin

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Reply #28 - Aug 24^th, 2003 at 5:35pm

bx909 Offline
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thank you for your replies

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