Matt308
Glock Perfection
Which one Jimmy?
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The tailwheel assembly is the achilles heal of the B-17. Wheel landings are preferred and then flying the tail to the ground. Tailwheel infrastructure parts are very very hard to come by and expensive to replace. The video shows a tail high landing..we call it "pinning" and is done with forward elevator...you will not get the props...nor do you need to ride the brakes. If you are using the brakes over 50mph indicated you don't have proper directional control or there is one heck of a crosswind...which is easily dealt with using aileron or the upwind engines. When you get a pilots license and a B-17 type rating let me know we will discuss it further.
Jim Harley
I'm not a pilot, but what are the chances of having a prop strike the ground while performing a landing like that? Seems to me the cost of new props, and possible engine damage would make you think twice before doing something like that?
Bullshit. That pilot was hotdoggin' on a adequately long runway smartass. His stunt is common practice to impress neophytes with the perceived pilot's ego while flying a priceless piece of history. I've seen many of these same stunts where the braking moderation was misjudged and the tail dropped like the proverbial 5th story safe.
Your condescending, holier-than-thou attitude is not appreciated on this forum. Your first point was noted. Your last was insulting.
I work at the Air Force Academy on the soaring program. My company owns the Super Cubs that are used for towing and I'll bring the tail down just as you say. When I get a chance to fly our cubs I'll do wheel landings because we always have some kind of cross or variable winds, let alone a lot of wind shear in the warmer months. Even though "its a cub" and built like a tank, I try to be as careful as I can as these planes are part of our bread and butter.I agree that was a bit rough...but not nearly as hard as a three point landing or holding firm back pressure (like you do 99% of all tailwheel airplanes). The landing in the video looked a bit fast...if you try to force the tail down you will go flying again. Ideally you fly the tailwheel on...with full forward pressure on the yoke it will come down gently and when it is ready. You can easily operate a B-17 out of 4000' without abusing the brakes and wheel it on. Let me put it this way...the way we operate ours is in the best interest of the longevity of the airframe. Keeping the tailwheel unloaded is our primary concern.
You don't seem know anything about flying taildraggers. You shouldn't make such accusations.
Hmmm... sounds like common sense 82Pilot. You sure on a an adequately long runway you wouldn't unpin the wheel, ride the brakes to keep the airframe horizontal to the ground and at the last second time the tail drop to perfectly ease 'er to the ground? Perhaps that would be common practice for a 100ft long 50,000lb airplane that is historically priceless. Surely you must be mistaken.
wink wink
I have a copy in my bathroom and read it regularly (no kidding)I suggest that those of you who still have doubts, read a book called "Stick and Rudder". It is an old book written by a German in the 1930's. It is still considered the bible of taildragger pilots.
I was being sarcastic... I'm assuming that you agree with me that keeping a B-17 full horizontal by riding the brakes until the last second on an adequately long runway only to drop her tail smoothly is a stunt. Not SOP. Please tell me you don't agree with Mr. Jim.
Far from condescending and holier than thou...I'm sick of armchair aviators with NO flight time and NO flying experience commenting on events or abilities for which they have no first hand experience. Insulting a pilots ability with nothing to back it up with but hot air is an insult to our community and goes way beyond a condescending statement. I have over 500 hours of B-17 time and have been flying it for close to 6 years. I can assure you that there are NO B-17 operators "hotdogging" or "showing off" for thier own personal satisfaction.
Jim Harley