A couple of stupid airliner questions...

[Zad]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

On C130's we would often practice 'nosewheel steering failure' and taxi using differential power - which was fun...

Of course, we could (and regularly did) taxi backwards and even do 3-point turns.

Can I just say.. PH needs more girls like this

[Nic jones]

Eric Mc said:

Caruso said:

RizzoTheRat said:

Having had a go at this in a Chipmonk, I'm pretty sure it's not actually possible and all pilots of such aircraft are skilled in the force and manouvre by telekenesis.
Want to go left, put a bit of left brake on, nothing happens, bit more left brake, nothing happens, eventually starts a slow turn to the left, come off the brake, continues to turn to the left, give it a bit of right brake, continues turning to the left, bit more right brake, left turn starts to slow, off the right brake, starts to turn to the right...etc...etc. After a couple of these oscilitions I was using the entire taxiway and the pilot had to take over

When I learnt on Chipmonks swerving down the taxiway was SOP as it was the only way to be able to see where you were going. The engine prevented a direct view forward.

Another inherent problem with many tailwheel types. Sometimes, it was common practice to have a member of groundcrew sit on the wing to provide the pilot with steering instructions.

I flew a Piper Supercub out of Stapleford recently and whilst taxiing and being a tail dragger with little or no forward visibility you had to weave around like a drunk stumbling out of a pub to avoid holes, rabbits and children.
It certainly took some practice to weave smoothly and still actually make it in the direction intended!

[RizzoTheRat]

Caruso said:

RizzoTheRat said:

Having had a go at this in a Chipmonk, I'm pretty sure it's not actually possible and all pilots of such aircraft are skilled in the force and manouvre by telekenesis.
Want to go left, put a bit of left brake on, nothing happens, bit more left brake, nothing happens, eventually starts a slow turn to the left, come off the brake, continues to turn to the left, give it a bit of right brake, continues turning to the left, bit more right brake, left turn starts to slow, off the right brake, starts to turn to the right...etc...etc. After a couple of these oscilitions I was using the entire taxiway and the pilot had to take over

When I learnt on Chipmonks swerving down the taxiway was SOP as it was the only way to be able to see where you were going. The engine prevented a direct view forward.

Yeah, but the instructor reckoned it was best to try and keep it on the tarmac while doing it