Why hang a bar from the back of an aircraft?

[Brother D]

So I took a flight on a cessna caravan between some islands at the weekend and noticed on landing the handlers attached a red 3 foot long bar with a circular pad on the bottom to the rear of the fusalage when the aircraft was stationary (which hung about 6 inches off the ground), and then removing it for the next flight.

I can't work out what the purpose of it was. Being a tricycle configuration, the only possible thing I can think of is that it prevents the aircraft (completely) tipping onto the tail when loading/unloading? I've searched on google for loads of what I think are relevant terms but nothing comes up...

[TheEnd]

That would be it, just to stop it pulling a wheelie by accident. It can also happen if it gets windy too.

[Brother D]

Ah sweet thought it might be - (do you know what it's called?)

[TheEnd]

It's just called a tail stand.

http://www.preferredairparts.com/cessna_caravan_pa...

[Eric Mc]

Some aircraft have a tendency to tail sit at the slightest provocation. The Douglas DC-4 airliner and the Canberra were potential tailsitters.

[richw_82]

The DC6 at Coventry which is now serving as a diner was very light at one point during its conversions so had to have a good sized tail steady attached. I can also remember one Canberra sitting on its behind during bad winds - and I know of a Vulcan that did a similar trick due to snow on the upper surfaces a couple of years ago.

[AndyNetwork]

richw_82 said:

- and I know of a Vulcan that did a similar trick due to snow on the upper surfaces a couple of years ago.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/wear/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8454000/8454766.stm

[Eric Mc]

A DC-4 using a tail support -

[dr_gn]

VC10 due to incorrect loading/fuelling:



(credit as per photo).

[Jamp]

The ATR72 also uses a stand. Often folk at the front are asked to stay seated while the rear half disembark (rear door only), to save all the self loading freight shuffling up next to the door and moving CoG behind the main gear. Seems like a bit of an afterthought!

Edited by Jamp on Tuesday 28th January 17:38

[Fluid]

dr_gn said:

VC10 due to incorrect loading/fuelling:



(credit as per photo).

The aircraft was being de-fueled at the time, there was was a problem with one of the fuel gauges, which resulted in the aircraft tipping.

There was no load on board at the time.

[Fluid]

BAE146 in full pax fit also uses a strut.

[jamieduff1981]

As did the DeHavilland Canada Dash-7. It could near enough lift it's nosewheel when being towed into a headwind with up elevator, and the passenger door was at the rear of the cabin away from the propellers.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

If you had the Roller Conveyor and Side-Guidance Rails fit in Albert and were unloading onto a CONDEC (low flatbed vehicle) then you would use a tail strut.

[Fluid]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

If you had the Roller Conveyor and Side-Guidance Rails fit in Albert and were unloading onto a CONDEC (low flatbed vehicle) then you would use a tail strut.

Ah the CONDEC, I miss driving those. Driving across the pan at Lyneham, head bouncing off the roof at the slightest bump.

[Willy Nilly]

Fluid said:

dr_gn said:

VC10 due to incorrect loading/fuelling:



(credit as per photo).

The aircraft was being de-fueled at the time, there was was a problem with one of the fuel gauges, which resulted in the aircraft tipping.

There was no load on board at the time.

Should have just fired it up, given it the berries and took off

[CelicaGT]

Jamp said:

The ATR72 also uses a stand. Often folk at the front are asked to stay seated while the rear half disembark (rear door only), to save all the self loading freight shuffling up next to the door and moving CoG behind the main gear. Seems like a bit of an afterthought!

Edited by Jamp on Tuesday 28th January 17:38

And if you land at a non-ATR airport (i.e. they have no tail stands) then the co-pilot has to run back through the cabin and open the nasty, dirty, oil/grease covered aft bay door and attach the 'donkey d***' to the airplane so the people can get off without the airplane sitting on its tail!

[rohrl]

I heard once that the cleaners on Concorde weren't allowed to all go to the rear of the cabin at the same time for fear of tipping it backwards. Don't know if it's true or not.

[davepoth]

rohrl said:

I heard once that the cleaners on Concorde weren't allowed to all go to the rear of the cabin at the same time for fear of tipping it backwards. Don't know if it's true or not.

I did read once that one of the big jobs on Concorde was shuffling the fuel around to keep the CofG in the right place, so I guess it's feasible if it was empty.

[Benni]

No photoshoppers active here ?

Great opportunities, Iam disappoint.