Are the brakes "useless" on Tiger Moths?
Tiger Moth equipped with tailwheel and wheel brakes modification and used for joy flights in southern Victoria. . The owner states the brakes are useless;.meaning one supposes, the brakes are U/S. Was that snag in the MR? Probably not; otherwise the operator could not legally fly the the machine. . Of course the brakes are useless if they don't get maintained properly..
. Which begs the question how is that Tiger Moth steered and brought to a halt if the brakes don't work properly? A tail skid on the original type was a rudimentary form of braking as it dug into grass surface and even on hard surface its friction slowed up the machine. With a tail wheel replacing the tail skid, then brakes are needed to not only steer and aid directional control in crosswinds,but more importantly for stopping..
If, as the owner operator states, the brakes are "useless," then surely by any definition the aircraft is un-airworthy and should not be flown; let alone with a fare paying passenger. Presumably Tiger Moth brakes worked as advertised when installation took place and aircraft was test flown. Or was the design considered "useless" right from first installation? .