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Old 6th Dec 2003, 02:17
  #33 (permalink)  
Ali Barber
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Muscat, Oman
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The drill for a wheels up landing in an F3 is for a mid-flap approach that adds about 10 knots to the threshold speed but puts the aircraft in a very flat attitude. Provided the aircraft is settled onto the ground gently, there shouldn't be too much damage apart from some skin panels need replacing and a few bits of other hardware. Not diffficult or expensive to repair and much better than a Martin Baker letdown. In fact, they would have been in trouble if they had jumped out because the F3 is cleared to land wheels up. The only potential problem is a crosswind that takes you off the runway after the rudder loses control effectiveness. The wing tip is not far from the ground and it might dig in and flip the aircradt if you're on the grass. In my case, we agreed that the Nav would command eject us out if the aircraft started to go near the edge of the runway. What we didn't realise was that operating the crash bar to kill the enmgines and operate the fire extinguishers also cut off the intercom. Caused a moments excitement as we turned a little and I didn't want to be fired out with full rudder on and one thigh off the seat. Stopped OK in the end not too far from the centre-line.
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