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Old 14th Jun 2005, 15:56
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Dan Winterland
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Blighty
Posts: 4,789
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As mentioned, the 747 has body gear steering. The body gear steers in the opposite direction to the nose gear at about one tenth of the deflection. The nose gear steers to a max of 70 degrees, the body gear 7. On the classic 747, the steering is switched manually by the crew and typically it has to be switched off take off and is switched back on below 30kts on the landing roll. The 747-400's steering is automatic. It disarms above 20kts and re arms again below 15.

This gives the 747 a tight turning circle. In one company I worked for which operated both 747s and 340s, it was the 747s which flew to the smaller Carribean airfields as they were more manouevreable on the ground.

The 777 also has rear wheel steering. Th bogies have three axles and the aft axle steers in the same manner as the 747's body gear steering.
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