Originally Posted by
john_tullamarine
One related OWT which caused me anxiety was the roll on landing technique beloved in some quarters of the Industry. My first jet (727-200) had this technique pushed hard by the particular operator ... after some considerable time spent semi-destroying the fleet .. I gave up and tried landing it like a 172 ... just about all of my problems disappeared overnight and I even started seeing a return to the greasers of prop days
... isn't this a wonderful Industry ... ?
I had the privilege of flying the Mighty Tri-Motor for a number of years and it was one of my all time favorite flying machines. It could, however, bite if one misjudged the flare. Over the years during the merger-mania and with various bankruptcies, I flew with a pilots who had flown the Seven-Two with other carriers prior to coming to 'my house'. The different techniques for landing were very interesting.
Some used the grand swoop where there was nothing until the last second and then it was a huge pull to arrest the descent and if it worked (for many it did), the result was an eye watering arrival but nice landing.
Others have perfected the gentle-push where they came into the flare and just before touchdown released back pressure on the yoke and some even pushed. Again, done right, it would squeeze the light out from under the tires.
Personally, I just tried to keep the picture the same and had a fair amount of success. I never dropped the masks however I did plunk a few on.
The ONE thing you didn't do in the 727 or the -80 was to try to arrest that sinking feeling was pull back and you certainly didn't do it in a bounce. One merely added a few fist fulls of power and kept adding power until it got stabilized.
As for crosswinds, the -320 commands a roll rate and not x amount of aileron. So, you can't cross control the -320 like other machines. It requires a deft foot to align in the flare and done right, no big deal. The -321 seemed the easiest of the bunch (319,320,321) to land.
As for the most difficult to land in a strong crosswind, that goes to my 1946 Swift. Every landing is a challenge....