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Thread: Tailwheel Woes
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Old 2nd Oct 2007, 13:50
  #17 (permalink)  
Fg Off Max Stout
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
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SSD and I will have to agree to differ there. The RAF Pilot's Notes state 'Brakes...As required' in the pre landing checks, which is not the same thing as 'Brakes...OFF'. It was RAF SOP to do as I described.

The reason being that if the aircraft (being directionally unstable on the ground) diverges to the point where you have full opposite rudder applied, and continues to turn while you've run out of rudder travel, then it will groundloop. Not good. If you have 2-3 notches of brake set, differential braking will come into effect as you reach the limits of rudder travel and should give you the extra authority to prevent loss of directional control. Ideally you shouldn't have to get anywhere near the limits of rudder travel, but as with most things in flying, you prepare for the non-ideal.

If you have too much brake set, then differential braking will apply with very little rudder input, or with more brake still, the brakes will be applied continuously. Both are obviously dangerous for landing.
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