''So 18 may have been lucky but he may also have simply been using the correct technique!''
Those who have actually flown the 747 will know this is correct. The body gear steering makes the pivot point of the aircraft somewhere around the leading edge at the root. Sitting 32' up menas that there is little perceptable lead required. I moved from the 747 to the A320 series and there is far more lead required on the 321 compared with the 747.