I believe it's all automatics on the 747, it was different on the C-5. We had to select CASTER at each turn, switch on the pedestal, and it took the hydraulic lock off the aft gear allowing it to free caster when the nose wheel steering was cranked in. The pilot then selected CENTER coming out of the turn to hydraulically center the aft gear. The crosswind gear was always available on the A models, but was converted to the B model gear in the early '90s. The gear was different in the details and much simpler and more reliable.
Some form of aft gear steering is necessary on any long bodied plane, the 777 has it on the aft most gear.
The B-52 needs the crosswind gear because of its tandem body gear works, four gear, two forward, two aft.
Last edited by galaxy flyer; 20th Apr 2015 at 03:43.