Twotter Small plane BIG teeth!
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Twotter Small plane BIG teeth!
"It seems to me" to quote a former well know operator that someone has been bested by the good old Twotter at Keekorok by underestimating what happens with a good tailwind...
I'm guessing that no one was hurt, perhaps a dented ego or two?
Details anyone??
Come on Foxcotte, Flo, I know you're out there!
I'm guessing that no one was hurt, perhaps a dented ego or two?
Details anyone??
Come on Foxcotte, Flo, I know you're out there!
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Seen experienced DC3 crew with thousands of hours on taildraggers go farming in a Twotter. What gave these folks the idea that inexperienced on type crew would do any better?
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Less than 100 each is a bit daft when it's not necessary, especially as I know they have crew with time on type
SRT, I hear you on that one, was a great way for some people to be brought back to earth
I remember training with one guy and after a look at the grass on the side of the runway he profesed amazement that after flying a Buffalo he could be "chewed" by something as small as a Twotter!!
As I recall from my past, Twotter lesson 1:- The Tiller (also known as the plastic arm)
Use only for ground manoeuvring e.g. Taxying
Don't touch thereafter! Or at your own peril it be!!!
I think we've all been munched gently at some stage
Having said that I knew one guy who could sucessfully use it at close to 50 kts....terrifying
SRT, I hear you on that one, was a great way for some people to be brought back to earth
I remember training with one guy and after a look at the grass on the side of the runway he profesed amazement that after flying a Buffalo he could be "chewed" by something as small as a Twotter!!As I recall from my past, Twotter lesson 1:- The Tiller (also known as the plastic arm)
Use only for ground manoeuvring e.g. Taxying
Don't touch thereafter! Or at your own peril it be!!!
I think we've all been munched gently at some stage
Having said that I knew one guy who could sucessfully use it at close to 50 kts....terrifying
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I used to love the way a worn torque link detent bit/thingee could allow the nosewheel to geeeeently unlock and drift to full deflection in flight. 'Hey look, the ball's out!' 'Hey look, I think the nosewheel actually yawed the aeroplane!' Twotter final approach checks - pitch, flaps and TILLER CENTRAL!
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Does anyone know what actually happened here ?
The Twotter is designed to spend its life operating off piste so a brief trip onto the grass should not have done any harm unless the trees got in the way
The Twotter is designed to spend its life operating off piste so a brief trip onto the grass should not have done any harm unless the trees got in the way
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The problem with 'off piste' is all those annoying things that get in the way like ditches , rocks , Termite mounds , fences , roads ... I believe the only airplane actually designed for off airport use is the Harrier 
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It depends on what you call an "airport".
In my day the best you could hope for was that someone had driven a bulldozer about 1000 yards into the bush sometime within the last five years and called the result an airstrip. Having to scare off grazing animals is a good sign, it means that the grass should be short.
I doubt if much has changed.
In my day the best you could hope for was that someone had driven a bulldozer about 1000 yards into the bush sometime within the last five years and called the result an airstrip. Having to scare off grazing animals is a good sign, it means that the grass should be short.
I doubt if much has changed.
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Bush Adventure
Well the rumor on the grapevine is that for practical and scheduling requirements it was an intersection departure, downhill and downwind with the hitherto mentioned inexperienced crew. The wind got under the big rudder on the beast which lifted the rear, making nosewheel steering an interesting experience. Instinct was to grab the tiller to restore directional control - with a little bit of left, and a bit of right, and a lot more left, and a lot more right and a little bit of up and down etc until an area of rough uneven ground got the better of the sideways forces with the end result that the main gear gave up the battle.
Avionics engineers have already removed valuable equipment, so it seems that plans to resurrect this particular phoenix are not imminent. Who knows, perhaps this really is the end of this serial number which should be good news for our friendly inspector?
Photographs were taken - but I think the French connection is being a little reserved.
Avionics engineers have already removed valuable equipment, so it seems that plans to resurrect this particular phoenix are not imminent. Who knows, perhaps this really is the end of this serial number which should be good news for our friendly inspector?
Photographs were taken - but I think the French connection is being a little reserved.
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Ye Glods.
It takes a very special variety of clumsy idiot to break the gear on a twotter. Dented flaps from errant rocks kicked up by the gear was the
worst I ever managed operating on some of the worst strips in africa.
Kids of today mumblemumblemutter
It takes a very special variety of clumsy idiot to break the gear on a twotter. Dented flaps from errant rocks kicked up by the gear was the
worst I ever managed operating on some of the worst strips in africa.
Kids of today mumblemumblemutter
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Ratty!
Sorry mate, only just saw this. But rumour also has it that the same outfit then burst a tyre on one of "those" new Caravans (yanno, the ones with the dodgy LEFT-HAND tyres) the following day (again...).
Plus ça change...
Did you see the pics yet? If not will email them to you.
Miss ya bro. Hope things going well for you there.
Plus ça change...
Did you see the pics yet? If not will email them to you.
Miss ya bro. Hope things going well for you there.
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the DFO of this particular outfit heavily experienced in the Twotter? One wonders how a crew pairing with such low individual and combined experience was allowed, given some of the unique challenges this airplane can present to the inexperienced, unprepared or unwary pilot. 
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One wonders how a crew pairing with such low individual and combined experience was allowed, given some of the unique challenges this airplane can present to the inexperienced, unprepared or unwary pilot.
What unique challenges ?
The Twotter is just a soft old pussycat to fly, the only challenges are the
horrible strips into which it usually operates. Anyone who cannot cope with bush strips should not flying in the bush.
Every aircraft has its own little foibles but it would be hard to find a
more forgiving, docile and rugged alternative capable of operating into short rough strips.
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What unique challenges you ask? Well, the oft-mentioned tiller comes to mind.
I certainly agree that she's a forgiving and docile ship. In the right hands.
I certainly agree that she's a forgiving and docile ship. In the right hands.
Good at reminding a chap to-"Never take anything for granted".
Quite a few traps waiting for the unwary.
Also used to bring to mind that old favourite--" Experience is something you think you have... till you get a little bit more.."
Nevertheless, a great machine upon which to cut one's teeth. Aviation youth of today don't know what they're missing.
Quite a few traps waiting for the unwary.
Also used to bring to mind that old favourite--" Experience is something you think you have... till you get a little bit more.."
Nevertheless, a great machine upon which to cut one's teeth. Aviation youth of today don't know what they're missing.