Emergency in Hamilton?
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Oz
Age: 35
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While at Hamilton airport today waiting for a flight back home I watched someone in a robin2160? drag the arse of the plane on the deck during takeoff
Also watched my fair share of (Possibly training students) hold there aircraft roughly 3-5 feet during landing
I'm amazed the main u/c can take that sort of abuse!
Also watched my fair share of (Possibly training students) hold there aircraft roughly 3-5 feet during landing
I'm amazed the main u/c can take that sort of abuse!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Australia
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I'm fairly certain I've never dragged the ass end of an aircraft along the runway on take off. Unless you count my turn in the flight sim years ago when i broke the back end off a 747 and killed all the rear pax by leaving them on the runway.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Hamiltron, NZ
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The robins usually have a tail skid for that very reason - not advisable to use it, but not a real problem either.
Best to let it fly off from a few degrees above level, and land with just a minimal wrist-twitch of flare. It is completely different to the "stall warning wailing, controls hard back in your gut" technique I was taught in C172s.
Mind you with my physique, the "controls hard back in your gut" is getting closer and closer to level flight as each year passes...
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Live in Taupiri, Waikato, work in the big smoke, New Zealand
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As I understand it (as told to me on my check out on the Alpha/Robin - whatever you want to call it!!) if the skid contacts the fin then the aircraft must go into maintenance to be checked...so little rather than large wins (when referring to flare)
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Hmm prehaps not so simple if schooled in the honourable art of the 'parker flare'. Slackie, the real damage is caused through the impact to the sub-structure via the skid itself. This is very hard to spot as NO external damage maybe present, other than prehaps a slight crinkling of the tail skin.
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Not so sure about his flare "being honourable" dont know to many operators that would approve of the a*se end their 172 being dragged along the runway!!!! Hold the nose off has long as you like sure, but for it to be an achievement to come back with grass in the tie down.......... not sure about that 
. Where is he working in aviation now anyway? As for the Robin/Alpha, all significant tail strikes i have seen that have resulted in tail skin rippling, and some that havent been quite heavy enough to damage the sub structure have all left a significant dent in the base of the rudder where the skid has pushed up into it, this is farely noticable. You have the technique right hard_yakka.
. Where is he working in aviation now anyway? As for the Robin/Alpha, all significant tail strikes i have seen that have resulted in tail skin rippling, and some that havent been quite heavy enough to damage the sub structure have all left a significant dent in the base of the rudder where the skid has pushed up into it, this is farely noticable. You have the technique right hard_yakka.
