Mustang VH-BOB gear up landing YMPC
Mustang VH-BOB gear up landing YMPC
Join Date: Jul 2004
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and i was just reading a mag that had a lovely photo of B.O.B and all it's amazing history from beating up farm strips around Jilrilderie to flying gear down to Essendon, hope everyones okay and that BOB will fly again 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Canberra Australia
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Hope the damage was not extensive.
Been there - done that.
First time was the last flight of the last RAAF Mustang out of Laverton Vic. Aircraft was instrumented for flight testing the 'Warburton Wave' over the Oz Alps. After a long period going back and forth riding the wave at a constant attitude I took the Mustang back to Laverton on bingo fuel. Landed with gear indication in the green but the tail wheel had not extended. Scratched the runway somewhat.
Second time from memoirs and I wonder if VH-BOB had a similar affliction.
I had completed a rocketry mission in a Mustang at Green Hills and was landing into the north-east on runway 03. Immediately after touch down the aircraft settled a little to the left and started to swing in that direction. I applied rudder and right wheel brake to keep straight. This momentarily corrected things but I found further increasing brake necessary. Eventually very hard braking started to tip the nose over. I gave up when the prop started to hit the runway and just let it all happen after that. There was nothing more I could think to do as it was now obvious that the left undercarriage leg had folded. It all seemed to happen quite slowly as the aircraft settled onto the left wingtip off the runway and swung around until it was going sideways. I expected the right gear to collapse as it was making a deep groove in soft ground as the aircraft slid towards a large stormwater open ditch. I prepared to exit the cockpit in a hurry if it should end up in the ditch and braced myself for the expected impact, however the aircraft stopped just short of that ditch.
Finding my radio still active, I pressed the transmit button and called to advise that I had parked my aircraft in an unusual place. The response was that emergency services were on their way. I continued to sit in the cockpit wondering whether I had really checked for three green lights in the undercarriage indicator as is the normal drill on turning on to base leg. I was sure I would have but could not be certain. Right now there were indeed three greens indicating. The fire tender promptly became bogged in the soft ground near the aircraft as I climbed out onto the wing and waited for more appropriate transportation away from my unusual parking position.
Investigation revealed a failed end bearing on the rod which connects the top of the oleo to the hydraulic actuator. The rod pulls the oleo into the down position so that the broken bearing left the main leg swinging in the breeze. The down indicating micro switch is actuated by the connecting rod so that it was confirmed that I would indeed have had a valid down indication of undercarriage.
The next few months were spent in preparations for the annual "TOP GUN" inter Squadron competition. 22 Sqn nominated Flt Lt Max Mckay and myself as its entrants.
Been there - done that.
First time was the last flight of the last RAAF Mustang out of Laverton Vic. Aircraft was instrumented for flight testing the 'Warburton Wave' over the Oz Alps. After a long period going back and forth riding the wave at a constant attitude I took the Mustang back to Laverton on bingo fuel. Landed with gear indication in the green but the tail wheel had not extended. Scratched the runway somewhat.
Second time from memoirs and I wonder if VH-BOB had a similar affliction.
I had completed a rocketry mission in a Mustang at Green Hills and was landing into the north-east on runway 03. Immediately after touch down the aircraft settled a little to the left and started to swing in that direction. I applied rudder and right wheel brake to keep straight. This momentarily corrected things but I found further increasing brake necessary. Eventually very hard braking started to tip the nose over. I gave up when the prop started to hit the runway and just let it all happen after that. There was nothing more I could think to do as it was now obvious that the left undercarriage leg had folded. It all seemed to happen quite slowly as the aircraft settled onto the left wingtip off the runway and swung around until it was going sideways. I expected the right gear to collapse as it was making a deep groove in soft ground as the aircraft slid towards a large stormwater open ditch. I prepared to exit the cockpit in a hurry if it should end up in the ditch and braced myself for the expected impact, however the aircraft stopped just short of that ditch.
Finding my radio still active, I pressed the transmit button and called to advise that I had parked my aircraft in an unusual place. The response was that emergency services were on their way. I continued to sit in the cockpit wondering whether I had really checked for three green lights in the undercarriage indicator as is the normal drill on turning on to base leg. I was sure I would have but could not be certain. Right now there were indeed three greens indicating. The fire tender promptly became bogged in the soft ground near the aircraft as I climbed out onto the wing and waited for more appropriate transportation away from my unusual parking position.
Investigation revealed a failed end bearing on the rod which connects the top of the oleo to the hydraulic actuator. The rod pulls the oleo into the down position so that the broken bearing left the main leg swinging in the breeze. The down indicating micro switch is actuated by the connecting rod so that it was confirmed that I would indeed have had a valid down indication of undercarriage.
The next few months were spent in preparations for the annual "TOP GUN" inter Squadron competition. 22 Sqn nominated Flt Lt Max Mckay and myself as its entrants.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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There was complete footage on the Melbourne news of the event. They elected to land wheels up on the grass. I've read many a times the pro's and con's of this and still wonder what I would prefer.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Elected wheels up??
Footage on TV was very good from two positions.
I think that if the 70 year old pilot had a choice he would have prefered to have landed wheels down ..............
Great skills sir - the footage will be seen and veiwed world wide for many years to come.
I think that if the 70 year old pilot had a choice he would have prefered to have landed wheels down ..............
Great skills sir - the footage will be seen and veiwed world wide for many years to come.
Folks,
There is no such thing as a "written off" Mustang, as long as you have the data plate, you can create the rest, all you need is large volumes of cubic $$$$$$.
I saw the news footage, there will be lots of gravel rash under the fuselage, flaps the worse for wear, a rebuild of the engine (let's hope the crank and reduction gearbox/crank case is OK) it will be interesting to see if the prop blades can be resurrected.
Let's hope there was plenty of insurance to ease the pain.
The touchdown couldn't have been more gentle, well done, and in this case, on the grass was probably going to do the least damage, and minimise risk of fire.
Tootle pip!!
There is no such thing as a "written off" Mustang, as long as you have the data plate, you can create the rest, all you need is large volumes of cubic $$$$$$.
I saw the news footage, there will be lots of gravel rash under the fuselage, flaps the worse for wear, a rebuild of the engine (let's hope the crank and reduction gearbox/crank case is OK) it will be interesting to see if the prop blades can be resurrected.
Let's hope there was plenty of insurance to ease the pain.
The touchdown couldn't have been more gentle, well done, and in this case, on the grass was probably going to do the least damage, and minimise risk of fire.
Tootle pip!!
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Sale, Australia
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Each gear leg and each flipper door has its own hydraulic jack. Emergency extension requires releasing hydraulic pressure to the flipper door jacks by pulling a control and the gear legs fall into place by gravity. Interesting in one USAF document they say land gear up on a hard surface as landing on a soft surface can cause greater damage by the scoop digging in. Can't argue with success though.
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Join Date: Feb 2006
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Here's the footage for those who haven't seen it.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=4dJCxn7y3_c
BZ to the pilot.
Cheers
Mr B.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=4dJCxn7y3_c
BZ to the pilot.
Cheers
Mr B.
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Sad AND sorry.
Pity no one was there to tell him to land on the hard stuff. The 'grabbing and bucketing' was obvious. Damage will be infinitely more extensive due the grass landing. Fire is no risk due A/C type and construction, and the abundance of fire tenders.
If you ever have to do it, Bit./ concrete first, gravel second, anything else third, grass last.
I heard today damage about a mill.
BP
If you ever have to do it, Bit./ concrete first, gravel second, anything else third, grass last.
I heard today damage about a mill.
BP