B717 Questions
 

Hi,

as a non FW pilot, but one who travels on the B717 on a regular basis, can someone with the tech please answer the following:

1) Why the constant left/right rolling action in S&L ?

2) Why the (very positive) 'AC Carrier' type landings?


Thanks - Flip.

flipcelia: 2) Why the (very positive) 'AC Carrier' type landings?

- Trying to snatch the hookcables at YWLM??

BD

Not all roll, some of the auto pilots behave this way. I guess we just don't notice it as much up the front.

As far as landings go. To put it simply they are real b@#ch to land. Probably due to auto throttles cutting power at 30 feet and auto spoilers dumping lift as main wheels touch. And they float easly, so over rotation is avoided.

Zed

From what I have read I believe all the DC-9 type were a challenge to land. Is the 717 worse than previous models or a continuation of the same? Any ideas as to why? :confused:

At the risk of oversimplification, the 717 is a 1960's DC-9 airframe fitted with late-1990's avionics/flight managment (almost identical to 777 and MD-11) and bigger engines. Flight control is direct from the prong to servo tabs via good old cables. Only concessions to fly-by-wire are the throttles (thats what Boeing calls them) and the spoilers.

Kinda funny to sit in a beautifully clean and impressive flight deck with 6 flat screens and no round dials. Look up and see all the overhead panel switches are either "ON" or "AUTO." Thats the 21st century bit.

Then you go to open the B window and there is this massive handle and little mechanical lugs and cams to slide it open and secure it again. There is also a thumping great green O2 bottle with exposed plumbing. As 1960's as an Chrysler AP-5 Valiant.

So all the stuff that the air is flowing over and under and around is pretty much DC-9/MD80. Any handling characteristics those airplanes had, this airplane has.

Constant rolling in straight and level? Not sure what you mean, when they are trimmed they fly like they are on rails. Can you give an example?

As for landing, its no 146. Bye-bye trailing link undercarriage, we miss ya!

As for thumping them on, former Dash8 and Metro pilots don't seem to be having too many problems :p

Thanks for the info.

As far as the rolling goes, check out your glass of (water?) next time you fly a 717 and you will see it sloshing from side to side at a constant rate. Most people probably wouldn't notice it, but once you have it gets to you!

Landings - Even the hosties had a giggle amongst each other about the landing on my last flight.


Cheers- Flip

Hello???

Dutch Roll???

Bueller???

Choice 'bro!!

Well that explains it!!!!! :p :E ;)

What, it doesn't have a yaw damper?