tail wheel lock
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: london
tail wheel lock
Hi All,
Forgive me if this question has been asked a million times before:
I did some "difference" training recently on to a Falke 25c motor glider
and one of the things I found to be interesting was a "locking tail wheel mechanism". What a clever idea.....are there other aircraft with this fitted
and if not why not ??
Forgive me if this question has been asked a million times before:
I did some "difference" training recently on to a Falke 25c motor glider
and one of the things I found to be interesting was a "locking tail wheel mechanism". What a clever idea.....are there other aircraft with this fitted
and if not why not ??
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: East Anglia
"locking tail wheel mechanism". What a clever idea.....are there other aircraft with this fitted and if not why not ??
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: East Anglia
With a locking tailwheel it can get a bit busy taxiing as you have to unlock it to turn, but if there is any crosswind then it will tend to swing away from the central locked position. Then you have to use a brake to swing it back to the central position to get it to lock again.
Also, it depends on how you unlock the tailwheel. My throttle was on the left, my tailwheel lock on the right. The easiest was to use left hand on the throttle and right on the tailwheel lock and hold the stick with my knees....until I needed to talk on the radio because the PTT was on the stick.
I changed to a steerable tailwheel and it is so much easier.
Also, it depends on how you unlock the tailwheel. My throttle was on the left, my tailwheel lock on the right. The easiest was to use left hand on the throttle and right on the tailwheel lock and hold the stick with my knees....until I needed to talk on the radio because the PTT was on the stick.
I changed to a steerable tailwheel and it is so much easier.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
I don' know if it is the same thing but my Emeraude has a "locking" tailwheel (Maul) type. Steered by springs connected to the rudder. No cockpit control, just lock one wheel with the brake & the tailwheel breaks loose until you straighten up when it "clicks" back.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
That's a steerable but non-lockable full-swivel tailwheel, a different thing.
Presumably a "locking" tailwheel would lock straight fore & aft regardless of rudder position, & not "break out" on application of one wheel brake?
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: East Anglia
Presumably a "locking" tailwheel would lock straight fore & aft regardless of rudder position, & not "break out" on application of one wheel brake?
To lock it you move the cockpit lever to the lock position and then use the brakes to get the aircraft moving straight and it locks.
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Central Scotland
The locking tailwheel mechanism in the Falke is not the same as that found in most aircraft with such a facility. It is more akin to the normal type of tailwheel that is moved by rudder action through a spring connection with a breakout facility to permit tight turns/pivoting on the mainwheels. With the lock on, the tailwheel steers with the rudder; unlocked it pivots freely thus permitting a tight radius turn. What you have to remember is to lock the tailwheel before take off and also to taxi straight for a few yards so the the locking mechanism re-engages. Failure to do the latter can result in an interesting take off run particularly in a crosswind.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: Bradford
Exciting landings...
"Some years ago", several Jungmanns (Jungmenn ??) had to be ferried to England from Spain.
It seems they didn't all get home without a few interesting arrivals due to the unlockable tailwheel being forgotten on pre-landing checks.
It seems they didn't all get home without a few interesting arrivals due to the unlockable tailwheel being forgotten on pre-landing checks.
