emery Dc8 manchester
There were several DC8-63/73 freighter loading incidents where the aircraft sat on its tail. I was almost involved in one. The rule was the forwardmost pallet position was loaded first and unloaded last to keep the CG forward of the critical point. I was changing a main wheel on a Flying Tigers DC8-63F that was being unloaded and went to the cockpit to release the brakes and noted a large step up to get into the cabin and on entering the cockpit the stick shaker was operating meaning the nose gear was in air mode. Sure enough the nose wheels were off the ground and aircraft was supported by the tail post which fortunately had been hooked on. The loaders had to reload a loaded pallet into the forward position which restored the CG and brought the nose down and made unloading the remaining pallets from the rear easier as the deck angle had made moving these pallets uphill almost impossible.
Join Date: Jan 2007
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In the 1970’s going into work on lates about 1.30pm a British Airway Merchantman was nose up on the old cargo area ( now T3). Plenty of BA vans parked around it and many people taking photos.
I have seen and been involved with some tail-sitter incidents. First was a most unlikely one, a USAF RC-121 (L-1049 radar Connie). It had come into LANY at then KIDL for the ALRI modification. This involved stripping the cabin radar consoles and equipment out. A midnight shift techie started disconnecting things and hauling them back to the rear door. He was diligent and found on his last trip to the door that it was now very much downhill. It was the only Connie I ever saw on its tail.
The DC-4 (C-54) was tail tender and the tail post was always used during loading. On going to remove it one night we were unable to get it out. It was firmly planted and obviously the aircraft was misloaded. But no, they knew better and had a towbar and tug attached and the aircraft moved forward to "free the tailpost". Down came the tail end but only partially. The towbar was short, the tug heavy and the A/C was held in a suspended position, the tail skid not touching. All we mechanics could do was laugh. I saw more that one aircraft takeoff with tailpost still dangling and a few quick returns from taxi0out for departure whan another aircraft informed them that their tailpost was still affixed.
Greatest sight of course was a B747 on its tail. One night at Eastern, the brain-dead midnight shift mechanic who was to raise the flaps after an inspection opted to raise the wheel-shaped handle instead of the moving the airfoil shaped one. It was an amazing sight, looking like a rocket being raised for launch.
The DC-4 (C-54) was tail tender and the tail post was always used during loading. On going to remove it one night we were unable to get it out. It was firmly planted and obviously the aircraft was misloaded. But no, they knew better and had a towbar and tug attached and the aircraft moved forward to "free the tailpost". Down came the tail end but only partially. The towbar was short, the tug heavy and the A/C was held in a suspended position, the tail skid not touching. All we mechanics could do was laugh. I saw more that one aircraft takeoff with tailpost still dangling and a few quick returns from taxi0out for departure whan another aircraft informed them that their tailpost was still affixed.
Greatest sight of course was a B747 on its tail. One night at Eastern, the brain-dead midnight shift mechanic who was to raise the flaps after an inspection opted to raise the wheel-shaped handle instead of the moving the airfoil shaped one. It was an amazing sight, looking like a rocket being raised for launch.
I have seen and been involved with some tail-sitter incidents. First was a most unlikely one, a USAF RC-121 (L-1049 radar Connie). It had come into LANY at then KIDL for the ALRI modification. This involved stripping the cabin radar consoles and equipment out. A midnight shift techie started disconnecting things and hauling them back to the rear door. He was diligent and found on his last trip to the door that it was now very much downhill. It was the only Connie I ever saw on its tail.
The DC-4 (C-54) was tail tender and the tail post was always used during loading. On going to remove it one night we were unable to get it out. It was firmly planted and obviously the aircraft was misloaded. But no, they knew better and had a towbar and tug attached and the aircraft moved forward to "free the tailpost". Down came the tail end but only partially. The towbar was short, the tug heavy and the A/C was held in a suspended position, the tail skid not touching. All we mechanics could do was laugh. I saw more that one aircraft takeoff with tailpost still dangling and a few quick returns from taxi0out for departure whan another aircraft informed them that their tailpost was still affixed.
Greatest sight of course was a B747 on its tail. One night at Eastern, the brain-dead midnight shift mechanic who was to raise the flaps after an inspection opted to raise the wheel-shaped handle instead of the moving the airfoil shaped one. It was an amazing sight, looking like a rocket being raised for launch.
The DC-4 (C-54) was tail tender and the tail post was always used during loading. On going to remove it one night we were unable to get it out. It was firmly planted and obviously the aircraft was misloaded. But no, they knew better and had a towbar and tug attached and the aircraft moved forward to "free the tailpost". Down came the tail end but only partially. The towbar was short, the tug heavy and the A/C was held in a suspended position, the tail skid not touching. All we mechanics could do was laugh. I saw more that one aircraft takeoff with tailpost still dangling and a few quick returns from taxi0out for departure whan another aircraft informed them that their tailpost was still affixed.
Greatest sight of course was a B747 on its tail. One night at Eastern, the brain-dead midnight shift mechanic who was to raise the flaps after an inspection opted to raise the wheel-shaped handle instead of the moving the airfoil shaped one. It was an amazing sight, looking like a rocket being raised for launch.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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It was the only Connie I ever saw on its tail.
Greatest sight of course was a B747 on its tail.
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EGMH..a down, not yet out, formerly awesome airfield
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