The A2A Simulations Community

Hi there,

I normally fly "normal" big aircrafts like the 737. The only taildragger I fly is the p51, but with it you'll mostly try a 3-point landing where all 3 wheels touch down the same time.

Now the B17 is the first (but really wonderful!) bigger taildragger I fly and I'm wondering how real world procedures would be?

I think there are 2 types:
- short runway (maybe you try a 3-point landing?)
- long runway

How would a real pilot touchdown on a long runway where rollout distance doesn't matter? My father said, the pilot's would normally land with normal approach power on engines, try a pretty smooth toughdown (so the aircraft doesn't bump and take off again) and after the main wheel touches down, you'll go to idle and brake slowly. Is that correct? You could also land, with idle but flare as with normal gear isn't it?

Thanks for any help as my touchdowns weren't smooth the last ones.

My preferred method is a shallow approach with IAS about 110 mph over the fence. I use 20% flaps ( that is the flap indicator needle pointing to the screw in the upper-right of the gauge). Too much flaps and you will float forever!.

Over the threshold I am down to 100 mph and slowly allow the aircraft to sink. When I am about to touch down I bring the nose up ever so slightly and listen for that 'single chirp' of the main gear touching down, followed by "You greased that one, Captain" coming from the co-pilot

Rollout, I use differential braking if I don't have a 10K' runway. Just alternately stepping on the right rudder pedal, tapping the brakes and repeat with the left pedal and so on until I am down to 20-25 mph for the turn off the runway.

This procedure works for me, refined in over 1000 hours in the A2A B-17G

_________________
Paul


i5-2500K @4.3Ghz OC - GA-P67A-UD7-B3 - 8GB Corsair 1600mHz