The Wheel Landing
The ability to perform a wheel landing is one of the maneuvers that sets a tailwheel aircraft
apart from the tricycle gear aircraft. This maneuver has been described as having a variety of
uses. Some of these are accurate, and some highly inaccurate in their reasoning. While the standard
landing for most tailwheel aircraft is a three-point landing, during some circumstances there are
advantages to performing wheel landings.
The main advantages of the wheel landing are that:
- It offers the maximum controllability of the airplane through the touchdown point;
- There is reduced susceptibility to gusty wind conditions;
- Visibility is increased during the landing run;
- The speed at which the aircraft is touched down to the ground is controllable
and well above the stall speed;
- It allows for easier transition between different models of aircraft;
- It is the most stable when an aircraft is overloaded, iced up, or for night landings
when speed of touchdown is more critical.
A wheel landing occurs when the landing is made on the front main gear with near level attitude
without allowing the tailwheel to contact the ground upon initial landing. During this landing,
the pilot will maintain a quicker airspeed. Precise control of vertical descent speed must be
made to stop the aircraft from bouncing upon initial touch. The wheel landing will result in a
longer landing run than a three-point landing due to the higher touchdown speed and the fact that
the tail will be maintained in a raised position until all flying speed of the tail is lost and
the tail falls naturally.
To Perform an Wheel Landing:
- Begin by starting the approach at a normal approach speed;
- When the aircraft nears the ground, the pilot will begin a slight flare to bring the aircraft
to a level attitude relative to the ground;
- In the flare, the aircraft will be kept in a level attitude, and the vertical descent speed of
the aircraft must be controlled to have the main wheels of the aircraft contact the ground with a
minimum amount of descent speed;
- Upon contact with the ground, slight forward pressure is applied to allow the main wheels to keep
pressure on them and maintain their contact with the ground. For many pilots, it is easier to trim
the aircraft to require some backpressure on the stick during the approach and flare so when the
aircraft touches the ground all the pilot is required to do is release some of that backpressure
instead of having to actually apply forward pressure to the stick;
- As the aircraft rolls down the runway on the main wheels, power is slowly cut completely and
the aircraft is kept on the main wheels by continuing to apply forward pressure to the stick
until the tail is no longer able to fly. This should end up being full forward stick pressure;
- Once the tail is no longer able to fly, it will fall to the ground. After the tail has fallen,
apply full back stick pressure to keep the tail there and continue to control the aircraft with
the rudders.
If a pilot is going to perform wheel landings, it is important that they practice them regularly or
continue to receive oversight periodically from an experienced tailwheel pilot or instructor. The
reason that wheel landing practice is critical is that it allows a pilot to place the landing gear
on the ground with a lower angle of attack and higher speed, hence with a greater degree of control.
|
