'Shorter field landings?

[Graham Drinkell]

Having recently landed a Pilatus B4 'wheels up, on a wet grass runway
(without any physical damage to the a/c!). I noted the extremely short
ground run!
Could this be a useful option- if you have selected a slightly small
field for an out-landing (ie- leave the u/c up?)
Another scenario, perhaps if you find the glider rolling along at high
speed towards an obstacle, then retract the u/c! Expensive, but maybe less
painful?

[Luke Szczepaniak]

On 12/08/2014 2:27 PM, Graham Drinkell wrote:
> Having recently landed a Pilatus B4 'wheels up, on a wet grass runway
> (without any physical damage to the a/c!). I noted the extremely short
> ground run!
> Could this be a useful option- if you have selected a slightly small
> field for an out-landing (ie- leave the u/c up?)
> Another scenario, perhaps if you find the glider rolling along at high
> speed towards an obstacle, then retract the u/c! Expensive, but maybe less
> painful?
>


There is not much room or material between you and the ground if you
leave the gear up, it is an easy way to get hurt on a hidden rock etc.
The general consensus is that the best option is to always land gear
down, this will help absorb the impact and transfer the load to the
airframe rather than your body.

YMMV
Luke

[Graham Drinkell]

At 19:51 08 December 2014, Luke Szczepaniak wrote:
>On 12/08/2014 2:27 PM, Graham Drinkell wrote:
>> Having recently landed a Pilatus B4 'wheels up, on a wet grass runway
>> (without any physical damage to the a/c!). I noted the extremely short
>> ground run!
>> Could this be a useful option- if you have selected a slightly
>small
>> field for an out-landing (ie- leave the u/c up?)
>> Another scenario, perhaps if you find the glider rolling along at high
>> speed towards an obstacle, then retract the u/c! Expensive, but maybe
>less
>> painful?
>>
>
>
>There is not much room or material between you and the ground if you
>leave the gear up, it is an easy way to get hurt on a hidden rock etc.
>The general consensus is that the best option is to always land gear
>down, this will help absorb the impact and transfer the load to the
>airframe rather than your body.
>
>YMMV
>Luke
>

[Graham Drinkell]

At 19:51 08 December 2014, Luke Szczepaniak wrote:
>On 12/08/2014 2:27 PM, Graham Drinkell wrote:
>> Having recently landed a Pilatus B4 'wheels up, on a wet grass runway
>> (without any physical damage to the a/c!). I noted the extremely short
>> ground run!
>> Could this be a useful option- if you have selected a slightly
>small
>> field for an out-landing (ie- leave the u/c up?)
>> Another scenario, perhaps if you find the glider rolling along at high
>> speed towards an obstacle, then retract the u/c! Expensive, but maybe
>less
>> painful?
>>
>
>
>There is not much room or material between you and the ground if you
>leave the gear up, it is an easy way to get hurt on a hidden rock etc.
>The general consensus is that the best option is to always land gear
>down, this will help absorb the impact and transfer the load to the
>airframe rather than your body.
>
>YMMV
>Luke
>

[Graham Drinkell]

At 19:51 08 December 2014, Luke Szczepaniak wrote:
>On 12/08/2014 2:27 PM, Graham Drinkell wrote:
>> Having recently landed a Pilatus B4 'wheels up, on a wet grass runway
>> (without any physical damage to the a/c!). I noted the extremely short
>> ground run!
>> Could this be a useful option- if you have selected a slightly
>small
>> field for an out-landing (ie- leave the u/c up?)
>> Another scenario, perhaps if you find the glider rolling along at high
>> speed towards an obstacle, then retract the u/c! Expensive, but maybe
>less
>> painful?
>>
>
>
>There is not much room or material between you and the ground if you
>leave the gear up, it is an easy way to get hurt on a hidden rock etc.
>The general consensus is that the best option is to always land gear
>down, this will help absorb the impact and transfer the load to the
>airframe rather than your body.
>
>YMMV
>Luke
>

[[email protected]]

On Monday, December 8, 2014 11:30:05 AM UTC-8, Graham Drinkell wrote:
> Having recently landed a Pilatus B4 'wheels up, on a wet grass runway
> (without any physical damage to the a/c!). I noted the extremely short
> ground run!
> Could this be a useful option- if you have selected a slightly small
> field for an out-landing (ie- leave the u/c up?)
> Another scenario, perhaps if you find the glider rolling along at high
> speed towards an obstacle, then retract the u/c! Expensive, but maybe less
> painful?

Herniated discs can be extremely painful particularly if pinching parts of the spinal cord leading to paresthesia. I recommend using the landing gear and the big bouncy thing attached to it.

[[email protected]]

On Monday, December 8, 2014 2:30:05 PM UTC-5, Graham Drinkell wrote:
> Having recently landed a Pilatus B4 'wheels up, on a wet grass runway
> (without any physical damage to the a/c!). I noted the extremely short
> ground run!
> Could this be a useful option- if you have selected a slightly small
> field for an out-landing (ie- leave the u/c up?)
> Another scenario, perhaps if you find the glider rolling along at high
> speed towards an obstacle, then retract the u/c! Expensive, but maybe less
> painful?

The landing gear is there to protect you. Use it for that purpose.
Gliders with decent brakes commonly stop faster on the gear than off the gear.
UH