Talk:Crab landing

Perhaps we can mention a little bit how the 13 runway of Kai Tak was famous for crab landing. &mdash; Instantnood 15:14, Apr 6, 2005 (UTC)

Are you sure this is the right term?
As a (glider) pilot, I learned that the term "Crab Landing" does NOT reffer to the entire "sidewise aproach" but only to the occasional mishap when a (usually a beginner pilot) touching down while the airplane is not aligned properly forward.

Are you sure that you defined this term correctly?

Penedo 05:30, 10 January 2006 (UTC)


 * No, I am not 100% certain, but I am 95% certain. This is how I was taught it for my PPL. -User:Lommer | talk 06:27, 10 January 2006 (UTC)
 * Can you try to verify this with your instructor? I'll try to verify this in my circles but I'm a bit out of action right now (and know more glider pilots than PPL pilots). Penedo 01:02, 11 January 2006 (UTC)


 * Also, did you mean the 747 "Jambo" or is that a typo for Jumbo? Do all variants of the '47 have this gear feature or just a few? -User:Lommer | talk 07:07, 10 January 2006 (UTC)
 * The "Jambo" spelling is a typo on my part. About the gear feature - I'm still trying to find more evidence to this feature. I only heard it a couple of times (from people I trust to know this stuff) and would prefer to base my contributions here on more than a hearsay. Penedo 01:02, 11 January 2006 (UTC)

The only reference I found about the 747 landing gear doesn't sound like it supports what I heard:
 * http://www.boeing.com/assocproducts/aircompat/acaps/7474sec4.pdf

(accessible through http://www.boeing.com/assocproducts/aircompat/747.htm) titled "4.0 GROUND MANEUVERING" page 2 says: "During takeoff and landing, the body gear steering system is centered, mechanically locked, and depressurized."

Can it still mean that the landing gear can sustain the forces required to turn it around (to align with the landing direction) upon contact with the ground?

I'm still trying to find out. In the meantime I'll remove the 747 as an example from this page. Penedo 01:32, 11 January 2006 (UTC)


 * I was surprised when you said that the 747 could crab its gear. The main gear does turn but that's just for ground manouvering AFAIK. -User:Lommer | talk 02:24, 11 January 2006 (UTC)


 * OK, now it's final (as far as I'm concerned): 1. the 747 can't turn its gear during landing for crab landings. 2. The term "crab landing" only refers to the actual accidental touch-down when not completly aligned with the direction of landing. More details: the 747 can't do crab-landing the way I was led to believe because this would mean that its nose gear is outside the runway. It still can't roll the up-wind wing like smaller aircrafts because of the engine problem I describe and also because it might hit the side-lights with the tip of its wing. For these reasons the 747 have very strict cross-wind landing limitations (35 kts on dry runway, 25 kts on wet one, I don't know the limits for other kinds of powered planes but these limits are not far from the limits of advanced gliders). My sources - a current 747 co-pilot and the chief instructor of my gliding club (and CFI for powered planes too).
 * So the bottom line as far as I'm concerned is that this item should be edited to reflect that "crab landing" refers only to the accidental touch down and not the entire aproach in cross-wind.
 * Do you agree with that?
 * Cheers - Penedo 22:55, 11 January 2006 (UTC)

Does anyone have footage of a B52 using its special twisty wheels? Bastie 12:31, 21 February 2007 (UTC)