jetcareers - View Single Post

El_Cid_Av8or · February 2nd, 2003, 06:40

After takeoff it is a very good idea to move your toes up on the rudder pedals and press the brakes to stop the free-spinning main gear wheels. This will save the bearings since the wobble from the gyroscopic forces will not be a factor. Yes, the gyroscopic forces exist when a fixed-gear GA single lifts off though not to the extent of one which has retractable gear (when the gear is coming up). This is not as bad in low-wing planes as in high-wing planes since the low-wingers don't have the gear leg length that the high-wingers have. Think of the spring gear leg length on a Cessna 172 compared to a Piper Warrior. When the weight comes off the spring leg, the gear leg extends downward - this is where the gyroscopic forces come into play.

Also, make sure you DON'T have your toes on the brake section of the rudder pedals while you're on the takeoff roll and also on the inital landing roll. There have been cases where pilots have ground-looped a plane because they applied rudder correction for cross-wind on the runway and pressed the brake as well. Not good, Mav.

February 2nd, 2003, 06:40	#8
El_Cid_Av8or Newbie Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Goose Creek, SC, USA Posts: 29	Re: After takeoff procedure After takeoff it is a very good idea to move your toes up on the rudder pedals and press the brakes to stop the free-spinning main gear wheels. This will save the bearings since the wobble from the gyroscopic forces will not be a factor. Yes, the gyroscopic forces exist when a fixed-gear GA single lifts off though not to the extent of one which has retractable gear (when the gear is coming up). This is not as bad in low-wing planes as in high-wing planes since the low-wingers don't have the gear leg length that the high-wingers have. Think of the spring gear leg length on a Cessna 172 compared to a Piper Warrior. When the weight comes off the spring leg, the gear leg extends downward - this is where the gyroscopic forces come into play. Also, make sure you DON'T have your toes on the brake section of the rudder pedals while you're on the takeoff roll and also on the inital landing roll. There have been cases where pilots have ground-looped a plane because they applied rudder correction for cross-wind on the runway and pressed the brake as well. Not good, Mav.