Steering a chopper

[Flyingfortress]

I was watching some vids and noticed (not sure why I hadn't sooner) the tail wheel on a Blackhawk steering the copter while it taxied. I always thought they were controled on the ground the same as in the air. My question: is there a seperate control to operate the rear wheel, can someone explain how that's done on a UH-60 as well as a Chinook? Thanks as always!

[Guest LITTLE BIRD 117]

[ EDIT ]

Edited December 27, 2006 by LITTLE BIRD 117

[jbrundt]

I think the tailwheel on the Blackhawk is free castering. The pilot uses the rudder pedals to steer (along with the cyclic).

Jeff

[Cobrahistorian]

Jeff's got it right. Pretty much the same on the Apache. We use the antitorque pedals to steer plus differential braking to assist the turn. Brake on the right to turn right, left to turn left, etc. The tail rotor does most of the work. The cyclic is used to maintain a level fuselage attitude while you're doing it. While taxiing, the tailwheel's free castering. When you conduct your before takeoff check, you lock the tailwheel.

Jon

Edited December 28, 2006 by Cobrahistorian

[mb1k]

SH-60Bs have a castering tailwheel, unlocks from the right seat's parking brake handle. Tailrotor provides directional control on the deck assisted by differential braking.

Muff

1,600 hours SH-60B

[Cobrahistorian]

Muff,

Meant to ask you, does the tailwheel position on the SH-60 have any significant effect on ground taxiing?

Jon

[Spongebob]

I never flew a non-Navy SH-60, so I didn't know any better, though the dual tailwheel was prone to "shimmying" when doing a rolling landing, even with the damper installed. And you can hit the ground with the tail if you're trying to be too cool when landing.

That question is kind of like the current one I get "how does the dome affect how it flies?". Answer: "I don't know...I've never flown an E-2 without the dome"

Spongebob (1300 SH-60B hours)

[Karl Sander]

I've never flown an E-2 without the dome"

Spongebob (1300 SH-60B hours)

One would certainly hope.

And here I thought you steered a chopper the same way you steered any other motorcycle...

[Cobrahistorian]

Ah, thanks Spongebob!

Just wondering. I'm used to the tail out there on the end of the tailboom. It just seems kinda odd placement, but I understand the practicality of it.

Jon

100 AH-64D Hours

[Longbow Mech]

The Chinook has a small wheel like knob on the center console in between the pilots that is used for steering the aircraft on the ground, when the hydraulics go out they do what they call two wheel taxiing. The 2 wheel taxiing is when the pilot pulls pitch on the front of the aircraft lifting the front two main landing gear off the ground leaving the back two on the ground. The pilot will then use the pedals to turn the aircraft around on the ground. This is a very neat sight to see.

Brock

[Spongebob]

One would certainly hope.

According to NATOPS it is allowed. There's even separate airframe limits in Chapter 4 for "flight with rotodome removed".

[Spongebob]

Not sure if anyone has seen a RN Lynx on a small deck, but in the -60B we would lift, back up, turn into the relative wind and depart that-a-way. The Lynx's would unlock the tail wheel, and since their main wheels are angle out would turn on the deck into the wind, then take off. Weird and Cool all at the same time.

[Karl Sander]

According to NATOPS it is allowed. There's even separate airframe limits in Chapter 4 for "flight with rotodome removed".

I thought that was C-2 NATOPS :D