AFSOC boss Lt. Gen. Jim Slife said, “We’re going to have to pay a lot of attention to training on this. We haven’t operated, at scale, a taildragger aircraft in quite some time.”
The chapter on the art and wisdom of landing and taking off with a tailwheel was deleted from military training manuals.
“What this means is that during taxi, takeoff and landing operations, pilots need to be more cognizant of aircraft alignment and crosswinds,” said AFSOC spokesperson Lt. Col. Becky Heyse. “Tailwheel aircraft are more prone to rotational forces around their center of gravity, due to [their] location in relation to [the] main gear.”
Re: USAF Taildragger
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 9:09 pm
by Colonel
I seem to recall another USAF taildragger?
Re: USAF Taildragger
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 5:02 am
by Scudrunner
Surprised Cessna didn't try and pull some political interference and convince the spec ops to use the Caravan.
But I think we all know what they need!
O-2 Max Neo?
Re: USAF Taildragger
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 12:42 pm
by Colonel
Not sure any of these are better than an A-1 Spad. I know there's something probably
wrong with me, but I really regret not flying the A-1 or A-10. Not much glory and even
fewer promotions, but great flying nonetheless.
Re: USAF Taildragger
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 12:48 pm
by Colonel
My favorite “civilian taildragger goes to war” is probably the Basler gunship. Spectacular at night.
My friend at Basler says there's a funny story behind this:
Boeing proposed it a couple years ago but I guess the military didn’t want to pay for two engines. Piper proposed the Enforcer at the time too, which would have had my vote.
Boeing proposed it a couple years ago but I guess the military didn’t want to pay for two engines. Piper proposed the Enforcer at the time too, which would have had my vote.
Procurement is 90% based on politics and 10% on operational needs.
Re: USAF Taildragger
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 12:40 pm
by Colonel
90/10 is perhaps an optimistic ratio here.
In Canada it’s at least 99/1 - maybe worse.
40 years to replace the Sea King
F-18 replacement, anyone?
Last I heard Canada was still using pre-WWII Browning HiPowers. Maybe it’s time to move to something post-WWII?
