How to land on grass...

[GAHorn]

How to land on grass using aerdynamic braking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lkl3jGxC ... re=related

[johneeb]

George,
It also appears they may have, in addition to aerodynamic braking, used some tailskid braking.

[Cessna_pilot]

They might have also done it because if they drag the tail, you have to do a special (and expensive I'm sure)inspection of the airframe, if you want to fly it again.

[GAHorn]

They might have also done it because if they drag the tail, you have to do a special (and expensive I'm sure)inspection of the airframe, if you want to fly it again.

The intent was to park the airplane in that field to become a museum dedicated to Otto Lilienthal who used the same field for his glider experiments. They have no intention of flying it again.

Aerodynamic braking was a well-known and practiced technique in early jet-aircraft, Although it does appear the tailskid (skeg) did touch, I doubt it was intentional. It's likely the aircraft was very light and had more aft-CG than the captain anticipated.

[Cessna_pilot]

I was saying that because at a&p school, we had a 727 and they dragged the tail so if they ever wanted to fly I they would have to do that inspection. They also had no intention of flying it. I was told the engines were still hot when they were removing them from the aircraft.

[blueldr]

The Boeing B-29 also had a tail skid that retracted and extended with the landing gear.The purpose, however was to preclude over rotation on take off which could would extend the ground run, or possibly prevent accelleration to lift off speed.