Expert: Paul Ruderham - 9/19/2004

Question
Hi,I travel alot and have always wondered why when landing in 747 for example; When the front wheel finally touches the tarmac and the air brakes are applied, that I get a sensation that the plane is actually sliding sideways and not landing straight?.Kind of like drifting....and towards the right.

Thanks:)

Answer
hi blair,

it all depends on the winds at the time of landing. very rarely will an aircraft land without applying rudder. this will give the sensation of "crabbing" onto the runway then the rudder is centralised on touchdown so that the aircraft lands relatively straight. Next time you take off see if you can feel the pilot using the rudder to keep the aircraft straight as its rolling. When this is applied in the air this gives the drifting sensation. When I fly my model aircraft we always have to use the rudder to allow for the wind.
The old Kai Tak airport at hong kong was a classic example of this. Go to www.airliners.net and look at the photos of the jumbos landing there. Awesome!

Happy flying!
Regards
PR