David,

Tapping the brakes was apparently started on larger airplanes because
on some there was a concern about the rotating tires in the wheel
wells; then the habit pattern passed on to little airplanes, despite
it not being necessary. Next time you can, observe a gear swing on
the airplane in the shop and see that the tire clears the sides of the
wells nicely. Even if there is some question of clearance on a little
airplane, the only thing that happens is that the tire rubs on the
well and comes to a stop. It isn't going to jam in there because it
was rotating and the tire was bulged out a little bit.

There is also a tendency for the folks who write POHs to put in a few
things because "we've always done it that way" rather than to spend
the time and money to check to see if it's needed. That being said,
if the manufacturer calls for a procedure, I would suggest following
it unless I've got good evidence it is counter productive, so on your
airplane, tap the brakes. In winter I don't touch the brakes at all
on a retractable gear airplane because I want the inertia from the
spinning tire to toss all of the moisture possible and second, if I
touch the brakes I heat up the brake shoe and disc, which will melt
any snow on it, but having stopped the rotation, I don't get rid of
the water. Then, because it's cold, the water freezes and I have a
frozen brake that leads to sliding one or both tires on landing,
something that has a certain level of discomfort.

All the best,
Rick

David Rind wrote in message ...
Rick Durden wrote:
Paul,

Tapping the brakes prior to retraction is one of aviation's old wives
tales that just hangs in there. The gear wells are large enough to
hold the tires even if they have some bulge from spinning (which isn't
much anyway on our slow little bugsmashers). There are some
transports in which the manual calls for tapping the brakes and some
in which it specifically says not to as the sudden stop on large tires
and wheels can cause the tire to slide on the rim.

The POH on my Trinidad (1986 TB21) calls for applying the brakes before
retracting the gear. Is there really no reason for this?