"Aluminum Overcast" damaged by gear collapse

In article ,
Big John wrote:


Dollars to donuts they pulled the gear up. Looked like a 'classical'
inadvertent retraction.

Forget which bird, but flaps and gear controls were side by side and
not too different shaped. To prevent inadvertent retraction the rule
was you came to a full stop after clearing R/W and then looked down
and retracted the flaps. This pulling flaps up by feel while moving
was a invitation to disaster.

On the Fortress I was flying the gear and flap switches were both simply
toggle switches...with the gear switch being a "guarded" switch.
Procedure was at least two crew had to confirm your finger was on the
flap switch before activating.

Knowing the gear system I can't think of a reason/way for both to fail
together. Sad, but these things do happen.

Luckily they are tough old birds...the only limit to getting her in the
air will be money.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

"Dale" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Big John wrote:


Dollars to donuts they pulled the gear up. Looked like a 'classical'
inadvertent retraction.

Forget which bird, but flaps and gear controls were side by side and
not too different shaped. To prevent inadvertent retraction the rule
was you came to a full stop after clearing R/W and then looked down
and retracted the flaps. This pulling flaps up by feel while moving
was a invitation to disaster.

On the Fortress I was flying the gear and flap switches were both simply
toggle switches...with the gear switch being a "guarded" switch.
Procedure was at least two crew had to confirm your finger was on the
flap switch before activating.

Knowing the gear system I can't think of a reason/way for both to fail
together. Sad, but these things do happen.

Luckily they are tough old birds...the only limit to getting her in the
air will be money.

Are there not "squat" switches that prevent the gear from being raised if
the plan is on the ground?

In article t74oc.69315$0H1.6524917@attbi_s54,
"William W. Plummer" wrote:



Are there not "squat" switches that prevent the gear from being raised if
the plan is on the ground?


Originally no, but on the 909 a squat switch had been added. It sets
low on the left gear leg, soaked in Wright radial oil G and I wouldn't
trust it for a second.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

"William W. Plummer" wrote in message

Are there not "squat" switches that prevent the gear from being raised if
the plan is on the ground?

Not on a B-17.

-c