'Shorter field landings?

Having recently landed a Pilatus B4 'wheels up, on a wet grass runway
(without any physical damage to the a/c!). I noted the extremely short
ground run!
Could this be a useful option- if you have selected a slightly small
field for an out-landing (ie- leave the u/c up?)
Another scenario, perhaps if you find the glider rolling along at high
speed towards an obstacle, then retract the u/c! Expensive, but maybe less
painful?

On 12/08/2014 2:27 PM, Graham Drinkell wrote:
Having recently landed a Pilatus B4 'wheels up, on a wet grass runway
(without any physical damage to the a/c!). I noted the extremely short
ground run!
Could this be a useful option- if you have selected a slightly small
field for an out-landing (ie- leave the u/c up?)
Another scenario, perhaps if you find the glider rolling along at high
speed towards an obstacle, then retract the u/c! Expensive, but maybe less
painful?



There is not much room or material between you and the ground if you
leave the gear up, it is an easy way to get hurt on a hidden rock etc.
The general consensus is that the best option is to always land gear
down, this will help absorb the impact and transfer the load to the
airframe rather than your body.

YMMV
Luke

At 19:51 08 December 2014, Luke Szczepaniak wrote:
On 12/08/2014 2:27 PM, Graham Drinkell wrote:
Having recently landed a Pilatus B4 'wheels up, on a wet grass runway
(without any physical damage to the a/c!). I noted the extremely short
ground run!
Could this be a useful option- if you have selected a slightly
small
field for an out-landing (ie- leave the u/c up?)
Another scenario, perhaps if you find the glider rolling along at high
speed towards an obstacle, then retract the u/c! Expensive, but maybe
less
painful?



There is not much room or material between you and the ground if you
leave the gear up, it is an easy way to get hurt on a hidden rock etc.
The general consensus is that the best option is to always land gear
down, this will help absorb the impact and transfer the load to the
airframe rather than your body.

YMMV
Luke

At 19:51 08 December 2014, Luke Szczepaniak wrote:
On 12/08/2014 2:27 PM, Graham Drinkell wrote:
Having recently landed a Pilatus B4 'wheels up, on a wet grass runway
(without any physical damage to the a/c!). I noted the extremely short
ground run!
Could this be a useful option- if you have selected a slightly
small
field for an out-landing (ie- leave the u/c up?)
Another scenario, perhaps if you find the glider rolling along at high
speed towards an obstacle, then retract the u/c! Expensive, but maybe
less
painful?



There is not much room or material between you and the ground if you
leave the gear up, it is an easy way to get hurt on a hidden rock etc.
The general consensus is that the best option is to always land gear
down, this will help absorb the impact and transfer the load to the
airframe rather than your body.

YMMV
Luke

At 19:51 08 December 2014, Luke Szczepaniak wrote:
On 12/08/2014 2:27 PM, Graham Drinkell wrote:
Having recently landed a Pilatus B4 'wheels up, on a wet grass runway
(without any physical damage to the a/c!). I noted the extremely short
ground run!
Could this be a useful option- if you have selected a slightly
small
field for an out-landing (ie- leave the u/c up?)
Another scenario, perhaps if you find the glider rolling along at high
speed towards an obstacle, then retract the u/c! Expensive, but maybe
less
painful?



There is not much room or material between you and the ground if you
leave the gear up, it is an easy way to get hurt on a hidden rock etc.
The general consensus is that the best option is to always land gear
down, this will help absorb the impact and transfer the load to the
airframe rather than your body.

YMMV
Luke

On Monday, December 8, 2014 11:30:05 AM UTC-8, Graham Drinkell wrote:
Having recently landed a Pilatus B4 'wheels up, on a wet grass runway
(without any physical damage to the a/c!). I noted the extremely short
ground run!
Could this be a useful option- if you have selected a slightly small
field for an out-landing (ie- leave the u/c up?)
Another scenario, perhaps if you find the glider rolling along at high
speed towards an obstacle, then retract the u/c! Expensive, but maybe less
painful?

Herniated discs can be extremely painful particularly if pinching parts of the spinal cord leading to paresthesia. I recommend using the landing gear and the big bouncy thing attached to it.

On Monday, December 8, 2014 2:30:05 PM UTC-5, Graham Drinkell wrote:
Having recently landed a Pilatus B4 'wheels up, on a wet grass runway
(without any physical damage to the a/c!). I noted the extremely short
ground run!
Could this be a useful option- if you have selected a slightly small
field for an out-landing (ie- leave the u/c up?)
Another scenario, perhaps if you find the glider rolling along at high
speed towards an obstacle, then retract the u/c! Expensive, but maybe less
painful?

The landing gear is there to protect you. Use it for that purpose.
Gliders with decent brakes commonly stop faster on the gear than off the gear.
UH