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Landing backwards

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TOPIC: Landing backwards

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#5447

rubberdown

Junior Boarder

Posts: 39

Landing backwards 1 Year, 3 Months ago

While pouring over a printed copy of the Townsville TAF from last week and marveling at the apparent wind gusts of 140 knots, my instructor remarked that in our C150 we'd be flying backwards at about 50 knots, at best, in those conditions.
He then posed a riddle. He said: "I've only landed backwards once in my life".

He wants me to figure out how on earth this is possible. I need help with this one.

Cheers, rubber

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#5452

smcmahon

Junior Boarder

Posts: 21

Re: Landing backwards 1 Year, 3 Months ago
Was he in a seat that faces backwards - ????

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#5459

rubberdown

Junior Boarder

Posts: 39

Re: Landing backwards 1 Year, 3 Months ago
I tried that. He said he was the pilot at the time. All I can think of is he was in some very strong headwind with full flaps at stall speed. But that sounds dangerous. I don't even know if that is possible. rubber

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#5493

themit

Fresh Boarder

Posts: 8

Re: Landing backwards 1 Year, 3 Months ago
What about landing downwind?

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#5494

shanesmith80

Senior Boarder

Posts: 56

Re: Landing backwards 1 Year, 3 Months ago
Does he fly helicopters? Might be possible to land a heli backwards.

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#5495

markdem

Junior Boarder

Posts: 31

Re: Landing backwards 1 Year, 3 Months ago
Was he in a aircraft? Sometimes when I am lucky, I can "land backwards" on my skis. The rest of the time it is just funny watching me fall over Or could he be talking about a Heli? Mark

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#5496

damono

Junior Boarder

Posts: 26

Re: Landing backwards 1 Year, 3 Months ago
Does he also fly rotary wing ? If so it would not be so unusual to land with a slight back drift after hovering. Just a thought. Have a great day all. D

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#5498

Jack

Gold Boarder

Posts: 310

Re: Landing backwards 1 Year, 3 Months ago

Rubberdown you already have the answer. In a 150 you can land going backwards when the headwind exceeds 35 knots provided you can "hold off" for long enough. A bit of power while flaring helps. At 45 knots backwards should be easy if you can stand the visuals. Good luck in leaving the runway if you ever fly in 45 knots!

Flying backwards in the sky is a whole heap easier. Go out to the training area on a really windy day and practice stalls pointed directly into the wind. Look at the ground.

If you fly long enough you will end up in one of these scenarios.

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#5501

Schnapps

Senior Boarder

Posts: 73

Re: Landing backwards 1 Year, 3 Months ago

It is truly possible, but I have no idea how you could taxy out to the runway.
Presumably the crosswind would make it almost impossible to control a C-150 on the ground what with the weathercocking effect.
However,
If you arrived in the circuit you would be doing the TAS plus tailwind on the downwind leg ( say 110kts + 45kts.) then you slow up and extend flap/gear on base leg.
Maintain say 55kts turning onto final (so 55kts TAS - 45kts headwind =10kts groundspeed) ... A very slow final approach with reference to the ground.
Then as you are over the runway, slow to your 45kts.
45ktsTAS -45kts headwind = zero groundspeed.
Then as you enter the flare, the TAS will bleed below 45 knots, and voila.
Any TAS below 45kts will ensure you have a negative groundspeed, and so land backwards.
As described in the first para, I have no idea how you would taxy off the runway with a 45kt weathercock.

A word of warning.

Any windshear could be ... Well ... fatal.

I would suggest this is a manoeuver best reserved for your favourite PC flight simulation, not your favourite C-150.
(ps...I have not flown a C-150 for 27 or so years, so I don't know if these speeds are correct...TAS is close to IAS at sea level)

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#5502

Studentbiggles

Expert Boarder

Posts: 140

Re: Landing backwards 1 Year, 3 Months ago
Hi Guys, Back a few months ago my Gliding Instructor was telling me it is possible to fly a Glider backwards,if your being tugged on a winch in a very strong headwind and allowing the winch rope to be released to further length, thus causing what was/is called "Kiting".....so when you think about it, if you were flying a hand kite the same principal applies.....thus flying backwards. Alley

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