Something about the center of gravity being behind the main landing gear, and when you use the brakes, the airplane flips over. I'm told that such a stunt ain't good for the airplane, or the pilot.
It's always interested me, because "back in the day" airplanes didn't have tricycle gear and everyone was apt to ground-loop an airplane. I'm sure that they cover it in pilot training, and I'm sure that it used to be a lot more common than it is now.
Hat Tip, Wirecutter.
With a tail dragger Ya gotta "Fly the airplane 'til it's tied down." In other words, don't get complacent or lazy, especially with the rudder pedals.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a Cessna 140. 140s were good planes, but the main gear really needed to be located a little further forward so that the brakes could be used more effectively.
ReplyDeleteIIRC, there was an STC(supplemental type certificate) issued by the FAA that allowed Cessna 140 owners to do just that: move the main gear futher forward.
I personally know a pilot who got on the brakes too hard in a 140. Didn't flip over, but he did stand it on the nose, causing a prop strike with the engine running. Which means tearing down the engine to inspect it, particularly the crankshaft.