The Boeing 777’s
Great Great Great
Great Granddaddy
1928 Boeing 40C
★Lustrous foot-deep finish ★Lasts and lasts and lasts ★Easy worry-free repairs 800-362-3490
Randolph Aircraft.com info@RandolphAircraft.com
The Boeing 40C delivered much more than mail and is
considered the first US airliner. This Randolph-finished
beauty restored by Addison Pemberton is the only 40C
in the world still flying.
Bringing an aircraft to a stop on the ground is a matter of
expending the kinetic energy—the energy associated with its
mass and velocity. For a normal landing, we rely primarily on
brakes, and to a lesser extent on aerodynamic forces. For an
off-field landing, the brakes may be ineffective because (a) the
gear is not extended, (b) the wheels are not firmly on the
ground, (c) braking action is nil due to the nature of the surface,
or (d) some combination of the above. In a study of crash landings performed by FAA Safety Program Manager Mick Wilson
decades ago, he found that when an airplane is decelerated by
multiple smaller impacts, the landing is more survivable than
when an abrupt stop occurs. To this end, we do better to collide
with fences, haystacks, brush, and small trees that absorb
energy while not completely stopping us. An impact that tears
the wings from the structure will not only absorb considerable
energy, but also separate the fuel from the people.
When trying to shoehorn a sick airplane into a tight spot,
focus more on the approach end than the run-out. It is better to
roll into the trees at the far end at 35 knots than it is to clip the
tops of the trees on the approach at 70 knots and plummet into
the earth. Remember, too, that seat restraints are designed to
absorb the impact when moving forward and downward. They
are much less effective when the aircraft is tumbling tail over
nose wheel.
Sloping terrain always presents a challenge, and it can be
extremely difficult to land downhill. The best advice from
those who have been there is to land uphill, even if it means a
tail wind. Landing uphill uses more energy, and shortens the
stopping distance.
An impact that tears the wings from
the structure will not only absorb
considerable energy, but also separate
the fuel from the people.
If there just isn’t any open space and you are forced to land
in the trees, fly into the treetops under control rather than stalling into them. A stall means a nose dive between the trees, and
little damage to signal your location to rescuers. It is much better to take off a few treetops and create a visible sign of where
you ended up. This will also consume energy in a more survivable manner than nosing straight down into rock and dirt.
NIGHT MOVES
Darkness increases the challenge of an off-field landing by a
significant margin since it can be nearly impossible to see
what’s below you. A long line of lights can indicate a stretch of
highway that might be used, but it can be extremely difficult to
see hazards like transmission lines, highway signs, and other
obstacles. Some experts recommend picking out the darkest
spot you can find, since it probably is devoid of man-made
buildings and other structures. They say to turn your landing
