Original US Gov C-47 Flight training film

[Crashbangwallop]

What it says on the tin – how to fly the C-47. An wee in-flight educational dialogue between experienced pilot and trainee co-pilot. Cockpit procedures, control settings, take-off etc. Part 2 deal with normal landing, and then shutting down one engine and landing

 

Part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntMSw-8Pkz8

 

Part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEk7NJ16c48

 

Visual and sound pretty awful to be honest, but useful info can be gleaned here. Very helpful for me was seeing that they touch down on main wheels only, letting the tail sink during the roll-out.

(Unlike me – trying to make three point landings and floating above most of the runway till eventually thumping/stalling down uncomfortably near the end)

 

Interesting film in itself though

[AndyJWest]

There are similar films for many USAAF aircraft, all well worth watching.

 

As for landing the C-47, wheelers are definitely the way to go. It sits at a very high AoA in the three-point attitude, making it almost impossible to three-point without coming down with a thump. For the shortest landing run, you put it down on the main wheels, but with the tail fairly low. This needs careful control of the speed, but that's true when trying to put any big aircraft down in a small space. 

 

 

This is from the USAAAF C-47 Pilots Training Manual - easy to find online, and worth looking at if you are a fan of the DC-3/C-47.

[Crashbangwallop]

22 hours ago, AndyJWest said:

As for landing the C-47, wheelers are definitely the way to go. It sits at a very high AoA in the three-point attitude, making it almost impossible to three-point without coming down with a thump. For the shortest landing run, you put it down on the main wheels, but with the tail fairly low. This needs careful control of the speed, but that's true when trying to put any big aircraft down in a small space. 

 

Indeed. By the way, I found that C-47 manual you suggested. I note that it reads...

'You can make a 3-point landing in a C-47 airplane, but this type of landing is not advisable. Reason: Weight of the airplane causes undue strain if you happen to drop in'. 

 

I assume the manual is referring to the effect on the undercarriage and airframe, but my 3-pointers also caused a fair amount of 'undue strain' on my nerves and peace of mind as I finally 'happened' to stall to ground...

https://www.docdroid.com/HOqlW3c/douglas-c-47-skytrain-pilot-training-manual-pdf

 

Many thanks ?