Author Topic: Typhoon Tails Falling Off (Read 334 times)

funkedup · « **on:** November 25, 2002, 11:58:01 AM »

FWIW it was an aeroelastic (flutter) problem which caused the famous tail failures. It was not a structural defect and was cured by redesign of the elevator mass balance. I don't have dates or drawings or references though. Anyone?

Maverick · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2002, 12:17:56 PM »

Anyone flying a typhoon DESERVES to have their tail fly off!

Red Tail 444 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2002, 02:32:21 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Maverick
Anyone flying a typhoon DESERVES to have their tail fly off!

Laughingly..."PUNT"

Just HO like the other tiffy pilots do (hello, DRIEDOCK) ...wont need to worry about the tail falling off then

swoopy · « **Reply #3 on:** November 25, 2002, 04:44:27 PM »

Only 26 pilots lost their lives due to this defect, before it was rectified. It was put down to compressibility. In a steep dive, the tiffie would compress and so the pilot would throttle right back and use trimming to bring it out of the dive. As soon as the plane's speed dropped, and the controls started to respond normally, the attitude of the trimming gear pulled the nose up sharply and applied a breaking strain to the rear fuselage.

This was partly cured by riveting 20 fish plates around the fuselage, but I have no info on when this was done or the exact specifications, funked.

- Dowding