Originally Posted by
Tinpusher007
I was snooping around dlnet and read that memo about T/R deployment on the 88 and I believe there was something in there about the lower clamshell potentially striking the ground if it was deployed right away with a higher than normal deck angle on touchdown.
True statement, but IIRC you had to be at around 10.5 degrees nose up. That is pretty extreme for an -80. In any case, AA had quite a few clamshell strikes, so they adopted the "lowest common denominator training - no deploying until nosewheel touchdown. But I believe they just changed it, now you can deploy them as long as you start the nose down.