sinkrate3278

I read somewhere where a retired 727 captain was explaining that the way the wings were designed makes this airplane especially hard to touchdown gently.

Is that a true statement? Or BS?

HSLD

Hardest to grease a landing?, not sure about that. Is there a definite technique due to the fighter-jet sweep of the wing?, most definitely.

freightdog

I hear the MD80 isn't exactly the easiest. One day you grease it on, next; a carrier landing that any Navy man would be proud of.

Fishfreighter

If you know how to "check and roll" the 727 was a piece of cake compared to the DC-9, MD-80 and the 737.

georgetg

The Maddog lands great, even the wiener-dog-long MD90 is a peach...

Cheers
George

satpak77

every landing as a passenger in the back of an MD-80 was a back breaker it seems

DirectTo

Any excuse to post this one again:


727 Hard landing - YouTube

Thedude

I say its the stiff gear on the 72 and anybody that says they can grease a 72 on a regular basis is lying.

JamesNoBrakes

I've gotten to do 727 and 737 level Ds and while not "the real thing", I've really never found an airplane that lands radically "different" (in all the types I've flown). People always make it out to be some crazy "oh, this plane lands WAY different" thing, and it's never panned out. Be at the right speed, know the timing, rates and heights, and the rest takes care of itself. I greased a few 737 ones on, the 727 wasn't as good for me, but I wasn't as experienced then either. I'd say the 727 made me ready for the 737 though. It seems like when you do not know the timing, rates, heights, speeds, etc, that's when an airplane seems to land "way different" and creates a perception that it's very difficult to land. That's what I call "winging it", but it makes for good stories and hair-raising moments as someone flys/slams the aircraft level into the ground because some other instructor/pilot told them that "this aircraft lands level and you don't have to pull back"...It seems a little cocky, but I find there are people who "understand" landings, and people who "do" landings. The former usually has better results and adapts to virtually any aircraft.

Rama

The landing gear geometry/wing design does make it tricky to land nicely consistently, particularly on the -200's. Most other jets will let you pull a little more pitch at the last second to cushion the landing, on the 72 it drives the mains harder into the pavement making the landing much worse.