Ryanair - tail touch?

ciarsd

Had heard in the news that a Ryanair flight to Manchester (I think) yesterday morning was a little eager to take to the sky and ended up hitting the tail off the runway on takeoff. Just wondered if this a common occurrence at airports? :eek:

Edit:
Been looking on youtube, and there are a few posted alright!

FlutterinBantam

Shít happens, its reasonably common.

Aircraft are built to take a bit of scraping in that area.

GBX

Ive seen some videos of the testing they put aircraft through while developing, a few on the A380. They make sure they can take a "bump" or "scrape" before they become active.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

ian_m

ciarsd wrote: »

Been looking on youtube, and there are a few posted alright!

links please ...:)

WexCan

Search for tailstrike, there's quite a few.

ian_m

WexCan wrote: »

Search for tailstrike, there's quite a few.

Yes there are a few but I'm looking for Ryanair related.

WexCan

Think OP meant there were a few tailstrike vids posted, indicating that it's a (reasonably) common occurence.

I've been flying as crew for well over a year now and have only had one minor scrape. Felt a bit of a bump but continued on, no major damage.

A lot depends on aircraft type. Low-sitting aircraft like the 737 are more prone to tailstrikes, as are the likes of the A321 (and other "stretched" aircraft types).

Davidth88

The DC8-80's were very prone to this, they had very obvious ' skids' built in.

I have never actually felt/seen it myself

cyrusdvirus

Concorde had a set of wheels at the back of the aircraft, to protect the airframe from tail strikes

ciarsd

Thanks for the info. folks - had heard of it once before. Having looked on youtube when I posted this thread last night, it is apparent that it is a 'common' occurrence for the want of a better term.

@ ian_m - WexCan took me up correctly, I meant aircraft in general on youtube, not just Ryanair.

Thanks for the insight

ian_m

I can't seem to find anything in the news about it.

ciarsd

Was in the papers - can't remember which one now, either of these 3 (Metro, Herald, Times).

ian_m

gatecrash wrote: »

Concorde had a set of wheels at the back of the aircraft, to protect the airframe from tail strikes

As seen here...

WexCan

Lovely plane.

Kevster

Wow....they really WERE loud Still, 'tis a great shame that they aren't in use.

WexCan

I remember being a young spotter, over at Heathrow for the day and seeing Concorde land over me. Amazing, but deafening.

*Kol*

Concorde had a set of wheels at the back of the aircraft, to protect the airframe from tail strikes

ian_m wrote: »

As seen here...

I would say that that's not a wheel at the rear of the aircraft but a retractable tail skid that extends whenever the landing gear is extended like on a B767.

WexCan

It's a wheel, but it's retractable.

cyrusdvirus

WexCan wrote: »

It's a wheel, but it's retractable.

Dammit!!

You beat me to it!

I was about to go all medieval (within the boards rules of course) on his ass!!

*Kol*

I stand corrected!!:D