Swing Tail Question

[Denizen]

Anyone know how the "swing tail" works on airplanes like the DC-6 or the cl-44... I have seen pictures but was wondering how everything is reconected after the cargo was/is loaded.

Thanks for the help

 

[LearLove]

Good question. I don't have a 100% answer but taking an educated guess I'd say most of the cables/lines are routed on the hindged side using a flex coupling. If not I'd also say maybe some kind of "quick disconnect" couple with a locking pin.

Again just a guess.

 

[mar]

Push rods!

Denizen--The control surfaces are connected with push rods on the DC6 swingtail.

The tail opens with a hydraulic actuator after twelve latches are released. The control push rods in the tail simply pull away from the push rods on the fuselage.

The system works pretty good except when it gets real cold and the push rods shrink a little forming a small gap even with the tail completely secured. This causes a little play in the controls and kinda gives the feeling of driving a big truck with worn out steering.

Another reason to hate cold mornings and shrinkage.

Fly safe

 

[Rick1128]

mar, sounds like you do or have flown for NAC. It was my understanding that only two swing-tail DC6s were made. Got to fly both for TAL out of YIP. There are push rods, but the flight controls have to be a specific position so that they may be released and then reconnected. Also the tail is hinged on the right side and operated via hydraulics. Over all works fine. There are a series of micro switches to control the funtions.

There are two lights on the Captain's panel. A red one and an Amber one. The amber signifies that the flight controls are not in the proper position. And the red one tells you the tail is not locked. If you want something to wake you up in the middle of the night, have that red light come on. Engine fires, NO SWEAT. RED LIGHT! OH $HIT!!!

 

[Denizen]

Well that answers that

I knew some one here would know the answer. Thanks to all who answered...

Mar- Ya..got to hate that shrinkage...

ok back to drinking...thanks again

 

[mar]

Bingo!

Denizen--I'm glad Rick and I were able to answer your questions.

Rick--You guessed it. I fly for NAC. Both Swingtails (as I understand it) were converted by Sabena in Belgium. One (4TA) timed out and the other (7TA?) crashed but they salvaged the swingtail part.

I have never actually 'flown' the Swingtail but I engineered on them back in '98. Did you fly for NAC? And who is TAL?

Fly safe.

 

[nosewheel]

I too flew the swingtail for TAL in Yip. It was definately a different bird,especially in the winter. If one of the many switches didn't make when closeing, it was a pain in the A$$. Its a shame that there both gone. One of them should have made it to a museum.

 

[Rick1128]

Mar,

TAL stands for Trans-Air-Link. When I worked for them the company was owned by Gary Belnicky and based at MIA. We had a wet lease operation in YIP for Zantop where we operated their DC6s. I got to fly both swingtails. The company has since been sold and is now based out of Opa Locka, FL and operates CV580. They put one down off the coast near Ft Lauderdale a year or so ago.

 

[mar]

Interesting stories

Rick and Nosewheel, thanks for the info.

I agree they would make an interesting museum piece. I understand 4TA used to fly for FinnAir a long time ago. I have a couple Finnish friends who approached NAC about ferrying her back to the homeland but the company balked.

You know, why bother with a donation when you can cannibalize the darn thing.

Actually there may be a method to their madness as 4TA has recently been pushed out of the boneyard in FAI. Sounds like they're gonna put it on the 125 certificate.

I doubt this is a huge company secret since she's sitting 20 feet from the main road.

Still, I'm not looking forward to a winter of stuck micro-switches and slack controls...

Whatever. Fly safe.