Undercarriage Brakes.
Additional means for restricting the length of travel after contact with the ground is sometimes found in the employment of brakes of various types. A very simple and widely used arrangement is to terminate the tail skid in a claw fitting, as [Fig. 99], so that in alighting the tail is shoved hard down, bringing the skid into contact with the ground. The disadvantage is that undesirable strains may be carried to the fuselage members.
Fig. 99.—Tail skid with claw fitting.
Another version recently patented is to construct small planes to conform to the wing curve, and hinged so that by a system of wires and pulleys, actuated from the pilot’s seat, they could be adjusted to offer a normal surface to the direction of flight. The efficiency of this arrangement at low speeds is not very great, moreover a landing with the wind renders them quite useless. The best form of brake is undoubtedly one acting direct on the main wheels, either of the rim or band type, a good example of the latter being the system used on the 70 h.p. Bristol biplane. Closely allied to the question of brakes is that of steering, and the requirements of this latter item are fairly well satisfied by pivoting the tail skid and working it in conjunction with the rudder from the foot-bar or wheel.