Mustang belly landing down-under...

[C]

Two days ago:

Video - WWII fighter makes emergency landing at Victorian* aerodrome

*no time travel involved...

[expat]

Remarks of the passenger made me smile.
Why would the pilot have chosen to land on the grass and not the runway. On grass you have a real danger of the aircraft digging in and being torn apart. Under the P51 you have a huge mud scoop in the form of the oil cooler, or a wing dropping etc. I would have thought that the runway would have been a better option. Ok, you would have a possible fire risk from the oil cooler, but it is behind the pilot. You would not have a dig in risk and the emergency services would be able to get to you a lot quicker on tarmac than over grass. However, lets hope that she is back in the air soonest.

Matt

[C]

Why would the pilot have chosen to land on the grass and not the runway. On grass you have a real danger of the aircraft digging in and being torn apart. Under the P51 you have a huge mud scoop in the form of the oil cooler, or a wing dropping etc. I would have thought that the runway would have been a better option. Ok, you would have a possible fire risk from the oil cooler, but it is behind the pilot. You would not have a dig in risk and the emergency services would be able to get to you a lot quicker on tarmac than over grass. However, lets hope that she is back in the air soonest.

Matt

I was thinking the same, although I do remember the world most experienced Spitfire pilot (at the time) decideing to land a Spit Tr9 at Coventry on the grass too in similar circumstances. Either way, it'll be a mess and very expensive. Maybe a little less shock load on not just the engine but also the bearers and structure landing under power on the grass?

[DaveSims]

Aircraft tend to slide on grass and grind on pavement.  It is usually a pilot's judgement call, there is nothing in a book saying do it either way.

[Fozzer]

My Instructor prefers to land the little C152's on grass if practical...

...less wear in the Tyre treads, he reckons... .... ....!

(There's a man with the Club's running costs on his mind)... ...!

Paul...G-BPLF... ...!