Just Do It

November 21, 2005 11:08 AM

[NewsFilter] Landing Gear Redux: Another airliner with stuck landing gear--this time a Nike corporate jet--may be forced to make an emergency landing, like that JetBlue airliner back in September. Story developing.
posted by fandango_matt (36 comments total)

"Let 'em crash" comments in 5... 4... 3...
posted by zek at 11:10 AM on November 21, 2005

There was another one last week, twin prop that landed perfectly with no gear at all. The Nike jet has been on all the news stations for the last hour while it dumped fuel.
posted by zeoslap at 11:11 AM on November 21, 2005

Well, it's a Gulfstream V, so not exactly an Airbus, but otherwise, well, yeah.

I wonder if its size is an aid or a hindrance in a situation like this. I guess it's the same issue scaled down but then again I don't think we've seen many Gulfstream V's go down.
posted by cavalier at 11:11 AM on November 21, 2005

And just like any other human drama, you wonder what's in the exec's heads at this point. What was in Toledo? Was it worth the trip? Are they calm, at place with the universe, or frantically drinking and clutching their laptops?
posted by cavalier at 11:12 AM on November 21, 2005

"Phil Knight, the chairman, is not on board, nor are there any sports stars or spokesmen," he said.

Well, I'm relieved to know it's just seven mortals aboard. Expendable and not worth wasting any concern over, quite obviously.

/wondering who'll be first up against the wall when the revolution comes
posted by docgonzo at 11:19 AM on November 21, 2005

And just like any other human drama, you wonder what's in the exec's heads at this point.

*I wonder if those Chinese kids in the cockpit have had crash training. Should probably pay them a bit more.*
posted by three blind mice at 11:22 AM on November 21, 2005

As I recall the JetBlue plane had the gear down but locked perpendicular to the fuselage, so it had stability. This plane appears to have two down and the right rear gear up. I wonder if that complicates things, or whether the wings and landing airspeed will provide enough lift to compensate.

Anyway, just do it, right?
posted by kingfisher, his musclebound cat at 11:22 AM on November 21, 2005

Anyway, just do it, right?

I was just about to post that...
posted by tapeguy at 11:23 AM on November 21, 2005

"Phil Knight, the chairman, is not on board, nor are there any sports stars or spokesmen," [Greg Martin] said.

Fuck you, Greg.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 11:24 AM on November 21, 2005

That's quite the holding pattern
posted by bondcliff at 11:24 AM on November 21, 2005

No doubt Pat Robertson will say this is divine payback for Nike's endorsement deal with evil lesbian Sheryl Swoopes.

Best of luck to all on board.
posted by rocket88 at 11:28 AM on November 21, 2005

I thought this Ask The Pilot column [salon: ad watching required] was interesting - it basically says that the JetBlue incident involved more media hype than actual risk:

...neither is this particular problem an especially dangerous or scandalous one. Airbus Industrie doesn't like it; airlines don't like it; insurance companies don't like it, but in the hierarchy of potential killers, it barely registers...."We had this same nose-gear crap happen a couple of years ago on a Rochester-to-JFK flight," scoffs Dave. "With the same results -- minus the ridiculous media saturation. The incident is now used by JetBlue as part of a training video."

posted by Staggering Jack at 11:32 AM on November 21, 2005

I wonder if that complicates things, or whether the wings and landing airspeed will provide enough lift to compensate.

I'm no expert, but the right wing is toast, if not the entire airframe.

I'm no pilot either but I think this is much trickier than no nose since you've got a horrendous torque moment with one wheel down (if you're not careful about maintaining straight flight when it's on the ground).

Basic idea is controlled crash I guess. Shame to lose such a fiiine bird -- this is the price-equivalent to 1000 NSXs crashing.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 11:35 AM on November 21, 2005

Just heard the pilot tell ATC he was going to try some "yaw maneuvers" to attempt to get the gear down. He sounded surprisingly calm.
posted by bondcliff at 11:37 AM on November 21, 2005

Easy there Optimus Chyme. Greg was probably answering the first question the press asked. Phil Knight is quite a large figure in Oregon, and Michael Jordan was just here.
posted by Cranberry at 11:37 AM on November 21, 2005

I guess the old "match speed with a pickup truck while someone hits the stuck gear with a broomstick" trick isn't going to work as well on this one.

Anyone have an NSX with a sunroof? BMW M5?

I am not a pilot, but at least in flight sim land I'd much rather land with no gear at all than with only one rear gear down.

Seems to be a drastically decreased chance of cartwheeling, rolling, or sliding off the flightline. But then I'm not actually worried about real fire or aircraft cost in sim space.
posted by loquacious at 11:45 AM on November 21, 2005

Sounds like they got it down!
posted by bondcliff at 11:54 AM on November 21, 2005

Nice promotional stunt.
posted by Maishe at 11:56 AM on November 21, 2005

No it's coming down in the next 15mins.
posted by zeoslap at 11:57 AM on November 21, 2005

No, I mean the landing gear.
posted by bondcliff at 12:01 PM on November 21, 2005

Well that was anticlimactic after hours of continuous coverage, not so much as a spark.
posted by zeoslap at 12:02 PM on November 21, 2005

Why are these stories newsworthy? I mean, I could see thirty seconds on the evening news (pilot brings malfunctioning aircraft safely to ground, woo hoo) but CNN had been covering this pretty much non-stop for two or three hours now. Just like they covered last week's 'drama.' Is it "we're gonna show the crash live?" What else could it be?
posted by fixedgear at 12:02 PM on November 21, 2005

"I am not a pilot, but at least in flight sim land I'd much rather land with no gear at all than with only one rear gear down."

Yeah, me too. The G-5 is a solid airframe, putting it on the belly would be nerve-racking, but assuming the fuel tanks are really dry it should be a hell of a lot safer to not dig in a wingtip.

Crossing fingers, wishing them luck and safe landing.
posted by zoogleplex at 12:06 PM on November 21, 2005

I'd just like to point out that there's a fellow on MSNBC named Vada Manager. That is all.
posted by dwordle at 12:18 PM on November 21, 2005

QUICK, somebody post the latest weather report. NOW
posted by Eekacat at 12:23 PM on November 21, 2005

Partly blue with a chance of gray later.
posted by cairnish at 12:29 PM on November 21, 2005

I just saw on MSNBC that there is some rain down in Florida.
posted by Justinian at 12:37 PM on November 21, 2005

all clear up here in Buffalo
posted by pez_LPhiE at 12:44 PM on November 21, 2005

Local pinpoint micro forecast.

Breezy, slightly overcast and hazy due to local fire and smoke conditions.

Extremely dry with relative humidity below 3%, chance of precipitation 0%, dew point below freezing.

Currently boiling water in large pot and occasionally running hot shower to attempt to increase local humidity alongside standard internal hydration regimen.
posted by loquacious at 12:50 PM on November 21, 2005

I thought I saw a snowflake this morning but it might have been a speck of dust.
posted by dwordle at 12:50 PM on November 21, 2005

Why is this crap news? Like the Salon article above said, this registers a 0 on the "oh shit!" scale of aircraft problems. You should be happy this is the least of the a/c related problems we have here in the US.
posted by SirOmega at 1:00 PM on November 21, 2005

Fuck you, Greg.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 12:24 PM MST on November 21 [!]

He's an *angry* elf.
posted by craniac at 1:10 PM on November 21, 2005

SF Gate Update: The Nike corporate jet made a smooth landing at Portland airport at 12:10 p.m. PST after the stuck landing gear was successfully brought down. Hardened businessmen, who, moments before, had promised their souls to God quickly got on their cell phones and called their mistresses.
posted by craniac at 1:12 PM on November 21, 2005

No way. Link?
posted by iamck at 1:21 PM on November 21, 2005

Via Agence Grappe Presse: Nike plans to sue aircraft manufacturer for substandard labor conditions in its factories leading to shoddy, overpriced work. "It was the Gulfstream branding that sucked us in," said executives.
posted by dhartung at 5:30 PM on November 21, 2005

Bring the heckling, I say.

"One executive began frantically masturbating as the pilot yawed the plane. Sources have not been able to confirm the man's identity".
posted by anthill at 9:25 PM on November 21, 2005