how do airplanes steer on the ground?
 

When I see airplanes taxiing, the rudder follows the nose gear. When I see airplanes landing, the rudder seems to move independently of the nose gear. Is there a mechanism that keeps the nose gear straight ahead until the plane is on the ground?

Sixto
87 300D

Planes have a little steering wheel located to the left of the Captain's left leg to steer the nose wheel while on the ground, I think it can be set to a "locked" position. I'll see if I can find a picture for you.

Here's a photo from a Boeing 727. The nose wheel steering wheel is right there on the lower left side.
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/photos/.../3/1288368.jpg

The seat-covers are in better condition than my E300's.......:B I'm not...............too crazy about the blue, however.....................;):B

Oh, you're talking about BIG planes... :D On the small ones, the nose (or tail) wheel is connected to the pedals either directly with rods or cables or by a combination of rods and springs. Some aircraft also have a swiveling steerable wheel and steering is accomplished by applying the brakes to one side or another similar to a cutting brake on a tractor...

Where are the cupholders?

In the rear, serving the passengers!

Didn't you know mercedes is now making planes? :P

They havn't in awhile.:D
http://www.warbirdphotographs.com/LC...Marseilles.jpg

Must be an old picture. Still has the trap oxidizer.

Sixto
87 300D

Is the dial at the bottom of the picture for iDrive?

Sixto
87 300D

lol, nope. I think that's to control the rudder trim.

On many planes the nose gear centers itself when weight is off the wheels... it's a simple mechanical setup on out KC-135's, anyway -- a "V" cut in the strut that centers the nose gear when it extends upon leaving the ground. Then, when the gear retracts for flight, there is a braking pad that the tires eventually hit to stop them from rotating (to stop any gyroscopic effect that the rotating wheels have).

For steering, you can have a tiller wheel (as in the pic above) or rudder pedal steering.

Can't tell, but I would swear the three items on the top center of the dash in the pic are iPods...

In-flight entertainment! :grin:

They probably activate the fire bottles (one for each engine). Ours are located in the same spot.