Evil tricks on Cabin Crew
by Cockpit Crew!
LOWER THE TAIL WHEEL!

In days of old (when we were young) the 
DC-3 had a TRAILING WIRE antenna which 
was reeled out from a lever in the 
lavatory. It was used when the Radio 
Operator needed certain radio usage. 
The later equipped aircraft no 
longer used this antenna but, though 
the antenna was removed, the control 
lever was left in place. 

The story goes that a new hire stew was 
told that when the landing gear was 
lowered, she  (SHE, those were the good 
old days!!) was to enter the Lav and pull 
down the lever to LOWER THE TAIL WHEEL!
   
Many months later the (un-named) young 
woman came running into the cockpit just 
as the airplane was about to touch down 
yelling "Dont land, Don't land!"  

The Captain made an emergency go-around 
and when all was squared away asked her 
what the matter was. 

She replied, "I forgot to lower the tail  
wheel! 
Question: Who was the goat here??
 
As there was only one stew on a DC-3 there 
was no opportunity to "learn better" with 
experience and so she continued to "fall 
for it" over and over. 

We cockpit guys find that hilarious. 
Har de har har, Boy do we crack us up! 
The Stew version is that the Cockpit Crew 
who made the emergency go-around 
BECAUSE THE TAIL WHEEL WASN'T DOWN was the 
same crew who had, so many months before,  
assigned her this  most important task! 
Will we ever know who pulled off the best  
practical joke?

RGDS---TOM F -