RL>I didn't remember the 18 having a lockable tail wheel.  
RL>Then again, it wasn't yesterday and my memory is getting a 
RL>little ........ what was it we were talking about?
Ooo Yaaa! it had one of them and without it I don't think you would have 
had a chance.
RL>I was right seat with a retired B-52 pilot in the left seat.  To this
RL>day I  don't have a clue what happened, but he lost control of it.
The above explains it.  My experience with B-52 people is that the 
former that were flying Captain on 727 held the nose wheel steering til 
you were airborne.  No need to attempt x-wind correction on TO cause he 
overrode you with the steering wheel and thought he was doing the right 
thing.  I must admit this was only one guy.  He just didn't understand 
flying nor the 727.  He just had it wrong in his mind and he was doing 
it like he did in the B-52.
 
RL> I jumped into the "save my own rear" mode and stuck the 
RL>left rudder to the firewall.  He thew in some differential 
RL>power and by the flukest of luck we clipped one edge of 
RL>the high speed taxiway as we exited the runway out of 
RL>control.  The airplane got straigtened out at the other 
RL>edge of the taxiway.
I have observed so many of these it's hard to keep count.  The guys that 
started out in Conventional Gear at least had a fighting chance.
RL>No engineer could have drawn a 
RL>curved line on that airport like we took without running 
RL>off the runway.
RL>The left seat said "I was just practicing saves" once he regained his
RL>composure.  strangely, that was the day the passengers all 
RL>said "thanks, nice flight" when they got off the plane.  
RL>The Captain and I just stood there and smiled at each 
RL>other.  We were the only ones who knew the thing was out of 
RL>control.
Kinda reminds me of making smooth landings all the time then make a 
required Cat III Autoland with a "Thump"  and everyone gets off 
extolling the virtures of that beautiful landing.
___
 X CMPQwk 1.4 #1684 X "Whatdya mean you want to SEE my gun"?
--- Maximus/2 3.01
---------------