Parking using your shadow

Fly_Unity

Fly_Unity

Well-Known Member
I always taught students when parking between two airplanes to look at your shadow on the ground, and as long as the shadows of both wings dont touch the shadow of the other wing, its impossible to hit the wing of the other aircraft. This is an easy way to tell the distance how far apart the wings really are.

One of my students called me out on that, he says it will only work when the sun is is directly overhead, I disagree. Thoughts?
 
I have always used this trick and never had a problem, but I could see where an extreme angle of the sun might make this a bit dicey. I think this might be one of those cases that works most of the time, but be aware in certain conditions might not be totally reliable. Still a good tool to have in the bag, IMO
 
I, too, have used this in airplanes.

I'm trying to imagine ANY situation where the angle of the sun would mess this up.
 
I was thinking about it the other day. If your wing is 6 feet off the ground and you're comparing it to something that's 3 feet off the ground, it could cause problems. But if everything is the same height, I can't see any way it won't work.
 
I've used this for a long time. Works great, last long time. I don't trust rampies, most can't marshal for .
 
Assuming the sun is at the same angle to both planes, which it obviously will be unless you're worried about hitting a plane 5 miles away, it should work....
 
If the sun was at a low angle, wouldn't it increase the distance between objects? I agree, the low angle would not "mess up" this technique. I'm just trying to determine what effect the low angle may present.

PropDriver
Where did you get your avatar? I love it!
 
If planes are touching therefore shadows are touching.

Likewise if the shadows are not touching the airplanes are not touching.

now if the sun is at an angle, and the wings are at different heights, its easy for the high wing airplane to cast a shadow on the low wing airplane
 
I've use this when towing airplanes and when inside the cockpit. Works great, lasts long time.
 
I have always used the guiding center line. I'll check out the shadow method.
 
I use my shadow to judge how far off the ground I am while landing. When the shadow meets the wheel I have landed. It only works in the evening when you're landing to the south, but it works great if you're doing spot landings!
 
Erik1010 said:
I have always used the guiding center line. I'll check out the shadow method.
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I remember doing a flight with a base CO, and when he noticed how obsesively I taxied on the yellow line, he asked me "hey ENS XXXXXX, what does the yellow line guarantee you?" silence......."trick question....nothing". I've never been steered astray by the lines, but I guess it was a good point
 
flyingsaluki1 said:
I use my shadow to judge how far off the ground I am while landing. When the shadow meets the wheel I have landed. It only works in the evening when you're landing to the south, but it works great if you're doing spot landings!
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Isn't looking sideways and down while landing a little....strange/not recommended?
 
BeRich said:
Isn't looking sideways and down while landing a little....strange/not recommended?
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that is strange. I teach my students not to look at all. Eyes closed landings.... Jedi style.

As far as parking and wing clearance, I teach my students to eye the edge of the wing and then follow it straight down to the ground. That ground spot is exactly where you wing is. Do the same to other plane's wing. Use landmarks like cracks, lines, chains etc and gauge your clearance. Then always announce that your wing is clear. Mostly to make me less nervous.

I also used that method when towing aircraft. I went accident free in an 8 year career.
 
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