When do pilots hit the wheel brakes?

[eFirehawk]

Hello everyone,

 

Flying the A-10C and recently the ( bugged, but still awesome ) F-15C AFM, I still wonder what is the actual procedure that pilots use after touchdown regarding the wheel brakes. :book:

 

How I do it at least is, approach the runway at the correct AoA, once I flare and land, I open up the air brakes, keep on average a 10 degree nose up and wait until the nose falls naturally. Once it does, I keep pulling the joystick up to use the elevators as airbrakes. My problem is, especially with the F-15, is that if I wait to hit the wheelbrakes at the desired speeds ( I've read somewhere 50knots in the A-10C and I have absolutely no idea about the F-15C ) to avoid dealing with a tire burst as a real pilot would, I just can't stop before the end of a medium length runway such as Batumi's. Checking out F-15C videos for example, the pilots seem to stop the planes relatively quickly, and I can only replicate their "timing" if I hit the wheelbrakes very soon, right when the nosewheel hits the ground or even earlier if I'm landing an F-15C with a heavy payload. :joystick:

 

...my guess is, maybe they hit the brakes very gently and smoothly right after touchdown and as speed decreases they increase pressure on the pedals? I don't have that luxury yet since in my case I use the W key and not an axis. :pilotfly:

 

When and how do pilots hit the wheelbrakes? :)

 

Thanks

Edited April 14, 2014 by eFirehawk

[AegisFX]

That's the key. using the brakes smoothly, like you would in a car or bike. As soon as you touch down, apply a small bit, and gradually increase.

[MudRat02]

Edit: post removed.

Edited April 14, 2014 by MudRat02