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  #81  
Old 02-17-2017, 06:51 AM
stancaruthers stancaruthers is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Paradise tx
Posts: 192
Default Still Learning

Went flying yesterday loose formation with a friend, and using the landing techniques suggested from this thread really has boosted by confidence.
If I can keep making greasers, this could get really fun.
Missing the Bonanza could fade sooner than later.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...ZyS2hRTlhXM09R


Last edited by stancaruthers : 02-17-2017 at 02:05 PM.
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  #82  
Old 02-17-2017, 02:19 PM
springer springer is offline
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: AZ/MN
Posts: 376
Default

Great looking panel and plane Stan. Congrats on your new ride.
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RV-4 '88-'09 Built & Sold
RV-8 Purchased
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  #83  
Old 03-06-2017, 09:08 AM
stancaruthers stancaruthers is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Paradise tx
Posts: 192
Default

Thanks Charlie,
After this weekend with the low ceiling we had here in Texas, flying IFR with this setup is remarkable.
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  #84  
Old 03-11-2017, 07:25 PM
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Blain Blain is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: El Dorado Hills, CA
Posts: 696
Default First unassisted landing

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ironflight View Post
Stan, when you say that you have the stick forward to keep it in the two-wheel attitude until the tail drops, I think you're making directional control way more difficult than you have to. I've only got a few thousand hours in the RV-8, but find that a TAIL LOW wheel landing, works easily, and then put the tail down sooner rather than later so that you have control with the tail wheel. This is sort of the best of both worlds between a wheel landing and three-pointer.

Paul
So today was the day my transition CFI got out and said "go for it. You will be fine" we had been practicing 3 pointers. He gives me 200+lbs of aft loading to make those possible. But none of them were something to be proud of. Just satisfactory. So I had built up a good deal of apprehension over the thought of going it alone. Well, let me tell you, First landing was tail low wheel landing "chirp, chirp" then let the tail come down. I couldn't believe it!! Did another the to prove it wasn't a fluke. So different without a heavy passenger.

I like my new plane.
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R-22 sold.
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  #85  
Old 03-13-2017, 09:24 AM
David-aviator David-aviator is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Chesterfield, Missouri
Posts: 4,514
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I was off for 6 weeks, no flying, but got back to it big time last week with 4 launches between weather systems.

The envelope was widened just a bit with successful landing in gusting wind to 17 knots at 70 degrees. The wheel landing technique worked well on upwind wheel and then let it down on other and slow up with aggressive rudder to keep it aimed straight. After tail settled down, immediate full aft stick and tail wheel steering kicked it. It worked out ok.

But what helped most was thinking about how to manage the machine during landing before getting there, like 5 miles out. First mental task is to make sure flare is not high, but fly it right down to runway. Then be prepared to drop that wing just a bit and with opposite rudder, kick it straight. As soon as it touches, unload wing with a bit of forward pressure, make sure power is at idle, and let it slow up.

That's the plan, but of course it does not always work out, it is a goal and what makes flying so interesting.

Bob Hoover made 2 profound statements -
Fly it into crash as far as possible and
Practise Practise Practise.
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  #86  
Old 03-13-2017, 12:13 PM
stancaruthers stancaruthers is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Paradise tx
Posts: 192
Default Cross Wind

We have 18/36 runway, yesterday wind was 090@7-9 so I thought this is the perfect time to get my feet wet.....wasn't real pretty. Being generous I had 2 fair and 3 really bad with 1 go around after bouncing.
Changed pants and went home before I broke something. When I got home all I could thing about was how bad those were, it was eating me up so back I go

First 2 was much better....then it happened

Somewhere I read to practice NO FLAP landings, you guessed it....flaps would not go down.
Happened to be one of my better ones of the day
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  #87  
Old 03-13-2017, 07:52 PM
8 ball 8 ball is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: hilltop lakes' Texas
Posts: 135
Default Landing the 8

I have landed quite a few tail draggers, none more difficult than my rv 8. I have all the same experiences as the above airmen.
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  #88  
Old 03-13-2017, 09:52 PM
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Blain Blain is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: El Dorado Hills, CA
Posts: 696
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chkaharyer99 View Post
Blain,

I've been waiting to hear about your first solo. Keep us posted on your progress please. Would love to hear more.
Went out Sunday and could not duplicate those two. Couple of go arounds. Sure can appreciate the power when things don't look good.

Gave up, went to 8,000' and opened it up. 187 KTAS

You may have saw us at Lincoln a couple of weeks ago. Taunting the students.
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R-22 sold.
RV-8 AW Cert 02-09-17
N82 Sierra Tango
Avatar courtesy of AircraftStickers.com!
Dues gladly paid thru Nov. 2020(my reminder)
.

Last edited by Blain : 03-13-2017 at 10:03 PM.
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  #89  
Old 03-13-2017, 10:36 PM
David-aviator David-aviator is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Chesterfield, Missouri
Posts: 4,514
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 8 ball View Post
I have landed quite a few tail draggers, none more difficult than my rv 8. I have all the same experiences as the above airmen.
It's just technique, but it might help to stop trying to 3 point it.

Tail wheel purists will puff up and say nonsense, 3 point all the time. Ok, that too is technique.

But wheel landing works for me - all the time. Even on short runways.

The 8 is in a different league than most small tail draggers. Yes it can be 3 pointed but if it is not perfect it will relaunch. It likes a tail low, wheel landing. That means as soon as it touches unload the wing with some forward stick. The reason it is so unpredictable with a classic 3 pointer is the wing is no where near stalled. The airplane wants to fly, not stay on the ground. It takes froward stick to get it to stay there.

It will never bounce with that technique.

To get some confidence doing it, use a little power to control final flare descent. Do it on a long runway at first. Once you get the feel for it, use less power or no power. The trick is to contact the runway with minimum sink, however it is accomplished. Maybe just fly it on once or twice with no intention to land, just a gentle touch and go.

To make all this work, the flare has to be right. In the beginning, most of us flare too high and milk it down. That is perfect set up for a bounce. To overcome the tendency to flare too soon, on final talk to your self, say fly it to runway, fly it to runway, etc. If possible do not key the mike button, a friend did that saying to himself, keep it straight, keep it straight.....all too the delight of those on frequency.
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  #90  
Old 03-13-2017, 11:42 PM
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skylor skylor is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Southern California
Posts: 882
Default Caution

Quote:
Originally Posted by David-aviator View Post
After tail settled down, immediate full aft stick and tail wheel steering kicked it. It worked out ok.
I would caution readers against overly aggressive "pinning the tail wheel". If the tail wheel is, for some reason not in the trail position and you agressively pin it you just might be surprised by an abrupt excursion! I prefer to gently set it down, briefly verify things still tracking straight, then smoothly add elevator.

Skylor
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