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  #71  
Old 02-01-2013, 03:30 PM
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jsharkey jsharkey is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bennington, Vermont USA
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Unlike Cub types tail wheel RVs have a wide wheel base plus short and low wings that give them low moments of inertia in both roll and yaw on the ground. Landing and roll out is the difference between balancing with you feet comfortably apart and your elbows tucked in compared with having a 10 foot plank strapped to our shoulders and your ankles tied together.
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  #72  
Old 02-10-2013, 11:42 AM
houndsfour houndsfour is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Lockport, Illinois
Posts: 99
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Having read the whole thread, I would like to add something that I went through
Just this past summer. I have been flying my 6 for over 8 years. My landing were a sight to behold for the first several hours. I learned to land it and am very happy with the plane. My son will be flying the 6 soon and I didn't want him to get scared of it after flying his Champ for several years. Long story short, I knew the CG was at the aft end of the range and was pitch sensitive. I added weight to the nose to move the CG forward. Made it a different plane.
When my son flew it the first time he said damm this is easy to land.
What I,m saying is, make sure the TD you want to build/fly is balances at the mid range of the CG. It really will make you learning experience
Enjoyable.
Rich
RV6 N721ET
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  #73  
Old 02-10-2013, 12:17 PM
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Mel Mel is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by n5lp View Post
One of the very interesting things about the Shuttle is that the nose MUST be actively lowered as the drag chute is trying to keep it in the air. If it is not forced down it will eventually come crashing down.
Remember when flying your RV(A) to hold that nose off as long as possible and when flying the Shuttle remember to do just the opposite.
According to Robert "Hoot" Gibson, Shuttle Commander, the nose-wheel must be actively lowered because the main gear alone will not support the weight of the shuttle.
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  #74  
Old 02-16-2013, 09:32 AM
SHIPCHIEF SHIPCHIEF is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Seattle
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Back to the OP question, I have a Throp T-18. It's light, has an O-290 and a wood prop. I recently replaced the starter with a SkyTech Flyweight starter, and re-weighed the plane. The battery is in the back so it has a somewhat aft CG. Landing does take some care for bouncing, drop ins, tailwheel first landings, and it tends to get swervy as it slows thru about 40, then it improves. We fly it out of a 2500 ft. grass strip.
My wife (CFII) got her tail wheel endorsement in it, but really struggles with it.
Our son Peter bought an RV-4, with 160 HP wood prop. Marilyn flew and landed it just fine. Now she wants an RV-4!
Over on another thread about 8TW landings, a poster with a T-18, 180 HP CS prop related different landing qualities, so I presume a heavier A/C with more forward CG would be quite different. I'll be moving the battery forward on mine and re-weighing it.
I just love EAA!! Our chapter (326) has electronic scales. You can weigh your plane as often as you like, for $20. I weighed my RV-8 and my T-18, then my son's RV-4. This is very worthwhile and can probably explain a lot regarding landing.
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http://gallery.eaa326.org/v/members/semery/
EAA 668340, chapter 326 & IAC chapter 67
RV-8 N89SE first flight 12/26/2013
Yak55M, and the wife has an RV-4
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2019
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  #75  
Old 02-16-2013, 10:49 AM
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RV7Guy RV7Guy is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Chandler, AZ
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Why not sign up for "Official" transition training? You can get with Mike in Oregon or Alex in Dallas. This way you can get the RV sign off in a taildragger for insurance and learn about them with some of the best in the business.

When I built my 7 I had NO tail time. I flew a few people in Cubs, Husky's and the like. Went up to Oregon and got the check out with Mike Seager. When my plane was done, I had an experienced RV pilot do the first flights. (Robbie Attaway).

Finally, I flew it. I was careful and watched cross wind scenarios, still do.

You'll be fine. I do highly recommend getting some official transition.
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  #76  
Old 02-16-2013, 07:40 PM
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Ironflight Ironflight is offline
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Location: Dayton, NV
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mel View Post
According to Robert "Hoot" Gibson, Shuttle Commander, the nose-wheel must be actively lowered because the main gear alone will not support the weight of the shuttle.
Well Mel.....I'm not exactly sure that's what Hoot might have said. A single main landing gear won't support the weight, so you can't land it in a sip, but the two main's together (assuming all four tires are still inflated) are fine to hold the weight until you get it on the main. Blow a main gear tire, and it gets MUCH more exciting!

Landing tail draggers? Just fly 'em like airplanes.... it's not that complicated - people used to solo Cubs with five or six hours in their logbooks, and no one thought anything about it. Don't let anyone psych you out!
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RV-8 - N188PD - "Valkyrie"
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  #77  
Old 02-16-2013, 09:33 PM
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Toobuilder Toobuilder is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ironflight View Post
...Landing tail draggers? Just fly 'em like airplanes.... it's not that complicated - people used to solo Cubs with five or six hours in their logbooks, and no one thought anything about it. Don't let anyone psych you out!
Yep, and they used to throw teenagers into P-51's and B-17's loaded with bombs and fuel and aim them at a hostile foreign land too.

...kind of takes the "hero" out of flying an RV, doesn't it?
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WARNING! Incorrect design and/or fabrication of aircraft and/or components may result in injury or death. Information presented in this post is based on my own experience - Reader has sole responsibility for determining accuracy or suitability for use.

Michael Robinson
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  #78  
Old 02-19-2013, 07:27 AM
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N355DW N355DW is offline
 
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Location: Port St Lucie, FL
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Default right-hand

In every taildragger/stick aircraft I have ever flown, I flew with my right hand on the stick. I have a fair amount of time in these airplanes, and I see no need to change now, so I am setting up my -7 to fly from the right side.
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  #79  
Old 02-19-2013, 07:41 AM
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n5lp n5lp is offline
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Location: Carlsbad, NM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N355DW View Post
In every taildragger/stick aircraft I have ever flown, I flew with my right hand on the stick. I have a fair amount of time in these airplanes, and I see no need to change now, so I am setting up my -7 to fly from the right side.
I worried about that. After about 20 seconds it never entered my mind again.
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  #80  
Old 02-19-2013, 07:50 AM
chrish chrish is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Australia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N355DW View Post
In every taildragger/stick aircraft I have ever flown, I flew with my right hand on the stick. I have a fair amount of time in these airplanes, and I see no need to change now, so I am setting up my -7 to fly from the right side.
This is about as big of a problem as driving a car from the left seat using left hand on wheel and right hand on gear stick, that is - zero problem.

In fact, every modern Airbus Captain flies this way.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/1100366/
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