Help Stamp Out Nosewheels

[David-aviator]

Originally Posted by DaleB

Just askng. I wasn't trying to imply anything or criticize... bear in mind I have no TW endorsement, no TW training, have never taken off or landed a TW airplane, and am building a tail dragger. ::shrug::

I did know the insurance cost would probably be pretty brutal the first year.

Depends. It pays to shop for insurance, the industry is very fluid.

My attitude about TW ops has changed significantly. IT IS MORE FUN probably due to the ongoing challenge and not likely to be boring. That wasn't true before the 8 came into my life. Its the same feeling one gets going off on an alternate engine trip - something to keep the fire burning inside.

The nose wheel came into being out of safety concerns, TW ops is more difficult and always has been. But most guys learn it, adjust their flying habits and end up liking it.

In the past week I flew the 8, flew with a friend in the 7, and again in the 8. There is a difference in the gear system that requires your attention in the 7 (and 6 also). It is less forgiving than the stiff 8 gear legs.

Too bad you are committed to the 7 or I would have helped you decide to go with the 8.

[Don]

Originally Posted by JonJay

Reminds me of the NW Antique Aircraft Association. This show drew as many as 300 antiques, many the only examples flying, and was one of the most popular antique fly ins in the country.
I showed up with my '42 Aeronca L3 and was delegated to the back line. "Antiques have round engines", I was told.
Last year, I think there where 15 airplanes in attendance, including my Champ (one a workmanship award, how ironic). I think there where three or four round engines. The directors are now begging for anyone to show, in anything.

A couple year ago they even asked our RV formation group, West Coast Ravens, to entertain. We did, and nobody appreciated it.

Lee Bottom could be headed down the road to obscurity. Stupid.....

There's a lot to be said for the stability of diverse systems. In nature, species diversity is essential for the survival of the community. It appears you have an example of diversity being essential to the survival of an antique aircraft show. Likewise, as Van's has recognized diversity in both aircraft models and landing gear design has made for an effective (stable or growing) business model. Anyone that seriously seeks to limit diversity - and there are folks everywhere in religion, politics, and alas aviation that do - are just showing either intolerance or ignorance about what makes for a stable or growing community. And to be clear, ignorance is a lack of knowledge which is curable and very different from stupidity which isn't curable.

My airport struggles to make ends meet. If you cut out the fuel sales (and profits) from nose wheel aircraft, the tail wheel survivors would need to find anther airport for fuel, hanger space, and maintenance services. If you stamped out nose wheel aircraft, Oshkosh would be a shadow of it's former self. How many independent IA's could survive with only tail wheel aircraft? Certainly "enough" would survive far less than we have today.I dare say the existence of nose wheel aircraft is a major supporter of the services we all need to keep private aviation alive.

I suppose the OP may have started out in jest but I find the idea rather ignorant.

[DaleB]

Originally Posted by David-aviator

Too bad your are committed to the 7 or I would have helped you decide to go with the 8.

I really did consider the 8. There's really nothing I don't like about the 8 for solo flying. What tipped the scales for me is that my wife and I have many miles on our Harley, and while she says she doesn't mind riding tandem, I would just prefer side by side seating. Simply put, I'd rather have my honey beside me than behind me.

So obviously I need two airplanes, right?

[Tim 8-A]

Fly a nose wheel and hang out with Tail wheel pilots you can have the best of all worlds.
Fly the most comfortable, look out your canopy and see the best looking, and get ridiculed at every stop so you never get over confident in your abilities.

[JonJay]

Originally Posted by Chkaharyer99

In February I bought a completed 8 in Arizona far away from my home. Knowing I would buy an 8 I sought out training in Citabrias then finally got checked out by the best, Mike Seagar in his RV-7. I felt prepared until I flew the 8 for the first time. Holy cow!

I tried for three days in Arizona to 3 point the 8. I think I actually did maybe twice. Still wasn't pretty. All the other attempts scared the living **** out of me. The density altitude was at around 6000 and I never experienced that kind of ground speed before, plus I was coming in way too fast.

On the third day, I read how to land an RV-8 here on VAF. Saw tons of posts from guys like David, Dan, Paul and others I've come to trust and respect over the years. Now I wheel it on and its amazing. Occasionally I can convert a bad wheelie into a nice 3 pt. Takes awhile to get that confidence back.

Like David said, its challenging and fun. I'm having a blast. Got to pay attention and keep those feet alive. So glad I made this decision.

Now I understand why my insurance is so high.

I could of got my insurance way lower, like $300.00, had I received an additional 10 hours (Total of 20) training in type. Looking back on my experience, I wish I would have done that since I'm a low-time newbie.

Your experience is parallel with a buddy of mine. He trained in a Citabria and then picked up his 8 and flew it. Same trouble with 3 pointers. I told him what I would encourage you to do. There will times when you will not want that tail up in the air. Don't leave 3 point landings out of your tool box! Get the training and get proficient.
Also, have you insured your gear alignment is good? (sorry for the drift)

[DougJ]

I bought my -6 with no TW time, as a matter fact I didn't even have a Single Engine rating at the time.

I did the ASEL add on and then flew with Mike Seager the next week. About 9 hours in the -7 and I had my insurance blessing and TW endorsement, I left from there to go to Alabama to pick up the airplane.

I had already made arraignments with Jenny at NationAir for insurance. I had no hour requirements, just needed to get the sign-off from Mike. First year was right at $1300 for pretty standard limits with a $45,000 hull with the underwriter I chose. The second year was about $900 with the same hull and better coverage overall. I don't think these numbers are completely out of line with what I would have been quoted for a nosedragger.

[plehrke]

Originally Posted by Don

Likewise, as Van's has recognized diversity in both aircraft models and landing gear design has made for an effective (stable or growing) business model.

Landing gear placement is a choice by the design engineer. Some airplanes make sense to have the "taxi" wheel in front and others in back. The RV series is one of the very few designes that seems to have little compromise for the location of the third wheel.
I do not want to stamp out people that want to paint their airplane orange with green poka dots so why would I want to stamp out people that have chosen a different gear arrangement, especially since it has very little performance or safety compromise. OSH would really be boring with row after row of white, low wing, 4 cylinder, tail wheel aircraft.

[curtis]

Originally Posted by plehrke

Landing gear placement is a choice by the design engineer. Some airplanes make sense to have the "taxi" wheel in front and others in back. The RV series is one of the very few designes that seems to have little compromise for the location of the third wheel.
I do not want to stamp out people that want to paint their airplane orange with green poka dots so why would I want to stamp out people that have chosen a different gear arrangement, especially since it has very little performance or safety compromise. OSH would really be boring with row after row of white, low wing, 4 cylinder, tail wheel aircraft.

Agree 100%.

[Bill Boyd]

Originally Posted by Mel

If you don't walk into something once in a while, you're not walking enough!

And if you don't taxi into something on a taxiway every once in awhile, you're piloting a nose wheel aircraft. With, like, visibility and stuff