Norman CYYJ
Well Known Member
I am kind of curious, how RVers have ground looped their plane? We all talk about other mishaps but never ground loops.
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Here's a better question, at what point do you stop thinking about the landing and just do it?
I don't even think about it any more, the landings are no more difficult than landing a nose wheel to me.
People are afraid of airplanes with the little wheel in back and at some you realize that all the hype is BS and just land the thing. After all, there are a lot of tail wheel pilots that aren't Supermen.
"Jim felt like his rudder control was not what it should have been, so it was mechanical, certainly. As soon as we hit, we fish-tailed and spun around a couple of times. "
...
Finnerty said the plane, which he described as an experimental model
rated for aerobatics, suffered significant damage.[/I]
I don't even think about it any more, the landings are no more difficult than landing a nose wheel to me.
Uh huh. Right. Mechanical, certainly. Suuuuure.
A little google-fu will find the rest of the story. He had gone somewhere and had a tailwheel chain fail. Instead of fixing it, he elected to fly the airplane in that condition. Voila, ground loop.
That's the trouble with politicians these days...entirely one way or the other, and the country winds up going in circles
RVs are one of the least GL susceptible. Now, a -170 on the other hand...
There's those who have, and those who will.
Teaching tailwheel ops, you have to let them get close to the "edge" - a lot. Otherwise, they aren't learning to control the plane. And there is a point where you get too close to the edge, and can't get back. Teach enough tailwheel, and you'll see what I mean.If you have trouble with a 170, you need to check the landing gear alignment. It's one of the more docile airplanes on the planet, IMHO, but just like any other taildraggers, toe-in will make them a hand full. Now a Stearman on the other hand KNOWS when you aren't paying attention....
Teaching tailwheel ops, you have to let them get close to the "edge" - a lot. Otherwise, they aren't learning to control the plane. And there is a point where you get too close to the edge, and can't get back. Teach enough tailwheel, and you'll see what I mean.
(And yes, that was a sweet -170 that always stayed where I wanted it when I was driving.)
Teaching tailwheel ops, you have to let them get close to the "edge" - a lot. Otherwise, they aren't learning to control the plane. And there is a point where you get too close to the edge, and can't get back. Teach enough tailwheel, and you'll see what I mean.
(And yes, that was a sweet -170 that always stayed where I wanted it when I was driving.)
Bryan,
I'm not an instructor but I think I know what you mean. My Dad wasn't an instructor either, but he rode with me in his Stearman long enough for me to figure it out (I was already flying a J-3 and my 170). He wouldn't let me solo until I had let it almost get away from me and recover a few times without his input.
If your original statement was meant to imply that a 170 is more difficult than an RV, then all I have to do when I first fly my -7 is not let that thought go to my head. I do have an hour of dual in an RV-6, and the only trouble I had with it compared to the 170 was its significantly less forward visibility. (Of course, I do plan on transition training as close as possible to first flight).
I thought if you used the forest of tabs on the firewall you eliminated ground loops?..
Brilliant! ....am I the only one that got this? taildragger folks are so defensive.
If you really want to test/upgrade your skills, fly a short-wing Piper taildragger!
If you really want to test/upgrade your skills, fly a short-wing Piper taildragger!
There's those who have, and those who will.
I sure hope THATS not true...
If you really want to test/upgrade your skills, fly a short-wing Piper taildragger!
....snipped.... Now a Stearman on the other hand KNOWS when you aren't paying attention....