Paul A. Franz, P.E.
Joined: 02 Dec 2008
Posts: 280
Location: Bellevue WA
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 Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:02 pm Post subject: takeoff, landing, taxiing and crosswind technique |
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On Thu, January 1, 2009 7:57 pm, Noel Loveys wrote:
| Quote: | Thanks for the input Paul. Even with the few hours I have under my belt there are
still things I learn about flying almost every day.
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I think that is one of the coolest things about flying is the continuous learning
opportunity. My younger brother just got his Instrument Rating and he is an expert
flying the Microsoft Flight Simulator. So much so that the flight portion of the exam
was done after the minimum number of flight instruction hours. He has a lot of Super
Cub time in the flight simulator and has done hundreds of ground loops and recoveries
in it. He has zero actual time in a tail dragger but when I took him up in the rented
C-140 he was right at home. I think there is a KF Vixen plugin for MS Flight Simulator
and you can get some pretty good practice with that. Not being a KF owner, I wasn't
certain if a Vixen was a tail dragger though. I believe the Vixen in MS flight
simulator is from a 3rd party.
| Quote: |
While doing practices for soft field take offs in the C the instructor wanted me to
start the run with the nosewheel off the ground but not strike the tail of the plane.
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Must not have had a tail skid. My two Pipers both had them and there were rub marks on
them. When the tail skid rubbed on the pavement it made a horrible loud scraping noise
that seemed to echo inside the cabin. Neither of my Pipers had wheel pants. The 160
didn't have them and the Arrow had fold up feet so it didn't either but on some Cessna
172's the back of the wheel pants may get too close to the pavement if you touch the
tail skid.
| Quote: | he had me do several practices of taxiing back to the hangar without letting the
nosewheel touch the ground. As I remember it, it was like nailing jelly to a tree.
Of course those exercises were only done in dead calm conditions.
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Best to practice new stuff in calm conditions all right.
| Quote: | Too bad the 'Fox won't take both our weight OI'd love to let him see what a
manouverable plane is like. Especially one that climbs like the Fox, even on floats.
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I've never flown in a KF. Almost did in the late Miguel Ramirez' KF Model 4. It just
isn't wide enough for two big guys. I'm about the same size as Miguel and with both of
us sitting in it there just wasn't room enough to get much side to side stick
movement. We had to twist a little crosswise to fit too. Not enough shoulder width. I
did taxi it around by myself and as generous as Miguel was, he just offered to let me
have a go in it by myself. My impression from just taxiing was that the gear was
pretty narrow and you needed to be careful. He had the standard bungie gear rather
than the wider and taller grove spring gear.
| Quote: |
I had a momentary difficulty in imagining the figure 8 you mentioned but I was
visualizing the 8 on its side like an infinity symbol. Needless to say that didn't
work.
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That applies solidly when turning a tight circle. Obviously if you've got a tail wind
and you're taxiing downwind faster than the downwind speed, you don't have the stick
all the way forward. Of course, some people say you shouldn't be taxiing faster than a
person walking fast or jogging anyway. I've gotten hollered at for taxiing too fast a
couple of times. People can get really irate about that.
As you said, you will always be learning something new flying.
--
Paul A. Franz
Registration/Aircraft - N14UW/Merlin GT
Engine/Prop - Rotax 914/NSI CAP
Bellevue WA
425.241.1618 Cell
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_________________
Paul A. Franz, P.E.
Registration/Aircraft - N14UW/Merlin GT
Engine/Prop - Rotax 914/NSI CAP
Bellevue WA
425.241.1618 Cell
425.440.9505 Office |
|
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