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 Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 8:15 am Post subject: Autopilot ?? |
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All right guys and gals, what do owners of Pitts Specials do, or many of the
other aerobatic planes?? The Zenith, from all engineering studies on tail
length, volume etc. should be a nice flying plane, should you shorten the tail
a foot or so maybe it would indeed be "twitchy".
Base your choice on statements from those with a variety of experience in
the similar aircraft, not Cessna, Pipers and so on. I've flown X-C in all
sorts of aircraft before autopilots were available and guess what ~~I'm still
here. Twitchy is not an engineering term to the best of my knowledge.
There wouldn't be so many Zenith aircraft built if they were "twitchy"~
(assuming that means impossible to hold on altitude & heading) I'm sure the
designer knows a lot more about designing than many who report on the twitchyness
do about handling characteristics.
That being said, are you building to fly with the auto pilot or to fly for
enjoyment?? I've got 25000 hours and still enjoy flying by hand, so what if I
have to go the awful task of changing the fuel tanks to keep in balance, or
moving the elevator trim as fuel burns off. This is part of flying.
Homebuilt aircraft are normally not as heavy on the controls as most
production aircraft, and the majority of pilots I fly with giving flight reviews
(CFI 40+ yrs) are not smooth on the controls unless they own their airplane and
fly at least every other week. ~~ hence "twitchy" feeling to them. Aircraft
should be flown with the fingertips for a smooth ride for pilot and
passengers.
The Pitts Special isn't a nasty flying aircraft, it does just exactly what
you tell it to, nothing more, nothing less. Knowing what to tell it is the
problem! Pilot Proficiency = Safety
Elbie
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