rdewees(at)mindspring.com Guest
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:21 am Post subject: 601 Taildragger |
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Quote: | Hi Jonathan,
I can respond to some of your concerns, but the decision is a personal
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one, as you have read. I acquired a 601HDS taildragger project and the
decision was made for me. I also thought it looked better but have come
to love it's handling and performance. It does eliminate a lot of
hardware hanging up front in the firewall area and the rudder feels
quite sensitive since you aren't driving the steering rods going to the
nosewheel. There is no air leak or carbon monoxide entry slit, and the
air box can sit flat on the firewall and feed the carby air with less
bends in the hoses, at least with a Jabiru motor.
Ground handling is simple and visibility is not compromised to any
great extent and no "S" turns are required to taxi. My plane seems to
have about 10 mph greater speed than nosewheel HDS models and the stall
qualifies it for LS category. I think many of these benefits are
available to any builder who keeps his plane light, straight, and simple
but I couldn't be happier with my choice.
Re insurance- I had no time logged in other than a Cub-like
ultralight taildragger, and got a tailwheel checkout in a Taylorcraft BC
12 before flying my HDS. The Taylorcraft was very similar in handling
to my ultralight and I got the endorsement in a few hours. I did not
apply for insurance until I flew off the Phase I limitation but had no
problem getting a policy via the EAA. It was comparable to what I paid
for a Mooney I had previously owned. They gave me a lot more trouble
about flying out of a turf strip than having a taildragger.
I think Zenith is understandably reluctant to talk up taildraggers
but that is for liability reasons and not performance. Whatever you
decide I would second the suggestion that you get some time in a
taildragger. It's a lot of fun and teaches you what your feet are
supposed to be doing when you fly.
Ron
N601TD
Quote: | Time: 05:13:50 AM PST US
From: "Jonathan Starke" <jonathan(at)entry.co.za>
Subject: Taildragger or not
Hi All,
I don't want to start a flame war but:
I am thinking along the lines of the tail dragger version and would like to know
what you guys think about the tail dragger 601XL vs the Tricycle version of the
601XL.
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