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mdnanwelch7(at)hotmail.co
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 Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:23 am Post subject: Taildragger or nosedragger |
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Pat C and Kolb people C
What is better C a taildragger or nosedragger? It depends on the type of flying a person does. Why would the type of flying C or more specifically C the type of LANDING they do C be more appropriate for non-airport type landings?
Here's why:
Example; A nosewheel airplane usually has a smaller wheel than the mains. In the process of slowing down (during the landing roll) C much more pressure is applied to the nosewheel as the plane pitches forward. This downward force is pushing on ONE (!) small tire. On any kind of soft grass/dirt/mud/etc runway C a nosewheel airplane runs the risk of "digging in" C and flipping over.
Contrast that idea with a taildragger. When applying brakes C to slow down from landing C you are concentrating the airplane's weight on TWO wheels. Each of these two wheels are larger than what only one small nosewheel would be C thereby distributing the airplane's weight better (and safer). Also C as the plane drops it's tailwheel C the center of gravity shift's rearward C which is also better if landing on a soft surface.
This fact alone is why there is no such thing as a nosewheel bush plane. It would be foolish to build upon a flawed concept of using a nosewheel design in a soft field environment.
Airplane C like automobiles C come in many different styles. What works for one C will not likely work well for another. If someone believes a taildragger airplane works better for them C then they most likely see a lot of non-airport landings.
Additionally C since most taildragger designs are tractor types C they often has much better prop clearance from thrown-up debri C when the plane has slowed down (and resting on the tailwheel).
Nosewheel style planes have their place in airport operations C or at least on hard surface runways.
Worked on my MkIII yesterday for the first time in 6 months. Yay! I'm nearing completion on my house that I'm building. I'm looking forward to working fulltime on the Kolb all winter. I should be able to finish it in about 3 months.
Mike Welch
MkIII
Hotmail: Powerful Free e222986/direct/01/' target='_new'>Get it now. [quote][b]
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kuffel(at)cyberport.net
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| Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 11:29 am Post subject: Taildragger or nosedragger |
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Both have their pluses and minuses. But for grass or unimproved runways I much prefer a taildragger.
When I lived in Anchorage my next door neighbor got an absolutely fantastic deal on a Cessna 182 in South Carolina. On his first flight after getting back to Alaska he landed at the best maintained grass airfield in the state. While taxing slowly, the nose wheel caught a rut and folded back. Between the bent firewall and the prop strike the plane was totaled and never flew again.
So when flying my Mooney I'm extra cautious when not on paved ground. At least it has trailing link knee action in front which is less vulnerable than the Cessnas.
Tom Kuffel
Whitefish, MT
Building original FireStar
[quote][b]
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