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Old 20th Nov 2009, 23:58
  #7 (permalink)  
slatch
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: California
Age: 64
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Flown both T tail and straight tail, turbo and non turbo. Like previously mentioned the turbo T tail can be a handful. It runs hot and takes a lot of attention from takeoff to landing to ensure you don't damage the engine. The T tail is not a good airplane for short runways. Seen a lot of damaged nose gear's. You need to keep the speed up on landing and get the nose on the ground before the T tail stops flying. Problem areas, Wing attachment bolts for corrosion, Exhaust hat, Engine mounts, Nose gear. We usually had access to both a straight tail non-turbo and a T tail Turbo. Without a doubt most of the pilots took the straight tail non turbo if they had a choice. The only reason we would take the T tail was if it was a real long trip 600+, or we needed to climb above weather or the mountains. We also had a Cherokee Six, If I remember correctly it had the same load (750lbs with full fuel, 100gal) and was only 10-15 mph slower than the non-turbo.
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