Why FTDK?
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Didn't a couple of doctors die in a V Tail Bonanza at Brisbane airport a number of years ago? I seem to recall they tried landing at the old Brisbane airport after it had closed and a light pole brought them down?
VH-CAB. Hmmm. Isn't that an old ex DCA aircraft?
training wheels. There was a US built twin tailed, low wing light aircraft from the late 1940s that had brake pedals but no rudder pedals. For the life of me I can't recall what it was called but they were fairly numerous in their day. Someone here will remember what it was.
VH-CAB. Hmmm. Isn't that an old ex DCA aircraft?
training wheels. There was a US built twin tailed, low wing light aircraft from the late 1940s that had brake pedals but no rudder pedals. For the life of me I can't recall what it was called but they were fairly numerous in their day. Someone here will remember what it was.
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Pretty sure the aircraft that was certified sans rudder pedals was the Ercoupe.
Ain't she a beauty??
Rudder pedals were linked to the ailerons.......don't ask me what you did in a crosswind, perhaps pray?
The Comet.
The Comet.
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TW
It was called the AEROCOUP....errr corrected to Ercoup (my bad), and it had a steering wheel, no rudder pedals.
You could rent them for USD$3 an hour way back when........when you were a toddler perhaps?
Long before I cam along!
J
It was called the AEROCOUP....errr corrected to Ercoup (my bad), and it had a steering wheel, no rudder pedals.
You could rent them for USD$3 an hour way back when........when you were a toddler perhaps?
Long before I cam along!J
Last edited by Jabawocky; 24th Oct 2007 at 05:06. Reason: spelling of an odd name aeroplane...or was that airplane?
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Geeeez! And I thought I was gonna get the lollypop for getting that one right!
Not quick enough it seems!
J
And another ....... Pretty sharp lot us D&G Prooooners!
Not quick enough it seems!
J
And another ....... Pretty sharp lot us D&G Prooooners!
Tail Wheel
Twas a Baron but I don't know if they were doctors.
13APR90
Beech Baron VH-TSM crashed on the disused Runway 04 after striking a light pole on Lomandra Drive. The aircraft was attempting a landing on the old runway which was bisected by Lomandra Drive when the new airport opened.
Twas a Baron but I don't know if they were doctors.
13APR90
Beech Baron VH-TSM crashed on the disused Runway 04 after striking a light pole on Lomandra Drive. The aircraft was attempting a landing on the old runway which was bisected by Lomandra Drive when the new airport opened.
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Once knew the owner of a caravan park in Kunnas who owned a FTDK. This one had tip tanks. Was this a factory option and if so what did it do for range/ payload etc? Anyone?
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I probably would not launch into hard core IMC without the AP, but have never found the V35B to be a handful when handflown IFR.
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looking at the size of the rudder/fin on the ercoupe, i would suggest that anything over about 3 knots of crosswind would result in a diversion to the nearest into-wind runway
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With regard to flying the FTDK in IFR.
One of the problems is that they are damned near impossible to trim. With the V-tail, you can set the elevator trim so the ruddervators are in trail, which reduces drag, but as soon as you try to trim for yaw, they go out of trail! It's a hit-and-miss process and takes a lot of experimentation to get it right. Personally, I don't think I've ever done it.
With regard to rudder input only.
It will behave like any other aircraft, you will get a roll. A few years ago a friend got in strife when he lost control over the right aileron due to a cable end fracture. It resulted in the starboard aileron deflecting fully down and locking there. He pulled off an emergency landing safely with skillful use of the ruddervators and throttle. Had he not been able to counter the savage left roll tendency with rudder, he wouldn't have gotten it down.
Walrus
One of the problems is that they are damned near impossible to trim. With the V-tail, you can set the elevator trim so the ruddervators are in trail, which reduces drag, but as soon as you try to trim for yaw, they go out of trail! It's a hit-and-miss process and takes a lot of experimentation to get it right. Personally, I don't think I've ever done it.
With regard to rudder input only.
It will behave like any other aircraft, you will get a roll. A few years ago a friend got in strife when he lost control over the right aileron due to a cable end fracture. It resulted in the starboard aileron deflecting fully down and locking there. He pulled off an emergency landing safely with skillful use of the ruddervators and throttle. Had he not been able to counter the savage left roll tendency with rudder, he wouldn't have gotten it down.
Walrus
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Skip over this one if you've heard it .....
A GA pilot of fairly modest means dies in his sleep and heads upstairs. He rings the intercom at the Pearly Gates and St Peter says he'll be down to see him shortly.
Whilst he's waiting he sees a Bonanza coming in to land just adjacent to the Gates. The pilot's a maniac - he's too fast, he's kicking the rudder one way then another, he balloons then dives for the runway and lands nose gear first. The nose gear collapses and the aircraft comes screeching to a halt with bent blades, a wrecked IO550 and panel damage galore. The Bonanza's pilot calmly steps out and walks away.
Our friend the GA pilot shakes his head in amazement and goes on waiting for St Peter. A few minutes later he hears a P-51 coming in. The P-51 bounces and bounces and the tail's going up and down and up and down and only just avoids the wrecked Beechcraft on the Heaven runway. A savage ground loop follows, a tip digs in and the aircraft flips. The pilot wriggles out - IT'S THE SAME BLOKE!
Our mate's jaw is on the floor. Just then, as he watches the P-51 pilot walk away as though nothing has happened, St Peter arrives. "Hello" he says.
"Wha .... who ..... DID YOU SEE THAT?" he asks St Peter "what's going on - who is that bloke?"
"Ooooh, that's just God" says St Peter "he thinks he's a surgeon ...."
Whilst he's waiting he sees a Bonanza coming in to land just adjacent to the Gates. The pilot's a maniac - he's too fast, he's kicking the rudder one way then another, he balloons then dives for the runway and lands nose gear first. The nose gear collapses and the aircraft comes screeching to a halt with bent blades, a wrecked IO550 and panel damage galore. The Bonanza's pilot calmly steps out and walks away.
Our friend the GA pilot shakes his head in amazement and goes on waiting for St Peter. A few minutes later he hears a P-51 coming in. The P-51 bounces and bounces and the tail's going up and down and up and down and only just avoids the wrecked Beechcraft on the Heaven runway. A savage ground loop follows, a tip digs in and the aircraft flips. The pilot wriggles out - IT'S THE SAME BLOKE!
Our mate's jaw is on the floor. Just then, as he watches the P-51 pilot walk away as though nothing has happened, St Peter arrives. "Hello" he says.
"Wha .... who ..... DID YOU SEE THAT?" he asks St Peter "what's going on - who is that bloke?"
"Ooooh, that's just God" says St Peter "he thinks he's a surgeon ...."
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Some Corrections ....
RIGHT THEN...........
As the co-owner of the ONLY original ERCO (Engineering and Research Company) Ercoupe registered in Australia (VH-ERC - a 1946 415-D model) I reckon I can correct a couple of misapprehensions --
1) Jabawocky - note the spelling. What's an AEROCOUP? some kind of political takeover in the sky
2) toolowtoofast / corowacomet - I have landed in 24 knots of DIRECT X-wind. The aircraft has no rudder pedals, they are aileron linked. Simply crab onto the runway and keep the nosewheel off until she straightens up. You fella's must be like the young instructors who I so enjoy taking out in a x-wind and watching their eyes on stalks as we come down short final yawed at 35 degrees to the centreline! Sure you need rudders on a taildragger, but whole design philosophy on the Ercoupe was to use the then-new tricyle undercarriage with it's forward C of G to allow this to occur.
Some other interesting facts:
1) Fred Weick, the designer of the Ercoupe also was lead designer on the original Bonanza (have a look at the cowl front end) and the original cherokee
2) The Ercoupe was the first tricyle, all metal GA monoplane and ERCO held the patent on tricycle undercarriage for many years.
VH-ERC won the concours d'elegance (Champions of Champions) at the 2005 Australian International Airshow (Avalon)..........
Here's a picture:.....
As the co-owner of the ONLY original ERCO (Engineering and Research Company) Ercoupe registered in Australia (VH-ERC - a 1946 415-D model) I reckon I can correct a couple of misapprehensions --
1) Jabawocky - note the spelling. What's an AEROCOUP? some kind of political takeover in the sky
2) toolowtoofast / corowacomet - I have landed in 24 knots of DIRECT X-wind. The aircraft has no rudder pedals, they are aileron linked. Simply crab onto the runway and keep the nosewheel off until she straightens up. You fella's must be like the young instructors who I so enjoy taking out in a x-wind and watching their eyes on stalks as we come down short final yawed at 35 degrees to the centreline! Sure you need rudders on a taildragger, but whole design philosophy on the Ercoupe was to use the then-new tricyle undercarriage with it's forward C of G to allow this to occur.
Some other interesting facts:
1) Fred Weick, the designer of the Ercoupe also was lead designer on the original Bonanza (have a look at the cowl front end) and the original cherokee
2) The Ercoupe was the first tricyle, all metal GA monoplane and ERCO held the patent on tricycle undercarriage for many years.
VH-ERC won the concours d'elegance (Champions of Champions) at the 2005 Australian International Airshow (Avalon)..........
Here's a picture:.....
Last edited by PilotHTR; 24th Oct 2007 at 04:30.
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Those Ercoupe owners sure are touchy! Actually that should be OWNER seeing as there is only one!
"....Simply crab onto the runway and keep the nosewheel off until she straightens up....."
Just out of interest does this mean that you touch down with the crab angle still on? ie sideways?
I guess you don't have anything to put the boot into so yes!
PilotHTR how is it to fly generally? Is it pretty conventional other than the aforementioned cross wind technique?
The Comet.
PS My apologies for dissin your ride dude!
"....Simply crab onto the runway and keep the nosewheel off until she straightens up....."
Just out of interest does this mean that you touch down with the crab angle still on? ie sideways?
I guess you don't have anything to put the boot into so yes!PilotHTR how is it to fly generally? Is it pretty conventional other than the aforementioned cross wind technique?
The Comet.
PS My apologies for dissin your ride dude!
