Tail Draggers!
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Tail Draggers!
Well today I finally took the plunge and started to learn to fly my Luton Minor! I started by taxying up and down the runway looking for the inevitable ground loop and sure enough I found it or was it found me
Not as terrifying as I first imagined plenty of room and virtually no speed, it was drummed into me not above walking pace down wind. I then progressed onto lifting the tail which is a novel experience after 100 hours in trikes! The best part was the experience of chocks and hand starting the VW engine was a delight to start and idled beautifully. I am typing this with a grin on my face the likes of which was last there after my first solo, hope this thread is not out of place but I just had to share my experience.
John.
Not as terrifying as I first imagined plenty of room and virtually no speed, it was drummed into me not above walking pace down wind. I then progressed onto lifting the tail which is a novel experience after 100 hours in trikes! The best part was the experience of chocks and hand starting the VW engine was a delight to start and idled beautifully. I am typing this with a grin on my face the likes of which was last there after my first solo, hope this thread is not out of place but I just had to share my experience.John.
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Yes but it wasnt in a vintage aircraft with castoring tail wheel, heel brakes and a cross wind. Probable cause was a momentary distraction and missing the brake more practise on type required!
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Luton Minor
Well done John
For what its worth, I'd pick a day when there's NO crosswind, more like 10kt on the nose. (Not a windless day either)
I'm not a fan of trundling about on the ground !
Once you know what the 3-point attitude looks like, and how the brakes feel, I'd get airborne asap. Or leave it in the hangar.
If you've done a tailwheel conversion there won't be a problem.
Keep smiling !
For what its worth, I'd pick a day when there's NO crosswind, more like 10kt on the nose. (Not a windless day either)
I'm not a fan of trundling about on the ground !
Once you know what the 3-point attitude looks like, and how the brakes feel, I'd get airborne asap. Or leave it in the hangar.
If you've done a tailwheel conversion there won't be a problem.
Keep smiling !
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Just out of interest, what reg Luton Minor? I ask as my old group's one, G-BBCY has winged its way north.
Lovely aeroplane with extra controls ... steer by putting arm out into the slipstream
SS
Lovely aeroplane with extra controls ... steer by putting arm out into the slipstream
SS
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So you bought it then! When and where did you do the differences training?
Groundloop? Shouldn't really be inevitable ol' boy. Just get those feet working a bit harder!
Groundloop? Shouldn't really be inevitable ol' boy. Just get those feet working a bit harder!
Just finishing my engine runs before my first permit renewal. 3 years of rebuild after the previous owner parked it rather heavily. I last flew a single about 10 years ago and have maybe 5 hours on tailwheels.
I've got "grandfather rights" to have them on my licence but would like to get some proper training in.
Left throttle, right hand individual finger brake levers, metal tailskid, no handbrake. I've fitted a shorter prop for my taxying trials!!
So, where to go for tailwheel training?
Any volunteers? I'm in cardiff but can travel.
I've got "grandfather rights" to have them on my licence but would like to get some proper training in.
Left throttle, right hand individual finger brake levers, metal tailskid, no handbrake. I've fitted a shorter prop for my taxying trials!!
So, where to go for tailwheel training?
Any volunteers? I'm in cardiff but can travel.
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Short stripper you will be interested to know it is G-BBCY and it is a very nice aircraft the engine is particularly nice unit very smooth.
SAS I had trouble finding a taildragger to do the training in but managed at Perth. I was Talking to Dai but I think the pitts was out of my league.
Blue Up nice picture I will post a picture when I get round to resizing good luck in your quest for training its not easy to find!!
SAS I had trouble finding a taildragger to do the training in but managed at Perth. I was Talking to Dai but I think the pitts was out of my league.
Blue Up nice picture I will post a picture when I get round to resizing good luck in your quest for training its not easy to find!!
If you're still asking in a month, drop me a PM - hopefully both of my shares in vintage, difficult to fly taildraggers will be up and running again (both down after, err, problematic annuals right now). I'd gladly swap a few hours for a go in the Luton.
Failing that, let's be honest - you're flying a microlight there - it's weight, drag, probably rather antique flying qualities, are all more microlight than modern aeroplane. The best training is almost certainly going to be in something like a Thruster TST (or better still, an Escapade if you can find a helpful owner, since it has heel-brakes - although not a castoring tailwheel - the nosewheel version is castoring, and quite easy to groundloop).
Try PMing Wyvern or Madambreakneck they both have a lot of experience successfully teaching people to fly such things.
G
N.B. If that's you in the photo, the problem may be that you need to use a few more cushions?
Failing that, let's be honest - you're flying a microlight there - it's weight, drag, probably rather antique flying qualities, are all more microlight than modern aeroplane. The best training is almost certainly going to be in something like a Thruster TST (or better still, an Escapade if you can find a helpful owner, since it has heel-brakes - although not a castoring tailwheel - the nosewheel version is castoring, and quite easy to groundloop).
Try PMing Wyvern or Madambreakneck they both have a lot of experience successfully teaching people to fly such things.
G
N.B. If that's you in the photo, the problem may be that you need to use a few more cushions?
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Yippeeeeee!!!!
Finished the tailwheel conversion today,in truly excellent conditions.
As opposed to yesterday with a 15 knot 90 degree crosswind,well outside the Cub limits which I found very tricky before we stopped flying!
In all I've done 9hrs 15 mins in the Clacton Cub and throughly enjoyed it,but it has taken several weeks to complete the course due to poor weather and other people booking the Cub,very selfish of them ,I thought
Now just need a check ride in the local group Cub and I'm up and away.
This is the start, I hope,of many, many, happy hours flying.(Seems to be a lot of commas in there.)
Lister
As opposed to yesterday with a 15 knot 90 degree crosswind,well outside the Cub limits which I found very tricky before we stopped flying!
In all I've done 9hrs 15 mins in the Clacton Cub and throughly enjoyed it,but it has taken several weeks to complete the course due to poor weather and other people booking the Cub,very selfish of them ,I thought
Now just need a check ride in the local group Cub and I'm up and away.
This is the start, I hope,of many, many, happy hours flying.(Seems to be a lot of commas in there.)
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You'll be alright then S205-18F BBCY is a real lady and will look after you! The castoring tailwheel was never an issue with her as she has a powerful rudder and is very predictable. Her engine has been rebuilt since my days flying her, but it was always ok if treated with respect. my T31m is not unlike her, but does have a rather longer wingspan at 43'
You can't beat this kind of flying for value for money and pure FUN!!!
SS
BBCY is a real lady and will look after you! The castoring tailwheel was never an issue with her as she has a powerful rudder and is very predictable. Her engine has been rebuilt since my days flying her, but it was always ok if treated with respect. my T31m is not unlike her, but does have a rather longer wingspan at 43'You can't beat this kind of flying for value for money and pure FUN!!!
SS
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Thanks shortstripper I am certainly impressed with the build quality and finnish except for the cowl but I have been informed a new one is included in the sale. I am of the opinion that I will be a more competent pilot when I have a few more hours under my belt as it is a more demanding arrangement to land than trike set up. At least I will be able to dance better after all the foot moves with the rudder
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Apart from flying in DC-3's, I'd never been in a taildragger until this year when someone kindly took me up for a short scenic trip. Quite enjoyed the experience.
Circumstances had lead me to look for another aircraft to fly for pleasure. I had enjoyed a fast modern six place single but with Avgas prices on the rise was becoming very expensive.
Having spent a few months wondering what I was going to fly I am now in an RV-6 and I am grinning from ear to ear
I can now see how pilots can get in and out of 450 m runways, enjoy better views over short stubby wings and put the plane just where you want it.
But please.....don't ask me to expedite on the ground
I AM!
Circumstances had lead me to look for another aircraft to fly for pleasure. I had enjoyed a fast modern six place single but with Avgas prices on the rise was becoming very expensive.
Having spent a few months wondering what I was going to fly I am now in an RV-6 and I am grinning from ear to ear
I can now see how pilots can get in and out of 450 m runways, enjoy better views over short stubby wings and put the plane just where you want it.
But please.....don't ask me to expedite on the ground
I AM!
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Ok Lister Touche! yes I will accept the Cub, there seems to be more of a following of older aircraft here than we can see on the surface, maybe we will have to create our own sub culture or is it already on the go!
Chocks Away!!!
Chocks Away!!!
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I started by taxying up and down the runway looking for the inevitable ground loop and sure enough I found it or was it found me
Just seems to prolong the time of exposure for groundloops in people that have little or no experience.
Am I missing something?
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Flyin' Dutch - Would have agreed with you three weeks ago... However, I have a student at present who was having trouble with the landing roll - fine at touchdown but would over-control as we slowed down. I was persevering with full-stop/ backtrack circuits but not making much headway. A couple of weeks ago, thought I would change tack and try a few fast taxy runs to get some intense practice. In short, it's made all the difference and I'm fairly sure we've cured the issue.
As always, it's horses for courses - I have a wide grass area to play with, so an incipient groundloop can be managed with little problem and in this case, the benefit outweighed the risk...
As always, it's horses for courses - I have a wide grass area to play with, so an incipient groundloop can be managed with little problem and in this case, the benefit outweighed the risk...
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Hi folks I have a grin from ear to ear! Today the conditions were great not perfect but hey its Scotland in September! Fueled up did all the checks 4 pumps of the throttle mags off 4 turns of prop to draw fuel up, chocks checked contact first swing of prop and off she went! Taxied down wind to end of runway turned checked mags checked all surfaces and opened the throttle and off she went wow climb rate was a heady 200 fpm but who cares with the wind in your hair (eek I am bald) and nothing to worry about I dont think flying gets any better!
2 hours flying for a fuel outlay of 18 litres £17.65 yup I like it, motorbiking in the sky!
2 hours flying for a fuel outlay of 18 litres £17.65 yup I like it, motorbiking in the sky!