FOR THE LACK OF A NAIL...

[JW Scud]

[quote author=Colonel Sanders link=topic=9454.msg26454#msg26454 date=1547848288]
Joe Schwantz [/quote]

Schwantz? What is the definition of Schwantz? Try Google.

[quote author=Colonel Sanders link=topic=9454.msg26462#msg26462 date=1547904275]
Here's a taildragger landing tip from someone who isn't allowed to instruct in
Canada any more ...

Ever note that when you touch down in a taildragger, you always end up taking
a run at the right side of the runway?  Ever wonder why?

I spent many years watching people teach themselves to fly tailwheel, and the
normal sequence of events was that they would get behind the airplane (surprise!)
and flare rapidly right before touchdown.

Doing anything rapid in an airplane is generally not a good idea.

In this case, the rapid flare is a pitch up, which pushes the prop disc up from the
bottom, resulting in a yaw right because the prop spins clockwise, viewed from
behind.  90 degree lag in gyro precession, remember.

This kind of pitch-yaw coupling can really make a neophyte taildragger pilot's
life difficult.  Best if you can avoid creating problems to solve.

In this case, the aircraft yaws right immediately before touchdown, and off
to the right side of the runway you go.  Better get on the rudder pedals in a
most skillful and immediate manner.

Suggestion, from a shitty & stupid pilot: flare a taildragger slowly, to give
yourself time to feed in the left rudder, and touch down perfectly aligned
with the direction of travel of the taildragger.
[/quote]

This is interesting. I think my tailwheel touchdowns are usually fairly straight but I don't remember intentionally putting in eft rudder every time. Am I doing it without realizing it? or maybe not quite touching down straight but close enough? Flaring slowly enough that it doesn't really matter?

[Colonel]

[quote]I don't remember intentionally putting in left rudder every time[/quote]

If you flare slowly enough, and look outside, you are probably unconsciously
feeding in the left rudder as required, to keep the sight picture that you want.

Closed loop control.  All good pilots do it, even if they don't know they are.

This is affected by metal blade or composite/wood blade.  And, how many
blades.  And, how long they are.  If you have a large diameter three metal
blade prop, the gyroscopic effect is going to be awesome, especially at
slow speed.

[img width=500 height=334][/img]

But if you have two short, light composite or wood blades, there may be
almost no discernable gyroscopic effect.  A good example of this is the
PT-19 Cornell with a wooden two-blade prop.  I remember riding in one
and my son did a nice wheel landing, then plopped the tail down.

[img width=500 height=332][/img]

I said, "Hey kid, don't do that."  If he had a metal blade prop, it would
have swung the nose to the right, and it was hard on the tailwheel.

Looking at an airplane, there will be a HUGE difference between
metal or composite/wood blades in terms of pitch-yaw coupling,
and a HUGE difference in thrust/drag if it's constant speed instead
of fixed pitch.  The prop can totally change the character of an
airplane.  And the pitch of a fixed pitch prop can totally change an
aircraft, too.

[quote]What is the definition of Schwantz?[/quote]

Joe Schwantz was the Director of Enforcement for Ontario Region.
I had him on the stand as a witness one day - as I am sure most
people here have - and I asked him why he took some pretty incredible
and unprecedented action which was entirely outside Chapter 13 of
their policy manual.

He replied, "Because I don't like you"

I was floored.  I did not expect such honesty.  What a bizarre answer.
It's there, forever in the transcript, as a monument to a complete lack
of professionalism.

I stay as far away from Ontario Region as I can, these days.  Generally
about 2500 miles, and I'm not sure it's far enough.

[Colonel]

PS  If you have a wood prop, every once in a while pop the cotter pins
or lock wire, and check the torque.  You will be surprised.

[JW Scud]

[quote author=Colonel Sanders link=topic=9454.msg26468#msg26468 date=1547915493]

I won't talk about what I used to do, in airplanes.  Maybe in a few years.
[/quote]

Come Onnnnnnn!!!!

[Liquid Charlie]

And this morning says

[Colonel]

(YXL  -41C)

Holy crap!

If you're trying to make me homesick, it's not working  >:D

[quote]headers with 2.5 inch exhaust on the 350 V-8[/quote]

I remember my first exhaust, I went with the classic dual mufflers hanging
low just ahead of the differential.  Looks good until they hit a speed bump -
like the header fittings which start to leak after hitting stuff.  Looks cool to
be low, but I hate the flatulent sound of exhaust leaks.  A lot.

So for my next iteration, I got a set of headers and cut the exhaust mating
piece off (where the 3 bolts go) and welded on a pipe to take it down to
2.5 inches.  Nice and smooth, nothing to catch on the speed bumps.

Ran twin 2.5" pipes all the way back, to the stock muffler position, and had a
shop fab me a double-walled empty muffler in the stock position, behind the
axle and ahead of the gas tank, with four 2.5 inch connectors:  2 in, 2 out. 

An early fore-runner of the current X-pipes.  Anyways it worked great and
sounded fantastic.  Nice bass at idle, and when you put your foot into it, you
could hear each exhaust valve open.  Marvellous.  And, if you dragged a bit,
nothing got torn off.

My timing has always been shit.  Back in 1980, I was virtually the only person
doing this.  Dark days.  Really unpopular to like any kind of machinery.

Spend your sundays worshipping at the church of the internal combustion engine,
I always say.

PS  Anyone watching Barrett-Jackson?  Holy custom 60's corvette, Batman!

[Slick Goodlin]

[quote author=Colonel Sanders link=topic=9454.msg26479#msg26479 date=1547997799]
PS  Anyone watching Barrett-Jackson?  Holy custom 60's corvette, Batman!
[/quote]
Nah, I ditched cable nearly a decade ago and don’t miss it one bit.  When I do see some TV nowadays I’m floored by how shitty it all is.  Did it get that way while I wasn’t watching or was I just accustomed to it before?  It gives me more time to do more important things like playing with old cars and soon organizing an awesome garage.  Maybe building an airplane once a couple car projects are done.

Speaking of airplanes, I stand by my opinion that not sucking in a trike should transfer over to not sucking in a taildragger.  Just because a 172 will forgive me for doing a crap job of plunking it on doesn’t mean I have to forgive myself.  I think I had about 100TT when I did my tailwheel checkout and it just ended up being five hours of supervised practice in various conditions.  I’m not special, nor am I intrinsically more capable of anything than the average person, I just choose to give a crap about things.  And that’s what I try to instill when I try and make the flying world a better place.

[David MacRay]

What's cable?

https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Live/St ... 89ed9367d4

[Slick Goodlin]

[quote author=David MacRay link=topic=9454.msg26482#msg26482 date=1548005080]
What's cable?

https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Live/St ... 89ed9367d4
[/quote]
Alright then, my excuse is I’m moving.

[David MacRay]

Sorry, I was not trying to make you miss life for a week while watching the auction.