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jerryrosie Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: "First Tail Dragger Expereince" 04-13-03, 22:37z  After nearly a year of looking, I found a CFI with a tail dragger who is willing to risk his airplane teaching me how to fly one without breaking too many parts. The wx has cleared sufficiently (after a month of waiting) so we have our first session scheduled for 0900 tomorrow (Monday 14 April) I'll let you all know how it went... ***Reality - the refuge of those who can't handle simulation*** Cheers, Jerry (N94) Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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Subject      Author      Message Date     ID      RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince TomParsons 04-14-03 1    RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince jerryrosie 04-16-03 2         RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince vgbaron 04-16-03 3              RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince jerryrosie 04-16-03 5         RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince WScofield 04-16-03 4              RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince jerryrosie 04-16-03 6                   RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince WScofield 04-17-03 8                        RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince jerryrosie 04-17-03 9         RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince Ben_Chiu 04-16-03 7              RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince jerryrosie 04-17-03 10   RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince John_M 04-22-03 11

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TomParsons Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 1. "RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince" 04-14-03, 14:39z  Jerry- By now, you are probably finished with your session. I hope it went well. It's quite an eye-opening experience, isn't it? And a good way to get both legs shaking, not just the right! What type did you fly in? How was the forward visibility on takeoff and landing? Did you have your lesson on grass or asphalt? Do tell. Tom P. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

jerryrosie Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 2. "RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince" 04-16-03, 00:24z  I'll answer your direct questions first and then give a general rundown.... >>What type did you fly in? How was the forward visibility on takeoff and landing? << An Aeronca Champ - Excellent vis even when sitting on the tail wheel - can look right over the nose and see the ground about 10 feet in front of the airplane. At altitude and straight and level the vis is as good as teh XAir ultralight....looks like the nose is actually about 10 degrees below the horizon.... >>Did you have your lesson on grass or asphalt? << On grass - more on this later.... The first lesson was scheduled for Monday and I arrived promptly at 0845 for an 0900 schedule. We rolled the champ out of the hanger, did a preflight and the owner/CFI gave me the 'cooks tour' of the cabin. It needs to be hand proped so he had me belt in and we went through the 'throttle closed - switch on' routine and he pulled the prop through and again...and again...and again....and - long story short - wouldn't start. We removed the cowl and pulled the plugs - looked OK but couldn't get a spark from one mag. Gave up and called the mechanic. Got a call that night and he had gone out to the airfield after lunch and it started on the second pull - no repairs made - total mystery - rescheduled for today. Airplane started on second pull - and the sound was sweet as music... he said - taxi on down to the end of the runway and turn aroung and we'll run back and forth a couple of times til you get used to the steering. On the way to the end of the strip, he says "Looks like you've done this before...why don't we just take off?" Stopped and did a runup and took the runway. Poured the coal to it and started down the runway -- this first one looked like I was practicing "S" turns on the ground but the airplane forgave me and took off before I oscellated off the side of the runway.... Landing was relatively uneventful except - this is the first airplane I've flown without flaps - so I had to do my first ever slip to lose altitude. Second take off was much better and the third one, I was actually able to make it in one straight line before leaving the ground. On the sixth landing - I was a little long and used the final 1/4 of the runway before getting slowed enough to turn off. BAD MOVE - that end of the runway was extremely soft (wet and muddy) and we got stuck. Couldn't push it by hand, CFI got his van stuck trying to pull the plane out - I got my car stuck trying to pull his van out. An hour later, with judicious use of jacks and long boards, we finally got everything back on hard surface and now only have to repair the runway Great fun and we will schedule another session when the runway gets a bit dryer...and plan to travel to a paved strip to give me some experience on that surface. I feel pretty confident in handling "Plum Krazee" on grass right now but want to get a bit smoother and also get the hard surface experience....Don't want to break my airplane Thanks for your interest.... ***Reality - the refuge of those who can't handle simulation*** Cheers, Jerry (N94) Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

vgbaron Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 3. "RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince" 04-16-03, 01:11z  Hey Jerry! Sounds exciting! Bet you can't wait to get Plum Crazy out and about. Please keep us updated as to your progress. Thanx, Vic -= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =- Registered to: Vic Baron -OLR.PL v1.81- Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

jerryrosie Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 5. "RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince" 04-16-03, 13:13z  >>Bet you can't wait to get Plum Crazy out and about<< That's affirmative! The weather is getting warmer, the sky bluer -- and I am not as concerned abou tmy ability to control it on landing.... ***Reality - the refuge of those who can't handle simulation*** Cheers, Jerry (N94) Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

WScofield Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 4. "RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince" 04-16-03, 02:17z  Hi Jerry - Oh boy! Do I appreciate what you are experiencing! We may want to correspond about this a bit. I actually went through flight training (with Piper Warriors) in the late 1980's, and then a year or two later bought a 1946 Champ (N84409), which I flew for several years. It was amazing. If I can, I'll try to scan in a couple of photos so I can post them, if you are interested. Lots of folks at my airport (KBVY, Beverly, MA) flew the Champ, which I leased back to the flight school, for several years. Like yours, it had no electrical system. Hand prop all the way. We installed a battery under the pilot's seat to power a radio. Otherwise, no electronic gear at all. I wish she was still flying. Unfortunately, one of the flight instructors had a "mishap" and put it into the ground shortly after takeoff, and she was gone. But that's another story for another day. Meanwhile, there is a lot to talk about and a lot to learn about flying a taildragger. And as humbling as it is, it is definitely worth your while! Keep us posted - and let's share our experiences. Regards, William Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

jerryrosie Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 6. "RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince" 04-16-03, 13:26z  >>and then a year or two later bought a 1946 Champ (N84409), which I flew for several years. << This was my forst time in a Champ and I must say I was favorably impressed! Handles well - visability is great and it was just plane fun. (pun intended) >>We installed a battery under the pilot's seat to power a radio. << This Champ didn't even have a radio, but he has provisions for a hand held that I guess he uses when he wants to fly into a bigger airport. External antenna and a bracket to slip it into.... >>I wish she was still flying. Unfortunately, one of the flight instructors had a "mishap" and put it into the ground shortly after takeoff, and she was gone. << Shame - I hate to see any airplane get hurt - and the Champ is a nice one.... >>If I can, I'll try to scan in a couple of photos so I can post them, if you are interested<< Definately! I'd really like to see them... >>Meanwhile, there is a lot to talk about and a lot to learn about flying a taildragger. And as humbling as it is, it is definitely worth your while!<< Well you know what they say -- Men fly taildraggers - REAL men fly taildraggers with round engines ***Reality - the refuge of those who can't handle simulation*** Cheers, Jerry (N94) Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

WScofield Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 8. "RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince" 04-17-03, 02:38z  >>If I can, I'll try to scan in a >couple of photos so I can post them, if you are >interested<< > >Definately! I'd really like to see them... > I'll work on it. Probably be a couple of days, what with Easter and all coming up. But I'll give a shout when they're here. William Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

jerryrosie Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 9. "RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince" 04-17-03, 12:20z  >>I'll work on it. Probably be a couple of days, what with Easter and all coming up. But I'll give a shout when they're here. << Thanks! Waiting patiently ***Reality - the refuge of those who can't handle simulation*** Cheers, Jerry (N94) Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Ben_Chiu Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 7. "RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince" 04-16-03, 20:16z  Greetings Jerry: > An Aeronca Champ All of my tailwheel experience was in a Champ. The hardest part for me was getting used to the rudder pedals not being hard linked together. I'm used to applying a little pressure on both pedals to keep the airplane from wandering. When both pedals pushed to the floor my first time out, I was surprised to say the least! > On the sixth landing - I was a little long and used the final 1/4 of the > runway before getting slowed enough to turn off. BAD MOVE - that end of > the runway was extremely soft (wet and muddy) and we got stuck. Couldn't > push it by hand, CFI got his van stuck trying to pull the plane out - I > got my car stuck trying to pull his van out. An hour later, with > judicious use of jacks and long boards, we finally got everything back > on hard surface and now only have to repair the runway Sounds like you need those oversized tires that John Mooney has on his Citabria for landing on gravel bars! Thanks for the story, Jerry. Please keep us up to date on your progress. Ben -= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =- Registered to: Ben Chiu -OLR.PL v1.80- Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

jerryrosie Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 10. "RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince" 04-17-03, 12:32z  >>The hardest part for me was getting used to the rudder pedals not being hard linked together. << I had trouble with the heel brakes. With my short feet (size 7 shoe) I had trouble reaching the rudder peddles and the brakes at the same time when trying to 'help' in a turn. With me, it seems like I have a choice of turning with the rudder or turning with the brake - but not both. On landing it caused me some problems in that when I was searching for the heel brakes, I didn't have as much 'authority' over the rudder as I would like. With Plum Krazee, however, this will be a non-issue since it has hand brakes and my feet have to handle only the rudder.... >>Sounds like you need those oversized tires that John Mooney has on his Citabria for landing on gravel bars! << Floats may have been needed. We probably shouldn't have been using the runway at all, but we both wanted to 'get flying'. >>Thanks for the story, Jerry. Please keep us up to date on your progress.<< Will do. Next chapter is scheduled for after the runway dries out a bit ***Reality - the refuge of those who can't handle simulation*** Cheers, Jerry (N94) Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

John_M Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 11. "RE: First Tail Dragger Expereince" 04-22-03, 14:43z  Jerry, It is the 22nd, and you reported that you planned on Taming the Tail Dragger <g> on the 14th. How did it go and what aircraft did you use? Regards, John Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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