Forum: DCForumID9
Thread Number: 16
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Original Message
"Taxi Visibility in Various Pitts Models"
Posted by TomParsons on 05-21-02 at 19:19z
Dear Pitts Experts-I had my first S-2B flight last evening. It was great fun, although I've not flown upside-down for a month, so my tummy told me to make it a short flight with not a lot of different maneuvers. That's why I have only a boring question about visibility, rather than a "how do you do a tailslide" question!
Anyway, sitting in the front seat of this B, I could not see squat out the front while taxiing! And the s-turns the instructor was doing did not help much. I don't remember the ground visibility being quite that bad out the front of the S-2A, even from the front seat. So here's my question: how does forward ground visibility compare among the S-2A, S-2B, and (just for fun) S-1S or T? And how would these compare with the view from the back of a J-3?
Tom P.
Table of contents
- RE: Taxi Visibility in Various Pitts Models,ChipB727, 23:39z, 05-21-02
- RE: Taxi Visibility in Various Pitts Models,andy, 11:48z, 05-22-02
- RE: Taxi Visibility in Various Pitts Models,TomParsons, 14:36z, 05-22-02
Messages in this discussion
"RE: Taxi Visibility in Various Pitts Models"
Posted by ChipB727 on 05-21-02 at 23:39z
Tom
Let me try to answer your question with a possible solution first. Try getting some cushions to help bring you up in the seat. That will make you much more comfortable. Just keep enough clearance to put your fist over your head and still clear the canopy, if applicable.
The S2A is better visibility due to the shorter nose. The Eagle is the best I think. Just remember EVERYTHING is compared to a CUB it seems. Drives me nuts. Flies like a CUB, Easy as a CUB, Lands like a CUB, bla,bla............
Blue Skies,Chip
"RE: Taxi Visibility in Various Pitts Models"
Posted by andy on 05-22-02 at 11:48z
Umm, the "better" visibility in the S-2A is still completely blind to your front. Basically, all pitts are just plain horrible on the ground in terms of taxi visibility.
"RE: Taxi Visibility in Various Pitts Models"
Posted by TomParsons on 05-22-02 at 14:36z
>Just remember EVERYTHING is
>compared to a CUB it seems. Drives me nuts. Flies like a
>CUB, Easy as a CUB, Lands like a CUB, bla,bla............
Sorry, Chip- didn't mean to hit a sore spot:-)! I just mentioned "that other airplane" because I know the view from it. But I also have flown a Citabria from the back seat, so we can use that as a reference! And thanks for the tip on raising myself up.I also am curious to know how the S-1S or T compare, view-wise. Who knows what I may find myself flying someday.
Tom P.
P.S. In my limited experience, I think I would use the Citabria as the yardstick for easy-to-land taildraggers, instead of a Cub. Cubs land slow, but it seems like they want a well done, full-stall landing more than Citabrias do.