The Puchatek originally was fitted with a nose skid. The nose wheel was a post import modification as far as I know (the original skid wears down very quickly on a sealed runway - and is pretty quick to erode on dirt/gravel too). I would challenge the _mandatory_ fitment of any cage to a nose skid aircraft (versus those fitted with nose wheels).
As with all things safety orientated, it depends on the level of perceived risk. I think we lose more people from mid-airs than fences (prepared to be challenged there)? So fitting a cage to the inside of the canopy that then restricts your field of view is not necessarily such a good thing (the low nose cone and huge bubble canopy means that a wire cutter probably wouldn't be a satisfactory solution for the Puchatek - it would need to be huge). It would also limit the allowable weight you could carry in the cockpit as well. I know some clubs already have problems in that area and have to fly some trainees with a particular (light weight) instructor only). As with all things perceived, it depends on the individual/organization. There is nothing stopping individuals or clubs from going and fitting wire cutters or deflectors from their aircraft (providing it is carried out appropriately) if they perceive the need to do so. It doesn't have to be made mandatory. I expect that there are a few other issues other than the inability to ground loop the aircraft that are more important here. > In my experience flying a puchatek in WA, > > The elevator has authority to lift the nose and hold the > nose up on take off about 10 seconds after the wing > walker has let go as for a knot speed i could not tell > you as i'm ovviously looking out the window at that time. > > As for landing the puchatek has a really bad habit in > strong crosswind of weather cocking no matter if you have > some controllability, it gets verry quickley to the point > on roll out that any controll input is useless to try and > keep on the centre line. > > The ailerons still work in the final stages of a ground > roll , so putting a wing onto the ground should not be a > problem. > > If we could get rid of the fixed nose wheel and have a > castering nose wheel with a lock on it , if a ground loop > is needed pull the nose wheel lock , drop a wing and it > should spin on the spot like a dream. > > as for a speed to initiate a ground loop i would have to > work that out next time i fly it, i would hazard a guess > in the 2/3 of the landing no later. > > Ben > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Michael Shirley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in > Australia.'" <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 8:16 AM > Subject: RE: [Aus-soaring] RE: Another fatality > > > > Hi Ian > > > > Good point. No one has experimented to establish at what > > speed a Puchatek (and perhaps many other nose-wheel > > gliders) lose elevator & rudder authority. John Viney > > agrees we should do this experiment. If the LKSC > Puchatek is written off it would be a good opportunity to > > do this test - I have passed on the idea to the > committee. > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > > Behalf Of Ian McPhee > > Sent: Tuesday, 27 February 2007 9:56 AM > > To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in > > Australia. Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] RE: Another > fatality > > > I am not sure but believe there are certain nose wheel > > gliders that are difficult to ground loop (KRO3A just > > goes straight when nose wheel is on ground and no way > > can you steer it). Perhaps as such aircraft come into > > the country they could be fitted with the "dutch wire > > lifting bar" to inside of > > canopy as part of MAR1 at import (like pull up seat > > belts etc). The dutch have done engineering and ALL > > dutch gliders have same. I do know Paul Mathews had > same fitted to one of his gliders when flying around > > Gulcong and > > > > said it is easy to get to use. > > > > Just a thought...........Ian McPhee > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "John Parncutt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: "'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in > > Australia.'" <[email protected]> > > Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 9:19 PM > > Subject: RE: [Aus-soaring] RE: Another fatality > > > > > >> Given the amount of incidents which have occurred with > aerodrome >> perimeter > >> fences especially in gliding, perhaps thought should > be given to >> changing > >> the design of these fences to make them more forgiving. > >> Possibilities may include some sort of weak link system > in each wire or >> perhaps sprung sections which may allow > the canopy to deflect the wire. >> > >> I'm sure there is enough ingenuity within the gliding > movement to come up >> with some ideas to make these > fences safer whilst still performing their >> function. > >> > >> John Parncutt > >> > >> > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Bruce >> Taylor > >> Sent: Monday, 26 February 2007 8:24 PM > >> To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in > Australia. >> Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] RE: Another > fatality >> > >> Good call, Mitch. > >> > >> The only addition I would like to make is that it seems > the >> pilot/instructor > >> had very few options... he was released at low altitude > without enough >> energy to clear the fence, and (thinking > through the evidence I have >> heard) > >> with a downburst happening somewhere behind him. This > leaves him with an >> increasing tailwind, and if he was > touching down somewhere near the >> stall, > >> he is approaching the fence with no control response, > in a >> nosewheel-equipped glider. He DID try to > groundloop, with no response. >> > >> Very tough for all, especially the instructor. > >> > >> BT. > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Mitchell Preston" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> To: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in > Australia." >> <[email protected]> > >> Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 6:48 PM > >> Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] RE: Another fatality > >> > >> > >>> Fair comment, Ron, however in this case we should > perhaps refrain from >>> any judgement (deliberate or > otherwise) until a more suitable time. I >>> would like > to offer my condolences to the family of the student and > let >>> my good friends at LKSC know that they are in my > thoughts as they deal >>> with the aftermath of this > accident. >>> > >>> Mitch. > >>> > >>> > >>> On 25/02/2007, at 9:05 PM, Ron Sanders wrote: > >>> > >>>> Even if you have only got five feet to run before the > fence YOU MUST >>>> initiate a ground loop. > >>>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> Aus-soaring mailing list > >>> [email protected] > >>> To check or change subscription details, visit: > >>> > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > >>> >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Aus-soaring mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> To check or change subscription details, visit: > >> > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > >> >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Aus-soaring mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> To check or change subscription details, visit: > >> > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > >> >> > >> -- > >> No virus found in this incoming message. > >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > >> Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.4/703 - > Release Date: 2/26/2007 >> 2:56 PM > >> > >> > > _______________________________________________ > > Aus-soaring mailing list > > [email protected] > > To check or change subscription details, visit: > > > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > > > _______________________________________________ > > Aus-soaring mailing list > > [email protected] > > To check or change subscription details, visit: > > > > > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > [email protected] > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
