Steve Dold wrote: > What is the advantage to raising the tail? > > I fly out a gravel runway a lot, and to and from a sod/dirt field. I > need as much prop clearance as I can get, since full back wheel doesn't > raise the nose much, like it would in a Cessna. I'm curious why a tail-high > attitude is preferred by some. >
Having the tail at the right height on the ground is an important part of the aerodynamics of Coupes. When the tail is high, the wings are at a low angle of attack on the ground. This minimizes lift when on the ground for good wheel-cement/wheel-grass contact for good ground control and braking. It also helps dump lift to reduce the effects of cross-winds. Having a drooping tail ruin your day in a loss of control accident on take-off or, more likely, on landing. With normal tail height, it is practical to set the plane down at 90 mph (it's in one of the original books) in an emergency and have reasonable braking and ground control. I think Bill Coons' point is that the wing tank drains are positioned to correctly drain the water from the tanks when the plane is level (tail high). A low tail could accumulate more water in the tank with undesired consequences. (This I can't confirm.) Raising the tail with shims in the main landing gear shouldn't reduce your prop-ground clearance any significant amount. We've just got to apply power slowly and be moving before going to higher power settings. (Soon after I bought my plane I did a run-up and heard ping, pingping, ping, pingpingping. It worried me so much that I did a full power runnup on that spot. Serious damage to the prop but it was reconditionable. Now I do all runups on very clean surfaces or rolling. Live and learn.) -- Ed Burkhead East Peoria, Ill. N3802H, 415-D
<<attachment: winmail.dat>>
