Re: starting flight training right away even though tail height is only 70 inches.
Yeah, I'd start right away, staying on the ground when crosswind component is over 10-15 mph till you get the tail to the right height on the ground. The problem with a drooping tail is that the wings are at too high an angle of attack when on the ground and, during rollout (or just before liftoff on a takeoff), the upwind wing will want to rise. Installing the donuts isn't that big a deal. Could all the more experienced mechanics on the mailing list post some advice on this tonight or Wednesday for him, please? I installed my plane once and I'm a klutz -- had to get an old airport hanger-arounder to get the rings back on for me -- but I'm no expert. If your plane has rubber donuts, call Skyport (800-624-5312) tomorrow and order rubber donuts. They're part number 33115, $4.97 each by my July 1999 catalogue and you need eight. If you haven't got them, get the books you need (i.e. parts, service and ADs) for $27 for the set. Installing new donuts can be done in around two hours. Compressing the stack of donuts to get the (never-to-be-sufficiently-cursed) retainer ring back on is the only thing that takes much time (5-10 minutes with the right tools and 2-5 hours with poor compression press and bad manual dexterity). If you've got the single fork nose gear, you may not need anything but the donuts. If you've got a double fork nose gear, you may need Skyport kit SMK 84, Stainless MLG bushings to raise tail (with sample form 337). (If you have to add the spacers and send in the form 337, be sure to emphasize that it is necessary to have the correct tail height, per the aircraft design, for the designed after-touchdown angle of attack to maintain safe crosswind landing performance. (Maybe reference Engineering and Research Corporation Ercoupe Service Manual specifications page and drawings if you can't find any better references from other sources.) Don Yoxsimer wrote: > I lost track of the threaded discussion on tail height for the 415-C. Mine > is 70" and I think the book says 75" (6'3"). Any way, my question is > regarding the safety of the aircraft because I'm going to start my flight > training Saturday (maybe). Should I leave it in the hanger until I get this > corrected or would it be okay to fly while I'm waiting for the A&P to do the > job. The CFI has only flown this Coupe for about 1.5 hrs. and landed it > twice. It was a crosswind landing and she said she was so surprised by the > way the Coupe handled that she went around and landed it again. It's got a > fresh annual for whatever that is worth. I'm ready to learn to fly this > airplane and any collective wisdom from the group regarding tail height and > take-off/landing mannerisms would be appreciated. > Don (08H) > > __________________________________________________________________________ ______ > To unsubscribe from this list please send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > ___________________________________________________________ > T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 > Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics __________________________________________________________________________ ______ To unsubscribe from this list please send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
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