Greg, Been flying off (sometimes soft & water covered) grass 1750' field here in Oregon. On a C or D model, I use the wheel in the chest technique: that is pull the wheel all the way back, give full power, steer down the runway - when the nose wheel lifts, the plane is in the air, lower the nose until you get to 55 and then continue your climb out. This usually takes from 550 to 700' regardless of whether it is a 75 or 85hp. No problem. This is the way the book says to do short field takeoffs and it works. Only done it in about 15mph crosswind, but never have had any problem.
This won't work on the E model or one of the earlier models with the split tail. Too much elevator up travel. With 2735H which had the the split tail and an O200 I just held neutral wheel until It indicated 55 and then pulled it off - the nose wheel and rudders give good control until liftoff. Still took between 550 and 700' to lift off. So don't worry about ground handling; would rather be in a coupe than any other plane I've flown when landing or taking off. As to coming in high, there is a certain position you can get the coupe in doing S turns that is in reality a very good slip. Lay it over at about 45 to 55 degrees at about 55 or so and you will be amazed at how it will fall. I have come in at 1000' agl turning final and within about two to three of the so called S turns holding it in this configuration have actually had to apply power to get to the numbers. Here again, it's something the coupe does well. As to going around, I can't remember ever having done that. Get one, fly it and I guarantee you will be impressed with what it can do. I now have and fly a Stinson, a Volmer amphibian and an Avid Amphibian, but in heavy winds down or across the runway I always think how much easier it is to land and takeoff (reverse order - usually) in the coupes I have owned. (and will ;probably own again) Dan ----- Original Message ----- From: Greg Bullough <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, August 16, 1999 5:22 PM Subject: Techniques > As I might soon become a real couper, a couple of handling/technique questions > have been nagging me: > > 1. Soft field - the soft field discussion made me wonder; normally in a > tricycle > gear plane, for a soft field take off you lift the nose wheel ASAP, > and steer > with rudders. In a Coupe, there isn't a whole ton of rudder, but do > you still > do the same thing? If so, is there enough rudder oomph to stay straight > as soon as the nose can be raised? > > 2. Landing: no flaps, no slips. Okay, what if you're too high? I know, > go around. > Okay, but suppose you REALLY need to land this time because the fan > stopped > on downwind? S-turns down final? > > I mean, most of us learned to do dead-sticks by having some extra > altitude in > reserve and then dumping it on final via the flaps or (preferably) a > slip. You don't > want to come up short, because there isn't any place to get more. If > you were > right on the instructor often said 'hey, have you ever considered > that if you > put it on the numbers without flaps or a slip on a dead-stick, you > just as easily > could have under-shot?' > > Ideas? > > Alternatives? > > Derisive gestures? > > Greg
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