Hi Fred,
Since you tried removing the snubber for half a year, it is undeniable
that
you had strongly "imprinted" the effect(s) of the snubber into your
"comfort
zone". I don't believe anyone could convincingly prove that a coupe
with a snubber in the hands of a pilot with meaningful coupe crosswind
experience is less safe than one without a snubber.
Accordingly, others have suggested an "each to his own preference"
approach to this subject in the past. I continue to disagree.
While any difference in oleo function or steering authority is unlikely
to
ever cause a pilot of your experience any grief, in your example I am
uncomfortable with the apparent conclusion that a snubber is an
appropriate response to nose strut "wobble". Such a latent defect is
not
one I would want to use a snubber to suppress (and ignore).
My real concern is coupe newbies. All are not equal in talent.
Operating a
coupe with a snubber while initially gaining said "meaningful crosswind
experience" involves added risk. Those "more gifted" with intuitional
pilot
skills are unaffected. "Built-in safety" margins are less for the
"less gifted".
I remain unaware of any genuine performance or safety advantage
resulting
from the installation of a snubber cable on any Ercoupe in good
condition.
To put it another way (and to agree with Hartmut): If it ain't broke,
don't 'fix it'.
My personal opinion is that the Ercoupe safety record would be improved
if
every nose gear was properly airworthy (without any tendency to shimmy
or
wobble) and non-original snubbers were removed upon change of owner.
Regards
William R. Bayne
.____|-(o)-|____.
(Copyright 2009)
--
On Nov 1, 2009, at 13:32, [email protected] wrote:
When I purchased my Coupe 4 years ago, it was slug slow (88 mph). On
Sid's recommendation I took off the cup landing lights on the landing
gear and gained 5 mph, took off the tube gas caps on the wings and
gained another 2 mph. I was then up to 95 mph and enjoying the extra
speed. We then had a long chat about the snubber cable. I took it off
and gained another 2 mph, but I didn't like the way it landed. The
nose wheel hits much earlier (and faster) and it would have a tendency
to wobble. It took more work to make my landings feel good and I gave
up on the snubber removal after 6 months. I don't have the faring on
the nose but since I don't like the feel of no snubber landings, I
don't plan on trying that one. Sid is right, it does make for more
speed but at a price. I still like the snubber cable for holding the
nose wheel off the runway longer.
Fred Lamkey
