Hi, Percy I read "Stick and Rudder" last year when I started flying GA again and felt I needed a "back to basics" approach to teach my daughter about flying. I agree with you that Langewische's observations favor the Ercoupe as a smarter airplane for smarter pilots. Unfortunately, the aviation world has not come to the same conclusions in over 50 years that he though they would in 10 years. As Hartmut has pointed out to me, a two-control airplane would be even easier to build by any major manufacturer today using modern electronics and servos connected to the rudder cables. Instead, we have people who not only believe that rudder pedals are essential, but that you aren't a real pilot if you aren't flying a taildragger! I can tell you that, without the forces that require frequent rudder input, the only reason we use rudders in big jets are for engine failures and crosswind landings. In fact, after takeoff we are taught to fly with our feet on the floor in every airplane I have flown since the T-38 (OK, we did use rudder during air refueling in the B-52 and during SCAS-off approaches in the B-1 when we turned off the fly-by-wire system).
Unfortunately, rudder pedals are here to stay. But, like Willie Langewische, we know they aren't needed if you build a smart airplane. Dave --- In [email protected], "Percy" <percy.w...@...> wrote: > > OK, Sportsfans. > To blow my own horn on `coupe control, check my review of the classic > "Stick and Rudder." > > http://ercoupe.org/SticknRudder.asp > > Percy in SE Bama >
