----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
Bill Coon's 337 for the tail-low donut fix is on ercoupers.com in the 337s section Here is the link: http://ercoupers.com/cgi-bin/ceilidh.exe/337s/?C35a000002Hqk-3308-898-00.h tm -Tom -----Original Message----- From: Ed Burkhead [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 7:29 PM To: 'Pete Thomson' Cc: Coupe-List (E-mail) Subject: RE: [COUPERS-FLYIN] Take off ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- Pete, I predict you'll be quite happy with your Coupe's behavior with new donuts, maybe with spacers. The goal is 75" high at the top of the tail on level ground. Taking those clips off isn't hard at all. Compress the strut and use needle nose pliers. Putting them on can be a bear!!! I spent two hours on it before I gave up and asked the old airport hangers-arounders to try it. The first gave up after about 30 minutes but the old guy got the first done in 20 minutes and the second in 10. John and John Wright made a tool for themselves with two metal plates with cut-outs. Long bolts hold the plates together. Tightening the nuts on the bolts squeeze the strut. This gives you a hand-holdable package you can turn for best reach as you try to get the $#@@ clips back on. For the spacers, I don't know much. Bill Coons can send you the specs. They aren't that special and lots of people have made them. They aren't a TSO/PMA part. An idiot at the FAA might even think they were illegal. But before Bill got the firs FAA inspector to sign off on spacers, LOTS of Coupes had droopy tails and we were always hearing stories about dangerously lifting wings on landing and take-off problems. For some reason, new donuts may not be quite enough to get back to 75." Flying with a droopy tail is actively dangerous IMHO. I just ordered my spacers from Skyport. Try ordering the spacers by Skyport part number and see if their other people can find them on the shelf. SMK 84 MLG bushings to raise tail (with 337) $22.50 SMK 84S Stainless MLG bushings to raise tail (with 337) $32.95 Skyport order phone: 800-624-5312, extension 207 (central time) (and say wonderful things about Lee to whomever you talk with) ((Please also ask for a medical report and let us know.) Ed Burkhead http://edburkhead.home.insightbb.com/ [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: Pete Thomson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 10:55 AM To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' Subject: RE: [COUPERS-FLYIN] Take off No Ed, they weren't. I could not figure out how to get the circlip off the gear to put the new ones in. Also, what do the bushings look like that raise the tail. The ones I have are looking like electrical outlet flanges. Can I use washers, or do I have to get the real mccoy from Skyport. I think I found them in the Skyport parts manual but with Lee not being there no-one else seems to have a clue, as always, your advice is welcome and sound, thnaks,Pete -----Original Message----- From: Ed Burkhead [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 5:08 PM To: 'Pete Thomson' Subject: RE: [COUPERS-FLYIN] Take off Pete, Were the donuts already in the gear when you were having the problem take-offs? Ed Burkhead http://edburkhead.home.insightbb.com/ [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: Pete Thomson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 7:09 PM To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' Subject: RE: [COUPERS-FLYIN] Take off Thanks Ed, I will do as you suggested, I have new doughnuts,Pete -----Original Message----- From: Ed Burkhead [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 4:04 PM To: 'Pete Thomson' Cc: Coupe-List (E-mail) Subject: RE: [COUPERS-FLYIN] Take off ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- Pete, Here are my recommended steps for success - they worked well for me up to 25 mph direct cross wind: 1. Ensure that when on the ground, the tail is at or near design height of 72 inches. This ensures that you have low angle of attack on the ground and your plane will not be skittish before you reach good flying speed. You'll have good weight on the wheels and on the nose-wheel. You may need new donuts (and possibly spacers) to achieve this. If you haven't accomplished step one, don't bother to proceed to step two. 2. Let the trim be in the middle. I always pushed my trim to a higher speed (nose down) for take-off than I used for the landing approach. Nose down trim means the tail won't be trying to lower itself during the take-off run. If the tail stays high, the weight stays on the nose wheel. (Exception: soft or very bumpy field where you want weight off the nose as early as possible.) 3. Let it stay on the ground till you get to solid flying speed. You should NOT have to push forward on the yoke if you have the trim set correctly. 4. When you do lift off - in a "commanding fashion" :-) -- let the plane do a coordinated turn into the wind to take up whatever crab angle you need to track the extended runway centerline as you climb out. I'd observe that almost all Coupe take off and landing problems are greatly exaggerated by a drooping tail which a.) gives too high an angle of attack at too low an airspeed and which b.) un-weights the nose wheel when you want it to have solid contact and steering on the ground. Getting the tail up, on the ground, also stops the wing-lifting that droopy-tailed Coupes are prone to. Ed Burkhead http://edburkhead.home.insightbb.com/ [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: Pete Thomson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 2:14 PM To: 'Coupe general' Subject: [COUPERS-FLYIN] Take off Hullo everyone, at the risk of being lynched I am turning to the group for assistance with my take offs. I nearly lost the Coupe twice last week end and there was not even a significant crosswind. I did everything according to the book and held the plane down as long as I could then took off in a commanding fashion. The first time it weathervaned into the wind and while I was keeping the wings level I darn near wnet inro a fuel tank farm on the one airport and the control tower on the other. the cross wind was maybe 5 knots, the headwind about 15. I have read and re read the bok but all I hear is how "easy and friendly" a Coupe is in a crosswind. What am I doing wrong? Both times I had to really drop the one wing to get out of trouble and was very lucky I was not anywhere near gross. The engine RPM is fine and the controls are rigged properly. The picture in the book of this Coupe tracking down the runway ina crab has not happenned to me, mine goes straight towards the windand does not track straight at all. I have just put an awfull lot of work into this plane and don't want to part with it, but I am very uncomfortable flying it right now. Any advice would be appreciated. It is a 415D 85 with metal wings and old style fuel tanks, appears to have a climb out prop because cruise is only 85 MPH. If the flight manual is BS and the flight characteristics I have described are normal, then if anyone knows of someone looking for a Coupe in vrey good condition, have them email me please. I don't want to take off in the manner I have in a cross wind of only 5 knots. I have 100 hours in this Coupe between last year and this one. Your input as a group would be much appreciated, Pete. The Coupe is in Alaska. Pete :-):-):-):-):-) Have a great day!!! ================================================================== TO UNSUBSCRIBE go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm ====================== TO UNSUBSCRIBE go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm ====================== TO UNSUBSCRIBE go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
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