Went out and for about 2 hours in our Cub Sunday sure was rough here in East Tn. Gave a 150 owner his first Cub ride, he's ready to sell the 150 and get a Cub.
-----Original Message----- >From: Brian Kraut <[email protected]> >Sent: Apr 16, 2006 12:29 PM >To: KRnet <[email protected]> >Subject: RE: KR> terra firma aerobatics > >Sounds like my Clipper. Hundreds of landings in my Stang all as near >perfect as can be and it took me 15 hours to get one good one in the >Clipper. My list of taildraggers going from mild to wild would be: > >Pawnee >Midget Mustang >KR-2 >Cub >Sonerai II >Citabria >Pitts >Clipper > >Brian Kraut >Engineering Alternatives, Inc. >www.engalt.com > >-----Original Message----- >From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On >Behalf Of Larry&Sallie Flesner >Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2006 9:42 AM >To: KRnet >Subject: KR> terra firma aerobatics > > > > >An elderly gentleman friend of mine needed his recently restored >Aeronca Chief moved from a grass strip to the local airport. >The only person that had flown it since the restoration was not >available so he asked me if I would help him out. As I seldom >turn down a possible adventure I agreed to move it for him. > >The only favorable winds for the whole weekend was yesterday >morning early. We arrived at the strip at 6:45AM and rolled it out >of the hangar. A two minute briefing and preflight had him in the >cockpit and me giving it a hand prop. It started on the first pull >and we switched places. I added power and headed for the >runway. The first 90 degree right turn to the runway should have >given me a clue as to the adventure that lay ahead. The right >turn continued an additional 45 degrees before I could stop it >with the weak left mechanical brake. I added power and got it >back on the runway and taxied to the end. A quick mag check >and I was rolling for takeoff. I had considered doing some fast >taxi tests but it was rolling straight and before I knew it I was flying. >At about 100 feet altitude I glanced at the airspeed indicator and >it was pegged on 60 mph indicated. It felt good so I held that >and continued to climb out. A 180 degree turn at about 500 feet >and I was headed off to the airport with a 30 mph tailwind. > >A 15 minute flight and I was on right downwind to runway 20, an 8000 >foot by 150 runway. I was having to hold about a 30 degree crab >to fly downwind but I knew the ground wind was 210 at 8 so I wasn't >too concerned. 60mph felt good on climb out so I used that for my >final approach speed. With the headwind on landing it seemed I >was barely above walking speed when the mains kissed the pavement >and started to roll. It took me a moment to realize I was down. >A few seconds later and the nose started to drift right. Some left >rudder brought it back but then it continued left. Some right rudder >stopped that and it began drifting back to the right. At that point I >was slowed to about 20mph and the nose continued to the right. The >weak left brake came back in to play as the nose continued to the >right. When the nose had gone about 45 degrees past runway center >I knew I was just along for the ride. Full left rudder and brake had >absolutely no effect. At about that time I realized I was switching >pilot groups from "those that will" to "those that had". I caught myself >leaning as far to the inside of the turn as possible like that was going >to help. It came to a stop at the 270 degree point with the nose pointed >back to the runway. I added power and got back to the runway center >and taxied to the ramp. I lucked out as no runway lights were close >and no damage done to the airplane. It was just a nice little dance >step to finish out the flight, much like a dancer jumping in the air >and clicking his heels on stage exit. > >One thing I learned from flying the Chief is that my KR is a real >pussycat when it comes to ground handling. At 200+ hours in >the KR I have never had a time when I felt the airplane was out >of control or when it failed to respond to a control input. I'm >hoping to get "one more dance" with the Chief before he sells >it and next time I intend to "lead" and let the Chief "follow". > >Happy Easter to all those celebrating the holiday. > >Larry Flesner > > >_______________________________________ >Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp >to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to [email protected] >please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > > > >_______________________________________ >Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp >to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to [email protected] >please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html
