 |
Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
erichdtrombley(at)juno.co
Guest
|
 Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 7:35 pm Post subject: Full swivel tail wheel |
 |
|
Hi All,
Just a quick note to let you all know that I converted the stock Europa tail wheel to a full swivel unit. The ground handling has improved significantly. For those not familiar with a full swivel tail wheel it works just like the stock tail wheel with the exception that as the tail wheel moves past +/- 30 degrees a detent is released and the tail wheel is free to swivel through 300 degrees. Wonderful! I purchased a Van's tail wheel unit sans tail whee and tail spring. Link below.
http://www.vansaircraft.com/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi?ident=1290390847-482-225&browse=airframe&product=tailwheel-assy
The conversion was pretty straight forward; consisted of cutting off the end of the tail spring, having the last 2" turned down to remove the taper, and drilled/reamed to secure the tail wheel assembly. Pictures attached and posted to the forum website.
Erich Trombley
N28ET Classic Mono 914
____________________________________________________________
Get Free Email with Video Mail & Video Chat!
| | - The Matronics Europa-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List |
|
| Description: |
|
| Filesize: |
1.89 MB |
| Viewed: |
5456 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
|
| Filesize: |
1.91 MB |
| Viewed: |
5456 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
gholland(at)content-strea
Guest
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:16 pm Post subject: Full swivel tail wheel |
|
|
Erich Hi!
I cant comment on improvement to tail wheel Europa ground manoeuvrability as I had a Trigear but I would guess it’s significant.
I now have a tail wheel vintage Aircraft with the same style of tail wheel operation and I would ask you to ensure you very regularly lift the tail and check the latching mechanism for ‘break out’ action and force. Having just pirouetted (a more artistic word for ground looping!) off a paved (concrete) runway after rudder control became ineffective at 15 -20mph because my tail wheel latching broke free giving no directional control at all. The forces encountered are significant and damage was done but easily rectified with Tig Welder and a lot of cursing.
If you operate regularly on grass the tail wheel breakout has an easy life but still accumulates wear and changes in adjustment. I would recommend lifting tail and checking the action by hand of break out force if an excursion to hard runway is an intention or continual operation is on a hard surface. Tail wheel shimmy is another culprit in this area so beware if anyone makes comment that they observed it. Other than that the latching tail wheel is great. BTW. I have the Maule Unit but all types including Scott, Matco, Lang tail wheel setups can enjoy the game of terrorising tail wheel pilots if the opportunity arises!
This is not alarmist but a friendly nod that checking a great invention is needed regularly. It sounds a good option to me.
Kind Regards
Gerry
[quote][b]
| | - The Matronics Europa-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pete(at)lawless.info
Guest
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:03 am Post subject: Full swivel tail wheel |
|
|
Hi Erich
Looks good should also improve the handling in the hanger. What is the difference in weight?
Pete
--
| | - The Matronics Europa-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
budyerly(at)msn.com
Guest
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 8:21 pm Post subject: Full swivel tail wheel |
|
|
<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]--> Eric,
Have tried the same swivel on both the conventional and mono. Please keep the lock up mechanism in tune. If the tail wheel breaks loose unwanted, you're off to the races. In the mono, it is your only control below 30 of course.
Quick story about my now deceased buddy Bob Knapp, one of the finest stick and rudder guys I have ever known, but just a bit on the crazy side. We had the conventional gear of Rich Semintilli's loaded near the aft CG, which puts more load on the tail wheel of course, and Bob and I took it out for a test run, and just for grins, I did a tail wheel breakout test and applied half power with Bob Knapp and myself (about 500lbs with gas) and 25 pound bag in the back. I pulsed the rudder to check the tail wheel and it was locked initially until I pushed hard back to correct to the center line... I used the hand brakes to regain control and lock it back in and Bob said that was a pretty aggressive rudder pulse and it was normal for that to happen, even on his RV4s. I handed the plane off to Bob for the takeoff so I could monitor the EIS and all went well, we flew about 20 minutes checking the oil temps and verify the oil leak was cured and came back in to land, I came around and did three touch and goes and Bob did the full stop. Just as Bob was about to touch the tail wheel first, we picked up a bit of drift from the crosswind and the tail wheel broke free on the three point touchdown and we darted off to the boonies. The brakes, rudder and Rotax/Airmaster drug us off before we hit anything. The post mortem on the tail wheel indicated the pin chipped off a bit. Figuring a defective part, we replaced the pin and we tightened the tail wheel breakout spring by replacing it with a firmer one as suggested by the folks at Vans, but the extra force soon began to wear after the 20th flight full of touch and goes (Bob liked lots of touch and goes). One Sunday morning Bob was flying with a rather busty plussed sized lady to show her what it was like in a small airplane, the tail wheel broke free unannounced as he applied full power while still turning on the runway a bit. She really liked the quick turns the plane would do, and said it was an E ticket ride. Bob called me up and asked me to change out the tail wheel back to the original.
If our main wheel was closer to the leading edge of the mean chord, it wouldn’t be as hard on the locking pin of the tail wheel in my opinion. I like the Graham Singleton limiter better than the roll pin of the original as it keeps you out of trouble when you get the plane a bit out of sorts, provided you keep the stick back and pressure on the tail wheel. However, you can't pull the plane backwards unless you have a tail wheel caddy. I like the flat square shaped tire you have chosen as it has more surface area and doesn't skip on those wet tar lines or painted stripes as bad as our rounded original tire. If we could only find someone who made a lockable full swivel tail wheel as was used in the world war two fighters and trainers. Lock the wheel for takeoff and in some cases landing, and leave it unlocked for ground maneuvering. If I only had the time.
Bud
[quote] ---
| | - The Matronics Europa-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
Get Email Distribution Too!
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
