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Michel
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway
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 Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:52 am Post subject: Is a taildragger dangerous? |
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On Aug 24, 2006, at 7:03 PM, Dick D'Archangel wrote:
| Quote: | The only asset I have, and this is questionable, is close to 1,000
hours is kayaks steered with rudder peddles.
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This is very interesting, Dick, and I would say: Yes, your kayak
experience probably helps you to steer a Kitfox taildragger.
I have often wonder if my lifetime sailing experience had any profit to
my newly aviation one. And I think that, yes, on several aspects.
First, there is the weather and navigation, common to both sea- and
sky-farers. Then there is the actual handling of a vehicle that doesn't
necessarily goes in the direction the nose is pointing at.
Last but not least, there is the element, air of water, that makes
steering something soft, compared to a ground vehicle.
Say, I would steer my sailboat in heavy seas, trying to make the
narrow entrance of a harbour, in a strong abeam current. I would crab,
to estimate my actual track on the ground, preventing the seas to make
me yaw by pulling the tiller before the next wave lifts my stern and
make me weather-helming. Right after, I'd push hard the tiller, this
time to prevent a yaw in the other direction.
The same feeling of "steering in something soft" is what I experience
when "dancing on the pedals" to keep my Kitfox straight in a landing.
Does this make sense to you?
Cheers,
Michel
do not archive
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Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200 |
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Richard Rabbers
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 114
Location: Benton Harbor, MI - USA
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| Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 12:44 pm Post subject: Re: Is a taildragger dangerous? |
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Michael & Dick,
I agree that experience in many things can be applied to flying.
I'd say even dancing (as someone has hinted at) can be applied to rudder control. A common flying concern - density altitude - became a significant factor as a sailboat moves from the tropics to the cold northern climate...
The strength of the cold wind and resulting power of a sail is much greater than a warm tropical breeze.
Deck adjustable (ha!) ...... sail, needs to be shortened (reefed) at a much lower windspeed in cold air (semi-soft) than in warm (soft) air.
As you say, navigation, movement across the planet, radio skills, all apply.
Do not archive
| | - The Matronics Kitfox-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?Kitfox-List |
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Richard in SW Michigan
Model 1 / 618 - full-lotus floats (restoration) |
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