robin1(at)mrmoisture.com
Guest
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 Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:58 am Post subject: Tail Wheel Discussion (again) |
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Ok, I am going give a shout out for the Sissy Wheel pilots like
me that may be discouraged from saying they PREFER the A models for
whatever reason. My first RV was a -4. I had zero time in a TW so I
received instruction in a Citabria for the requisite number of hours to
get proficient in both three point & wheel landing for both regular &
X-wind situations. I then went on to add 200+ landings in my -4 which
should be enough to get a few of them right. The issue with my -4 was
W&B as I was not able to take any of my fat ass golf buddies with me for
trips or local tours so I decided to get a side by side plane. I took a
flight in a friend's 6A and was sold on the performance Vans built into
that great design. I chose to buy a 6A and specifically selected the A
for its overall ground and landing characteristics. While I became
proficient at landing the -4 in most conditions I look like a genius
landing the 6A because of the nose wheel. I basically never land with a
bounce, hop or generally even a chirp. Often I can set the mains down so
gently that I feel the wheels start spinning as they make contact with
the runway. Now I did not instantly become a better pilot when I started
flying the A model? No the A's were just a lot easier for ME to land.
And personally it's just as fun holding the nose wheel off the ground as
long as I can as it was flying the tail until I ran out of lift.
I tend to give a lot of "never been in a small plane" people
local tours and I take pride in making their first landing something
other than the controlled crash that they expect and for me that is best
accomplished in an A design.
All that being said I am considering an RV-8A with a military
paint scheme and It just does not look right in a A configuration. The
things guys will do for good looks!
Robin Marks
RV-4 Sold
RV-6A 375 hours
RV-10"A" First Flight Q1/Q2 2008
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