Full Castoring?

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:32 pm

Are the nosewheels on the "A" models full castoring 360 degrees? Just wondering because pushing the Diamond's backwards is a real PITA with or without a towbar...

Post by **Spike** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:40 pm

They are not full castoring. Its about 180 degrees total plus or minus a few. Still, pushing them backwards is definately a pain. It makes them real interesting to taxi too

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:15 pm

Sounds like Chad is back on the fence again!

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:00 pm

captain_john wrote:Sounds like Chad is back on the fence again!

CJ

Yeah, yeah, yeah...Take a look at my sig, and you'll see I've jumped off the fence and joined the "A" crowd already...even notified Van's to change my status to "A". I just makes more sense (to me). I really LOVE the look of the TW on the ground, but they fly the same, and I don't want to be limited to cross wind components. I've flown both, and I can tell no difference between the two. Here' the "A" I flew earlier this summer (actually, after I flew this one, I was still planning a TW...this decision came about three weeks ago)-

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:22 pm

I won't be limiting myself to crosswind components either!

CJ

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 9:17 pm

I would be more conservative if I were flying a Citabria in a stiff crosswind, but my little RV-4 is pretty good with crosswinds.

In fact, I landed at OSH this year on RWY 18R with winds at 230 8kts gusting to 16, and managed it just fine.

It's all about technique, spending the time to practice so you stay sharp, and staying within one's own comfort level.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:12 pm

That's sorta my point...I'm comfortable in all wind conditions in a nosewheel airplane. Whatever the wind is when I get there is what I deal with. In a TW, winds would always be on my mind, and be a factor in planning a trip or go/no go decision. Wind just isn't a factor in my planning when I go somewhere. I just don't think I'd have enough of a chance to fly the TW and stay proficient and comfortable to deal with the kind of winds we see around central IL in the Winter and Spring.

jim_geo · Post by **jim_geo** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 11:39 pm

Chad you don't have to explain yourself to these guys. Just build what you want and leave the ground loopde dooos to them.

Dan A · Post by **Dan A** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 10:44 pm

I don't know Chad, I fly my 8 regularly in cross winds and often I don't know how hard it is blowing until after I land at an airport away from the home field. I have found that 20 kt cross winds are easy to master in the 8. So build your dream and enjoy your own private P-51!

Dan

N200PF · Post by **N200PF** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:26 am

WHAT'S UP CHAD!?! Oh lost sole!!!
...just so you know, the tailwheels are full castoring. :goodevil:

- Peter

PS - Chad I'm 98.625% sure on the straight 7. I shouldn't talk so big until my fuse is ordered and in the shop!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 5:57 am

That is true Dan.

Often times I land and stand there next to the airplane and say, "WOW! I landed in this!?!"

Build your dream.

Peter, it HAS been a while since we had one of these TD / ND debates.

I just don't want to rub anyone the wrong way. It is just that when someone says that a TD is bound and determined to ground loop, I don't get it.

It isn't superhuman to fly a TD in a crosswind. In fact, really no harder than the ND.

I fly them both and impose the same limitations, plane for plane in a crosswind.

CJ

aparchment · Post by **aparchment** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 8:20 am

I'm with you Chad. I have several hundred hours in a nose gear plane and 2 in a tailwheel plane. Guess which one I am going to be more comfortable in when it comes to landing in a tricky crosswind. Not to mention I will probably be finding that tricky crosswind at the end of a 4 hour flight -- maybe through instrument conditions. I'm just sticking with my comfort zone (and doing my insurance a favor).

Antony

cjensen wrote:That's sorta my point...I'm comfortable in all wind conditions in a nosewheel airplane. Whatever the wind is when I get there is what I deal with. In a TW, winds would always be on my mind, and be a factor in planning a trip or go/no go decision. Wind just isn't a factor in my planning when I go somewhere. I just don't think I'd have enough of a chance to fly the TW and stay proficient and comfortable to deal with the kind of winds we see around central IL in the Winter and Spring.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:18 am

captain_john wrote:
Build your dream.

CJ

Okay. I'm building an RV. That's my reality dream (NOT my dream plane...). I've taken a slight variation on the original THEME of my dream. It's still an RV, and it's still gonna be my airplane.

I'm sure some of you guys get winds like we do here in the cold winter and cool spring seasons. But when I have three STEALY eyed 50+ year pilots with 15,000+ hours and half of those in taildraggers saying to me that they never felt comfortable landing in a strong crosswind here at Bloomington (or wherever), and DON'T fly their airplanes when it's not calm, I began to rethink my direction.

I'm POSITIVE I could master the tailwheel airplane. I'm now choosing not to. Why ADD the possiblity of a landing mishap becoming a probability? I know there are plenty of arguments against the ND, but I already know how to fly one, and I'm comfortable with them.

TRUST me, this was a hard decision to come by. I've been fighting this for about six months. I am getting really close to ordering the fuselage, and I needed to firm this up.

I'm not saying the old saying of "there are those who have, and those that will" (ground loop). I just have to take the chance of it happening out of the equation. I don't want to have my wife on board, and lose control on landing, and scare the s*#% out of her, only for her to never fly with me again. She isn't with me very much at this point, but I think we'll be flying more often together when the RV is done.

I don't believe you guys when you say you didn't know how strong the wind was when you land your tailwheel airplanes. Sorry, I just don't.

I truly appreciate every single one of you guys, and it wouldn't be the same place if we all agreed on everything. I know that some of this is just good old fashion ribbing of the guy who changes his mind ALL THE TIME (sorry, bad habit of mine...

). I can take all you can dish at me. I just feel this is the best option, and I tend to get caught up in the feeling of nostalgia and "coolness" of the TW. It's hard to resist...VERY hard. They look SO

!! I can't deny that, but I HAVE to get past it.

I hope I'm not pushing anyone's buttons with this post...

Post by **Spike** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:51 am

Well written Chad.

Bob Barrett · Post by **Bob Barrett** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:51 am

I have tail wheel time about 46 hours. I am building an RV-6A and I feel we should each build what we are comfortable with. I have friends who build A's and friends who build TW's and that is their business. If I ever build another plane other than RV-10A it will most likely be a tail wheel. If my wife reads this play when the Saints go Marching In at my funeral!

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 2:04 pm

Over 50% of my flight time is in TW aircraft and I have been seriously contemplating the A. Then I realized all the changes I would have to make to my web site and I decided to stick with the TW.

Later,

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 2:29 pm

Ahh, the website changes were easy for me once I got thru the battle in my head over which one to build...

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 3:56 pm

cjensen wrote:I don't believe you guys when you say you didn't know how strong the wind was when you land your tailwheel airplanes. Sorry, I just don't.

Believe me. I don't lie.

I got the stories to back this up, but they are boring.

What I meant about building your dream plane is to build the plane of your dreams, regardless of the position of the third wheel.

No hard feelings. I hope you understand.

Peace, brutha!

CJ

dons · Post by **dons** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 4:18 pm

It is a very difficult choice to make for many, it certainly was for me, so I know what it must be like for you Chad. I suspect the reasons people finally go one way or the other are quite varied. In the end, for me, it was that I intend on spending way more time in the air than on the ground looking at or showing off the finished plane, so while the TD looks cool, I'm not as concerned about that as being able to have a "slightly" better view of the strange taxi-ways I will be seeing.

My main reason for flying is going places, and after a long flight, many ending after dark, for me, I would feel better moving around in a ND.

In the grand scheme of things, I consider it a small detail, we all decided to build a plane that we will fly, for me, that's the 'big choice', and the one that really matters.

Just one new builders' opinion.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 4:23 pm

None at all CJ!! I totally respect you and everyone else around here.

Sorry, didn't mean to imply calling you a liar either...

I would never do that. I should've said "It's really, really hard to believe." I have yet to find ANY of your stories boring, so bring 'em on!!

Hey, that third wheel is just to get us around on the ground, and like Don said, I plan to fly more than look at in on the ground!

RivetBangers.com

Full Castoring?

Full Castoring?

Each to her or his own!

Deciding TD/ND