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Question: Whats best for Off Airport Landings
*** This poll has now closed ***


Tail-Dragger    
  6 (85.7%)
Tri-Gear    
  1 (14.3%)




Total votes: 7
« Created by: Jokerc152 on: Jan 20th, 2012 at 3:12pm »

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Whats best for Off Airport Landings? (Read 903 times)
Jan 20th, 2012 at 3:12pm

Jokerc152   Offline
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High Speed, Low Drag!

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Lets settle this argument Smiley
 
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Reply #1 - Jan 21st, 2012 at 11:40am

Jokerc152   Offline
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High Speed, Low Drag!

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seems like its a pretty one sided argument at the moment where have all the tri gear fanatics went :S?
 
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Reply #2 - Jan 21st, 2012 at 4:37pm

DaveSims   Offline
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Too many variables, pavement, grass, hard ground, soft ground, plowed ground, water, snow, etc.
 
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Reply #3 - Jan 27th, 2012 at 8:07pm

Club508   Offline
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Well, I miised my chance to enter this one, but I'd actually say tri gear.  Tri gears tend to be more modern, and also, they don't hop as much.  Plus, on takeoff, you get a more flat lineup between the engine pitch and the horizon, so you accelerate more instead of wasting 25-50% of your power uselessly trying to climb until your tail comes up.
The only advantage I can see for taildraggers is having the rear lift off for less friction on takeoff, though that can become your downfall on the landing, where friction is wanted.
 

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Reply #4 - Jan 27th, 2012 at 10:37pm

wahubna   Offline
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Now this is an age old debate with bush pilots! From an aerodynamic stand point the tail-drager's principle advantage is a higher wing incidence and thus higher angle of attack during the take off roll. This is a by product of the plane being tilted nose up from having its tail on the ground. (you all knew that probably), so anyways, higher AoA, higher lift. However, tri gears allow for better visibility as was mentioned before. This would be very handy when you are trying to land on a very specific location. Ultimately though it comes down to pilot preference. Take Jim Tweeto for example, he stands by his tail-drager.
 

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Reply #5 - Jan 28th, 2012 at 5:52am

Hagar   Offline
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Having seen the conditions under which bush pilots operate I would say that aircraft with a tricycle undercarriage are unsuitable for anything except prepared runways. From my own observations they also require a much longer take-off run than the average taildragger. I can't imagine this being possible in a trike. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6B8-PNYjzk&feature=related
 

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Reply #6 - Jan 28th, 2012 at 10:15am

CHUCK79   Offline
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Well said, Doug.....I agree completely Cool Cool

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Up, up the long, delerious, burning blue I've topped the wind swept heights with easy grace where never Lark, nor even Eagle flew. While with silent lifting of mind I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand and touched the face of god"
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Reply #7 - Jan 31st, 2012 at 9:46am

Jokerc152   Offline
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High Speed, Low Drag!

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well it just seems that tail draggers are the chosen favorite here Smiley
 
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