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Old 08-07-2002 | 02:19 AM
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majortom-RCU
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From: Merrimack, NH
Default Nose and tail wheel "throw"

If you're using your nose/tailwheel only for tracking on takeoff and landing, then Tailskid might be right; however, at our field we taxi out from pits to end of runway, turn around into wind, and various other ground maneuvers, plus turning around after landing and taxiing back to pits. For these maneuvers, you need more than a couple of degrees of turning. I normally set my nosewheel for 15-20 degrees to either side. Tail wheel I usually have spring coupled to rudder. Tailskid is correct, that prop blast on rudder will control direction more than tailwheel will. I have had taildraggers where the tailwheel just castered freely, rudder did all the ground maneuvering.

I usually convert my tricycle gear models to taildragger, since I like to mount my engine so muffler hangs down at six o'clock, right where the nosegear would otherwise be. Plus taildragger is lighter, saves an ounce or two; coupled to rudder is simpler control than pushrod to nosewheel.