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03-07-2005 | 09:19 AM

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Campy

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From: Baltic, CT

RE: converting tricycle gear to taildragger?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: clinty

Hi there, I've just got myself a low wing trainer at a really good price but it has tricycle gear. [

]I want to learn how to handle taildraggers coz I've already started biulding myself a giles G202.

Does anyone know how I should go about converting the tricycle gear to taildragger.

You will need to go into the fuselage and epoxy (use 30 minute epoxy) a 1/4" plywood plate to the bottom of the fuselage. I also suggest epoxying some 3/8" or 1/2" triangular stock from the fuselage sides to the ply plate for additional strength. The plate should be located such that the AXLES of the landing gear are even with the leading edge of the main wing. For a tailwheel assembly, I highly recommend the Sullivan tailwheel assemblies. Depending on how the fuselage is constructed you may want to inlet and epoxy a 1/8" - 3/16" piece of LITE ply in the tail to fasten the tailwheel to. I inlet and epoxy a lite ply plate in my planes, then use #4 socket head SCREWS to fasten the assembly to the plane. Make sure you rebalance the plane afterwards.

For flying the plane:

1. When taxiing hold full up elevator. This keeps the tail planted on the ground for steering.

2. For the takeoff run I usually HOLD A LITTLE up elevator - about 1 or 2 clicks worth. Be ready to give the plane some right rudder when the tail lifts off the ground to offset the prop torque. The plane will get up on the main gear (remember to HOLD the up elevator until the plane is up on the mains, then you can ease off on it ), let it build up speed, then give it A LITTLE up elevator and she will lift off.

3. For landing, FLY the plane down until the mains are about 3" from the ground. You should have about 1/8 - 1/16 throttle on at this point. Now reduce the throttle to an idle. SLOWLY add in some up elevator and HOLD IT. What you want to do is bleed off speed, not balloon back up. The plane will settle in to a nice 3 point landing. Remember to give it full up elevator while taxiing back.

Which dimesions etc. ??

The wheels should be be about the same distance apart as the mains are now and the height should be such that the prop you will be using will have a MINIMUM of 1 1/2" of ground clearance when the plane is level to the ground.

Thank you for your help![8D]

On a personal note, unless you are a REALLY OUTSTANDING FLYER, I would not suggest the Giles 202 at this point in time. These are VERY touchy planes. They land and react substantially faster than the low wing trainers. In addition, depending on how "scale" it is, they are VERY prone to tip stalling. I would suggest something like a Lanier Stinger, SIG Something Extra or Tower Uproar as an intermediate plane so you can get used to the sensitivity and reaction times.

Hope this is of some help.

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