Rogerbeep,

You have received lots of good advice. The posts have touched on all the issues involved with a tricycle gear. Here are some clarifications and perspective on all this:

Yes, the gear should be straight and sturdy and free rolling and not over steer and not do weird stuff, but it doesn't have to be perfect. This stuff is less important. The big issue is the “pressure” of the nose wheel on the ground, especially as speed increases. High pressure magnifies any and all imperfections with the gears. Long story short, the result of excessive nose wheel pressure is that steering at high speed can easily become impossible. This is because of the physics of the tricycle gear arrangement, well described in many books. Basically tail draggers want to “ground loop” (swap ends) and tricycle gear do not – as long as the nose wheel pressure is kept light or off the ground completely! If the nose wheel is on the ground hard, the plane wants to ground loop around the nose wheel dramatically.

3 things control the nose wheel pressure:

1. How far the mains are located behind the CG. Farther back shifts more weight onto the nose wheel. Since you have a very well proven design, the mains are in a good place (unless you modified the position). And since it flies well otherwise, your CG is in a good spot too.

2. The height of your nose strut compared to the mains effects nose wheel pressure. This is easy to mess up. The plane should sit nearly level on all 3 wheels. If yours does not, either shorten the nose strut or raise the mains. Often the mains become splayed out over time and the tail starts sitting low. Bend them back down as needed. A plane that sits "nose to the sky" can lift the mains off first. Rolling on the nose wheel only is very unstable. This condition is called "wheel-barrowing" and is very dangerous. Even if the mains stay in contact with the ground, there is excessive pressure on the nose wheel.

3. Last is elevator control technique. Obviously down elevator forces the nose wheel onto the ground and up elevator lifts it off. So elevator positioning controls nose wheel pressure, which in turn affects directional control. A skilled pilot will use the elevator to adjust nose pressure and therefore steering sensitivity throughout the takeoff acceleration. For your Kadet, just hold about ¼ to ½ back stick and bring in the power smoothly. The plane will lift off on its own when speed is right. Remember to let off of the up elevator as necessary to enter a smooth climb. Keep the nose wheel light but don’t enter a loop after liftoff.

To summarize: adjust your gear heights properly, hold enough up elevator to keep the weight on the mains, and the plane will steer fine. Just that simple.

On landing you aren’t having a problem because you are flaring the elevator back (nose up) prior to touchdown and holding it back after touchdown (keeping the nose light). I know you are doing this because you are getting complements on your landings.

Try landing your plane extra fast (don’t flair as much before touching down) then shove full down elevator immediately after touchdown. This landing roll out will look a lot like the takeoffs you are complaining about.

Multiflyer