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Old 01-06-2007 | 09:43 AM
  #12  
da Rock
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From: Near Pfafftown NC
Default RE: Ground effect on a Bipe

Someone has mentioned wheels. There is another facet to "wheels". When the engine torques into the airframe and before the wing is carrying the weight, that torque unloads one wheel and loads the other. Any misalignment of the "heavy" wheel is magnified.

Also, if the airplane has wheel pants, look to see if the tire can scrub in the pant. With the weight of the airplane and the axial roll on takeoff loading that wheel, it just might be distorting and grabbing in the pant. ..... or not........

BTW, my Decathlon is still a witch on landings unless...... I flip high rate on rudder for the landing. As it slows down, that rudder that was SO EFFECTIVE in the air seems to go worthless. It's the first thing that quits flying as the airplane slows down. When I first flew the sucker I wondered why they recommended so much throw on a rudder that'll almost break the airplane in half when jammed in flight. Then it dawned on me that the rudder needs all the deflection possible on the ground when it's "not flying yet". Your bipe might be the same.