So what will get my GP A-T6 to fly?
01-23-2006 | 03:00 PM
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From: San Ramon,
CA
So what will get my GP A-T6 to fly?
LAst year I purchased a Great Planes .40 size A-t6 to learn how to better fly a tail dragger. I took it out to fly it and it flew well. It was a windy day but the wind was down the runway and there were no worries. I flew it a few times and even though it was squirrly on the ground It flew. Well I took it out when there was little to no wind and it is useless on the ground. All it does is ground loop eventally breaking the retracts out. I repaired and modified the retracts - basically widened them as far as I could - Maybe another 3/8 to 1/2 inch. I took it back out and it was the same. Well maybe it was just me? Opperator error is known to effect things 
So i had a club expert try it for me - the same. He at least made it most of the way down the runway before the gremlins attacked the plane. It was almost funny.. Its tracking .. tracking.. tracking... then its like someone just swats it. I don't know how else to explain it. It got all crazy and ground looped and broke the gear out once again.. and basically broke the very flimsy main spar. I was going to just sell/give it away or something and took the radio and engine out and put in my GP .40 Mustang. But I don't want to give up.. it SHOULD fly somehow??
I know someone is flying this plane and have read and read on here about it. SO what is the Secret to this plane??
Thanks
Jeff
So i had a club expert try it for me - the same. He at least made it most of the way down the runway before the gremlins attacked the plane. It was almost funny.. Its tracking .. tracking.. tracking... then its like someone just swats it. I don't know how else to explain it. It got all crazy and ground looped and broke the gear out once again.. and basically broke the very flimsy main spar. I was going to just sell/give it away or something and took the radio and engine out and put in my GP .40 Mustang. But I don't want to give up.. it SHOULD fly somehow?? I know someone is flying this plane and have read and read on here about it. SO what is the Secret to this plane??
Thanks
Jeff
01-23-2006 | 06:34 PM
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From: Springtown,
TX
RE: So what will get my GP A-T6 to fly?
Put in a big enough engine and hand launch it.
Seriously, though, ground looping is a major issue with the Texan. And, the smaller the plane, the harder they can be to control (in most cases). Bigger, heavier planes sometimes tend to be a bit easier to control (in their own right).
Sorry, I don't have any advice for you. Are you sure the CG is right? It might be a tad bit tail heavy, and is trying to fly too soon, causing the ground loops. You aren't holding elevatory, are you? You shouldn't need too. make sure the gear is swept forward to a point under the LE, and you shouldn't nose over. Once it ground loops, why not just apply a touch of elevator to "catch" it in the air, and let it fly--level for a little bit to gain airspeed, and then start the climb out? My Top Flite Gold Texan (60 sized kit) has been a bear too. Not with ground looping--but with the CG. The manual was all wrong, and it's cost me two repairs already, and the thing has flown for a total of about 3 minutes. I think I have it OK now, but won't find out for sure until I get out there again! I switched to fixed gear. Kind of a cardinal sin, I know, but I just want the darn thing to fly. It's too pretty to sit in my trailer!
Seriously, though, ground looping is a major issue with the Texan. And, the smaller the plane, the harder they can be to control (in most cases). Bigger, heavier planes sometimes tend to be a bit easier to control (in their own right).
Sorry, I don't have any advice for you. Are you sure the CG is right? It might be a tad bit tail heavy, and is trying to fly too soon, causing the ground loops. You aren't holding elevatory, are you? You shouldn't need too. make sure the gear is swept forward to a point under the LE, and you shouldn't nose over. Once it ground loops, why not just apply a touch of elevator to "catch" it in the air, and let it fly--level for a little bit to gain airspeed, and then start the climb out? My Top Flite Gold Texan (60 sized kit) has been a bear too. Not with ground looping--but with the CG. The manual was all wrong, and it's cost me two repairs already, and the thing has flown for a total of about 3 minutes. I think I have it OK now, but won't find out for sure until I get out there again! I switched to fixed gear. Kind of a cardinal sin, I know, but I just want the darn thing to fly. It's too pretty to sit in my trailer!
01-23-2006 | 07:06 PM
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RE: So what will get my GP A-T6 to fly?
Try toeing the gear in about 3-5 degrees, assuming it isn't toed in already. That'll help cut down on the severity of ground loops.
Try appying power gradually. Most of the "swing" will occur as the tail comes up.
Anticipate rudder input and don't apply excessive amounts...it'll take practice to know for sure.
Don
Try appying power gradually. Most of the "swing" will occur as the tail comes up.
Anticipate rudder input and don't apply excessive amounts...it'll take practice to know for sure.
Don
01-23-2006 | 11:26 PM
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From: Oak Harbor, WA
RE: So what will get my GP A-T6 to fly?
Jeff,
I'm not sure if your problem is the exact same as the one I had with a plane. I had a heck of a time trying to get it stay straight and track down the runway. I figured out it was a problem with the wheels. They would move as teh plane picked up speed and one would bind on the axle. I found this Dubro product to help keep the wheel in place and the problem went away.
It is Dubro product number 342, if the link doesn't work. http://www.shopatron.com/product/pro...d=DUB342/101.0
Hope this helps.
I'm not sure if your problem is the exact same as the one I had with a plane. I had a heck of a time trying to get it stay straight and track down the runway. I figured out it was a problem with the wheels. They would move as teh plane picked up speed and one would bind on the axle. I found this Dubro product to help keep the wheel in place and the problem went away.
It is Dubro product number 342, if the link doesn't work. http://www.shopatron.com/product/pro...d=DUB342/101.0
Hope this helps.
01-24-2006 | 12:40 AM
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RE: So what will get my GP A-T6 to fly?
This is sad but funny, Your trying to improve your skills on a plane that is the worst on the market for tracking down the runway. If you ever get it in the air, it does fly very well.
ORIGINAL: bayareajeff
LAst year I purchased a Great Planes .40 size A-t6 to learn how to better fly a tail dragger. I took it out to fly it and it flew well. It was a windy day but the wind was down the runway and there were no worries. I flew it a few times and even though it was squirrly on the ground It flew. Well I took it out when there was little to no wind and it is useless on the ground. All it does is ground loop eventally breaking the retracts out. I repaired and modified the retracts - basically widened them as far as I could - Maybe another 3/8 to 1/2 inch. I took it back out and it was the same. Well maybe it was just me? Opperator error is known to effect things So i had a club expert try it for me - the same. He at least made it most of the way down the runway before the gremlins attacked the plane. It was almost funny.. Its tracking .. tracking.. tracking... then its like someone just swats it. I don't know how else to explain it. It got all crazy and ground looped and broke the gear out once again.. and basically broke the very flimsy main spar. I was going to just sell/give it away or something and took the radio and engine out and put in my GP .40 Mustang. But I don't want to give up.. it SHOULD fly somehow??
I know someone is flying this plane and have read and read on here about it. SO what is the Secret to this plane??
Thanks
Jeff
LAst year I purchased a Great Planes .40 size A-t6 to learn how to better fly a tail dragger. I took it out to fly it and it flew well. It was a windy day but the wind was down the runway and there were no worries. I flew it a few times and even though it was squirrly on the ground It flew. Well I took it out when there was little to no wind and it is useless on the ground. All it does is ground loop eventally breaking the retracts out. I repaired and modified the retracts - basically widened them as far as I could - Maybe another 3/8 to 1/2 inch. I took it back out and it was the same. Well maybe it was just me? Opperator error is known to effect things
So i had a club expert try it for me - the same. He at least made it most of the way down the runway before the gremlins attacked the plane. It was almost funny.. Its tracking .. tracking.. tracking... then its like someone just swats it. I don't know how else to explain it. It got all crazy and ground looped and broke the gear out once again.. and basically broke the very flimsy main spar. I was going to just sell/give it away or something and took the radio and engine out and put in my GP .40 Mustang. But I don't want to give up.. it SHOULD fly somehow?? I know someone is flying this plane and have read and read on here about it. SO what is the Secret to this plane??
Thanks
Jeff
01-24-2006 | 01:08 AM
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From: San Ramon,
CA
RE: So what will get my GP A-T6 to fly?
Salty, thanks .. Ill look into it.
Cyclic,
yeah I know.. the 3 times i got it in the air.. it was great.. Rolls very nice.. Looks great on a fly by and all.
I gave up on it and then there is part of me that wants to conqure it.. or bury it!
When i redid the retracts in it I was very careful to get it straight and to make sure that I had a little bit of toe in. We even bent the tail wheel over so that I didnt have to give it so much rudder when starting out..
When I had a club member with a lot of tail dragger experience try it.. He really babied it along. and just about the time the tail came up... bammm... spin.. its almost comical.
Thanks you guys.. I know there is a solution to every challange..
Peace.
Jeff
Cyclic,
yeah I know.. the 3 times i got it in the air.. it was great.. Rolls very nice.. Looks great on a fly by and all.
I gave up on it and then there is part of me that wants to conqure it.. or bury it!
When i redid the retracts in it I was very careful to get it straight and to make sure that I had a little bit of toe in. We even bent the tail wheel over so that I didnt have to give it so much rudder when starting out..
When I had a club member with a lot of tail dragger experience try it.. He really babied it along. and just about the time the tail came up... bammm... spin.. its almost comical.
Thanks you guys.. I know there is a solution to every challange..
Peace.
Jeff
01-24-2006 | 01:14 AM
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From: Taipei, TAIWAN
RE: So what will get my GP A-T6 to fly?
i'm sorry to tell you that widening the retracts doesn't help the plane track. in fact it probably does the opposite. widening the stance would only help you from scratching a wing tip.
i've never flown a texan but i assume that i'm qualified to speak since i've flown a cub and some pretty short bipes. four things:
1. try to go directly into the wind
2. don't gun it from the get go. pick up pace feeding the rudder as necessary until the rudder has good control then you can add throttle more aggressively. you can even add elevator at the very beginning of the takeoff roll to maintain control but a mistake can mean indavertent liftoff and a quick snap into the ground
3. Make sure you have max rudder throw on take off
4. if all fails, bend the legs FORWARD. this will allow more pressure on the tail and cause it lift off the ground a little later giving you more control at the beginning when the rudder is less effective.
of course, if you really can't hack it, there's always the gyro option. but i won't go into that.
good luck!!!
i've never flown a texan but i assume that i'm qualified to speak since i've flown a cub and some pretty short bipes. four things:
1. try to go directly into the wind
2. don't gun it from the get go. pick up pace feeding the rudder as necessary until the rudder has good control then you can add throttle more aggressively. you can even add elevator at the very beginning of the takeoff roll to maintain control but a mistake can mean indavertent liftoff and a quick snap into the ground
3. Make sure you have max rudder throw on take off
4. if all fails, bend the legs FORWARD. this will allow more pressure on the tail and cause it lift off the ground a little later giving you more control at the beginning when the rudder is less effective.
of course, if you really can't hack it, there's always the gyro option. but i won't go into that.
good luck!!!
01-24-2006 | 01:20 AM
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From: San Ramon,
CA
RE: So what will get my GP A-T6 to fly?
Forestroke...
Thats a good thought about bending the gear forward to put more pressure on the tail...
and...
not hacking it really isnt an option!
Jeff
Thats a good thought about bending the gear forward to put more pressure on the tail...
and...
not hacking it really isnt an option!
Jeff
01-24-2006 | 01:32 AM
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From: Taipei, TAIWAN
RE: So what will get my GP A-T6 to fly?
seriously though, jeff, many people have put gyros on their cubs and decathlons and other short coupling planes. many people have said that it turned their beast into a beauty and had they known of its miracles, the would've used it earlier.
i am a purist so i'm not going on that road. in fact, i love the fact that my taildraggers are hard to fly beautifully and take much pride in being able to execute a scale takeoff and landing. i just finished my second cub (WM cub 26) and am starting on two Gee Bees, first with a Saito 40 fourstroker and the latter with a Zenoah G26. many people have advised against the latter but hey, what's life without a little challenge? I'm also shopping for a Kyosho version.
anyway, either way you do it, i'm sure it only take a few more practice runs before you're dishing out taildragger advice to anyone who would be silly enough to listen
i am a purist so i'm not going on that road. in fact, i love the fact that my taildraggers are hard to fly beautifully and take much pride in being able to execute a scale takeoff and landing. i just finished my second cub (WM cub 26) and am starting on two Gee Bees, first with a Saito 40 fourstroker and the latter with a Zenoah G26. many people have advised against the latter but hey, what's life without a little challenge? I'm also shopping for a Kyosho version.
anyway, either way you do it, i'm sure it only take a few more practice runs before you're dishing out taildragger advice to anyone who would be silly enough to listen
01-24-2006 | 02:11 AM
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From: Kent, WA
RE: So what will get my GP A-T6 to fly?
I feel for you, My 1st taildragger was a TF P-51 that took me forever to build. My problem was just what 2slo2matter said, I was over controlling it. Finally someone told me to leave the darm thing alone and let it fly! Doing this, I was able to handle the takeoffs. I found it is easier with some headwind. Now if only I could land a taildragger worth a darm!
01-24-2006 | 02:01 PM
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From: Cypress, TX
RE: So what will get my GP A-T6 to fly?
I've had a GP AT6 for several years......it flew really good till I had a few arrivals but kept patching it up. My challenge was making sure I had enough speed so I didn't stall on takeoffs. I plowed it in once or twice....ARGHHH. Anyway I ended up taking the factory landing gear off and just installed Dubro Fiberglass (white) landing gear with some good rubber tires. Very durable and does great on rough feild I fly on.
If you do want to get rid of it before you bury it...please let me know. I'm interested.
If you do want to get rid of it before you bury it...please let me know. I'm interested.
01-24-2006 | 10:42 PM
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RE: So what will get my GP A-T6 to fly?
I had the Kyosho a few years ago and I tried everything i could think of and advice from all and nothing worked. So i would start a normal takeoff into the wind. Anything after that was whatever happened as long as it was heading away from the pits or pilots boxes. If it were crosswind, downwind or whatever it took to get the speed up for takeoff. It was definitely a ride.
