I just maidened my Seagull PC-9 and it flew great until it met a tree. Anyway I've already got new parts but my question is how to slow this plane down for landing without a 2 mile final approach. I've got the engine mounted inverted as it seems that is the only way to do it while keeping the cowl on, and it starts and runs great. However, the engine won't idle very low, no doubt due to being mounted inverted. It runs great other than the idle problem and I have addressed the tank height issue and I'm running A3 plugs in the ST G.51. The engine is tuned pretty well but if I could get the idle to be stable a little lower it would really bring the landing speed down. I've already installed flaps and stalled it at altitude and she'll crawl along before it stalls: it's just getting the engine to idle a little lower.

Would a 3 blade prop help at all?

What Prop are you using?

I did the flap mods on one of ours and it was probably the biggest single help.
I thought they fly well enough to just fly them onto the ground at the speed. Scary at first (Maybe go on a buddy box with another experienced flier or instructor for the first couple of times) but good practice for some of the more wild planes that you'll no doubt have later.

I'm using a 11x6 prop and I don't mind landing at speed but I only have 300 feet to stop.

I'm not a Supertigre expert (I have a couple but am not a huge fan of them) so maybe someone who is can chime in and assist you with the tuning / setup of the motor.

A 3 blade prop will help you IF you can get the motor running slow enough to use the prop disc as a brake, otherwise the difference will be minimal.

It sounds like your real issue is a ground run one. Have you thought about using some fuel tubing to cause some friction on the wheels (pseudo brakes)? 300 ft should be more than enough for you to take off with the fuel tubing there.

Alternatively, have you tried running the plane into a tree to slow it down

Shallow Approach will take care of it all.

D'oh
There you go again CH - Taking the easy and simple way out.

Say rjhpilot, what kind of rpm is your engine turning at idle? Is this ST a new engine? Are you using wood or composite props? At what altitude above sea level are you flying? And where do you have your plane balanced relative to the suggested C/G?

My second plane was a Seagull PC9 powered by an Irvine 51 (taken out by a glitch) a couple of years ago, another is in the box waiting to be put together (after I build my GP Ultimate 160). It is my favorite plane thus far, and although it does land faster than my trainer and some subsequent models I've flown; without flaps, I had no trouble getting it onto our landing strip (about 300 feet as well) with plenty of room to spare (never using more than 1/3 of the field, and never made a bad landing with the PC9. I just set up final and at idle let it fly itself until time to rotate the nose.

You might consider going to an 11X5 or even a 11X4 prop and also consider a wide blade prop. You might even try a 12X5 prop.You might also consider trying an OS F8 plug. Yes, I know they cost about $8, but I've found that they are worth it. In the last three years, and considering that in that time I've broke in some 5 motors, I've only gone through 6 plugs total, not bad considering the rich runs in breaking in the plugs and the effect that overly rich runs have on the coating on the plug element. With an inverted engine (and I have a tendency to set up the low end on all my engines a bit leaner than most people I fly with) but always have outstanding transitions, and few plug problems, you might consider your low end needle setting and your plug. And yes, I realize that your problem is with the idle speed, but that might be determined at least in part by your plug and low end mixture as well as your prop.

And if it is a roll-out problem, do consider putting a small piece of fuel tubing between the nose wheel and the collars on the axle as aussiesteve has suggested. If the airplane will fly as slowly as you say at altitude before entering a stall, it should do the same thing on landing. Just make sure you have a handle on it before getting it that slow low to the ground, and like I said, mine landed hot, but was not a problem in using up runway at all. I always liked the way that plane landed!!!



And remember, "Experience is a hard teacher. She always gives the test first, and the lesson some time later!"

Phillip

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Its a gift! This is a skill thing here. Flaps are not going to slow you down one bit if you don't have control over the plane. My entire fleet consists of planes like this.

Along the lines that several people are talking, the material of the prop you use can also help a lot.


An APC prop is heavier than say a wooden prop. As a result it will help bring the engine idle speed down fairly well.

Lowering the pitch at the same time will help slow the plane.