I currently have a Hobbico Hobbistar 60, I have gone thru about 1.5 gallons of fuel thru it, not a ton but I feel pretty confortable flying it. I am thinking about changing it to a tail dragger. What are some pros and cons of flying it as a tail dragger. I believe that I put the front wheels just under when level and ahead when sitting on its 3 wheels, correct?

Thanks

Jon

accourding to what i've read it's really a matter of opinion

When converting a tricycle gear airplane to conventional gear (taildragger) The gear must be moved forward and the relationship that counts is the distance the center of the wheels (footprint) is forward of the airplanes center of gravity.

An old rule of thumb suggest having the airplanes wheels center of footprint roughly even with the leading edge of the wing when the airplane is level. This leaves a lot of room for interpratation as the Aspect ratio of the wing (wingspan relationship to the chord) has an effect on this. For a typical trainer the wheels even with the leading edge of the wing when the airplane is in level flight position will work nicely.

If the wheels are too far forward this will tend to cause bouncy landings unless you did a perfect landing. Smoother landings always result with the wheel closer to the center of gravity but the problem here is it will also make the airplane much easier to nose over.

John

Thanks for the eplaniation on the difference in landing and gear location.

jon

I've just recently converted my LT-40 from a trike to a taildragger configuration. What I've noticed is that crosswind take offs require very good rudder control to prevent the plane from going all over the place. My trike setup didn't exhibit this very much or at all. Ground handling isn't much trouble and I haven't had it try to tip on the nose yet. My wheels are just about even with the leading edge of the wing. Landing isn't much different either other than the fact that until the tail comes down, you must be on the rudder and correcting. After the tailwheel touches the tarmac, steering is once again simple. Hope this helps.

its basically a matter of opinion really

i converted my Trike to a taildragger, not sure why... i just did, cut the ply landing gear block off the bottom of the fusealge, and moved it forward, then epoxied it there and away you go! (obviously you need to find some way of attaching the tail gear, but mine was pretty simple)

however im not sure if i moved it forward enough as if i dont flair when im landing it likes to tip forward and the prop strikes on the ground (cutting the engine off)

Nose wheels are a real pain. While I'm here, if any of you new guys are installing a nose wheel on a trainer, you don't need much if any turning radius on it. Maybe 1/4 at most on either side. If you feel you need or want more, you'll find out what I'm talking about when you go to take off.

REAL airplanes all have tailwheels Everything I have is a taildragger, unless it has floats. John Buckner is right on the money with setup. You also have to add a means of steering your tailwheel when you convert, either another control rod from the rudder servo, a separate servo, a spring linkage from the rudder to the tailwheel, or a direct link from the rudder to the tailwheel.

Separate servo, more weight and expence, don't need to go there. Linkages from the rudder to the tailwheel are simplest, but the LT-40's elevator is between where your wheel will be and the rudder. I'd just use a 2-56 control rod, connect to the same side of the servo arm as the rudder and run it out the lower corner of the fuse near the tailwheel control arm.

Going to a tail dragger will really teach you the meaning of rudder control, it's gonna be a lot different than a nose wheel on takeoff.

Thanks, I probably will convert it soon. I want to put floats on it and I figure that having a tail dragger will help a little for a plane with floats. Thanks

jon

I haven't put a nose wheel on anything but my Cessna 310 in years. I much prefer tail draggers. I convert them all, but I always put a back set of gear on for floats while I am building if there is any chance that it can fly on water.

Neither way is right or wrong, just what you prefer. Nose wheels are just such a pain in my opinion.

Khodges
Here are a couple of shots of my tail wheel linkage using a Dubro set with the elevator in the way of the rudder. I just cut a hole (radius arc) in the elevator for the spring linkage to pass thru.

The pics did not load, sorry