First Tail Dragger Flight
 

All,

I'm going to convert my LT-40 to a tail dragger, I've been flying for about 2 years and am finishing up a 4*60, so I thought it would be a good step to convert the trainer over. Besides, I like tinkering with it.

Anyway, could someone walk me through the differences in take off and landing?

I've read you need to apply up elevator till the tail takes off, and right rudder, especially after the tail takes off. But if someone could walk me through it I'd appreciate it.

Tim

RE: First Tail Dragger Flight
 

ok i was going to convert my trainer too a tail drager, but i wanted to keep the trike,
all i no is when the tail is off the ground, you cant add rudder, or the prop will hit the ground (i think!)

when you do fly it, tell me how it flys.

RE: First Tail Dragger Flight
 

I can't remember which way the rudder goes, I just keep moving it so the plane tracks straight.

If you have a tailwheel then you can hold up elevator to hold the wheel in contact with the ground to help steering. As speed builds up you need to remove the up elevator and allow the tail to rise. A little up at this point will get you airborne.

If the model is really poweful then elevator contol isn't quite so critical (the engine will accelerate the aircraft more quickly so rudder will become effective earlier and the tail can therefore rise earlier) but rudder is tricky. If the model is low on power then rudder should be easier but you may need to play with the elevator a bit more.

I would open the throttle slowly at first until you get used to it.

When applying rudder during take off you need to add a bit then wait. If you try and 'fight' the model on take off it will fish tail with the possibilty of ground looping. It not that hard once you've had a couple of goes though.

RE: First Tail Dragger Flight
 

When you increase the throtle for take off, you need to apply right rudder to keep the plane tracking straight. As the airplane increases speed, you gently let off of the rudder. When you pull the nose up to climb, add right rudder again to track straight.

I have noticed at most fields almost everyone imediatly turns to the left on take off. This is due to something called P effect. When the airplane is making a positive angle to the airflow, the propeller blade on the left has a higher angle of attack than the blade on the right, and pulls harder.

As far as a tail dragger goes. Advance the throtle SLOWLY. You should not have to hold any up elevator. In fact, if the elevator is trimmed right, the tail will come up as you roll along. LET IT.
Steer with the rudder, not the tail wheel. The tail wheel is for steering during taxi. On take off, the steering is handled by the rudder.

[8D]

RE: First Tail Dragger Flight
 

Like the others have said, feed in throttle relatively slowly, be ready to add right rudder to keep the nose going the right way, try taking off from grass first(if that's an option for you) and don't be afraid to pull it back to idle and try again if it "gets away" from you during the take off roll.

RE: First Tail Dragger Flight
 

you want to taxi with full up elivator to help ground stearing.as you start the takeoff roll relax the up elivator slowly.