Having trouble with my first tail dragger
 

So I have well over a hundred flights on my trainer, so I wanted to step up to a tail dragger, something a little faster landing than a trainer. I ended up getting a twist 3d since everyone said it handles well and the plane was cheap. I moved over my 46fx installed the radio gear. I setup my low rates on the tx for 75% of low rate throws with -20 exp and then high rate on the tx to 150% of low rate throws with -30 exp. After going though everything 3 times I went to maiden it today.

First flight was fine, take off was uneventful, contols seemed a bit more sensitve than my trainer, but not to bad, so then I come to land it and get it lined up, and touch down with all 3 wheels, but once it was on the ground it didn't want to respond to tailwheel movement, but got it under control and stopped.

Second flight was fine, take off was great, getting more used to it, so then I go to land it, make a pretty decent landing, but then after it was on the ground it wanted to cut accross the runway and I couldn't get it to respond to tailwheel input. The plane hit a curb and took out the prop and front gear, but otherwise in good shape.

I have the parts glued in now, so I'll have it back together again by Monday, but I really want to get some advice as to how to gain control on the ground. The landing surface is asphalt (I fly at a school when nobody is around), but I think grass would be better. Is it? Perhaps I need to slow it down more before touching, or cut the throttle the second it's on the ground. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

schu

RE: Having trouble with my first tail dragger
 

Once on the ground, let it roll to bleed off speed. The main thing with taxiing is to hold up elevator. that pushes, and keeps the tail wheel on the ground when taxing. Before careful just after u landed, as if u have too much speed the plane might lift off again, and stall.

I am assuming there is nothing wrong with ur tail wheel set up! :)

good luck!

RE: Having trouble with my first tail dragger
 

perhaps your engine trim is too high causing excess speed on approach. the thing to remember is steer with rudder and ailerons until speed is low enough to give it full up elevator so the tail stays down while taxing.
also a couple of "clicks" of throttle on approach then cut to idle as you cross the runway threshold would help.
i normally fly on grass and have flown on asphalt. ashpalt is much faster. you can put a cardboard spacer on your main wheels to slow them down while on asphalt, however if you land in grass it will act as a brake so dont forget to take them off if you go to grass.
the best thing to do is join a local club and use their field. you get advice from members, and will have good company to "hangar fly" with.
good luck and keep the shiney side to the sun lol

RE: Having trouble with my first tail dragger
 

Don't use ailerons that close to the ground, unless your're using them to null out rudder induced roll. Never use ailerons to turn when you are that close to the ground, and flying that slow--you are asking for trouble--especially with that plane, those ailerons are VERY responsive. OK, off of that issue.
I would guess (assuming your tailwheel setup is ok) that after landing, you are still moving just fast enough that there is no pressure on your tailwheel--in other words, the tail wheel is still off the ground, at least a little. Add that to the fact that you don't have enough propwash to make the rudder very effective and you have a non-steerable aircraft. What I would suggest is what has already been suggested--decrease the idle on your engine so that the plane slows down more upon approach. Also, decrease the pitch of the prop. If you are running a .46, you might try a 12 X 4 prop (depending upon the engine, of course). This will give more breaking power, and is a great match for that plane. You don't want to fly the twist very fast anyway, or it will self-destruct on you! If a 12 X 4 prop is too much, then try a 11X5 or 11X6, but those are fairly fast props on a strong .46! The twist is a floater, that will land very slowly if you stay on top of it, but it will also break in half on any rough landing, so be careful!

RE: Having trouble with my first tail dragger
 

I already have the 12x4 on it so I can get it slow. I think the problem was that I left it on high idle and didn't flip the idle down switch. Next time out I'll hit slow idle on my final then once I touch and slow I'll give it up elevator. The cardboard bushings are also a good idea, that will slow it down much faster.

Thanks for the help...

schu

RE: Having trouble with my first tail dragger
 

Make sure the tailwheel spins freely. When the tailwheel on my Super Sportster gets gummed up, it won't steer.

RE: Having trouble with my first tail dragger
 

You also might want to check how much throw you have on the tailwheel, it doesn't take much. Also try just taxing a bit to see if every thing feels right, besides the practice is good for ya. ENJOY !!! RED

RE: Having trouble with my first tail dragger
 

akschu,

is it possible with the expo you have in the plane your not getting the control you need fast enough to the rudder once on the ground ? expo is nice but when you need a responce in a hurry it can be a real pain. just a thought.

bassman

RE: Having trouble with my first tail dragger
 

I was on full left rudder and it didn't even think about moving so I'm pretty sure it was just moving to fast...

I'm off to fly again now so I'll make sure I get it slower and cut the engine at touch down, also I have the cardboard bushings in the wheels, that should help.

schu

RE: Having trouble with my first tail dragger
 

are both wheels spinning freely on the main gear. I had a biplane that had the jam nut get loose. the plane would be fine one minute but as it landed the wheel would spin jkamming the nut into the wheel and causing a lot of drag. full rudder would not counteract the turn but when the tail wheel touched it would just barely go straight full over

RE: Having trouble with my first tail dragger
 

Ok, this time out I got it a lot slower before landing, but the landings where not nearly as smooth and it usually bounced once because it was stalling fast.... but, when it did touch it got slow enough to control within the first 5-6 feet, so I think I just need to practice a little and find the sweet spot where I can slow it down without causing a bounce inducing sink rate.

The plane is a blast, but its WAY more plane than my trainer. I did some rolls today after I started getting confident in the engine and control surface setup and its pretty dang cool to see it roll that fast. Inverted flight is 100 times easier than the trainer and outside loops are a snap instead of a slow painful thing.

RE: Having trouble with my first tail dragger
 

Here's a tip--keep a couple clicks of throttle until you are within a foot off the runway. Then, without moving your elevator (assuming a nice, even descent already), just chop the throttle to idle--it'll grease down on the mains and shouldn't bounce! Remember, don't force the tail down with the elevator, it will ground loop on you, and stall, and you'll have some repair work to do!