fazer

Will a larger tail wheel desensitize the ground handling on airplanes like cubs to help with the aircraft from being squirrly/ ground looping on take offs?

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Are you running expo?

fazer

Yes About 30%

TomCrump

Short answer is no.

Reduced control inputs will reduce ground looping.

If possible, limit your tail wheel steering, in comparison to rudder movement..

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Are you sure its in the right direction? Some radios allow you to go positive and negative expo. If its set correctly and you still have issues then you may have too much throw.

fazer

Thanks for the info. I checked my expo setting and it was set negative. I'll change it to positive.
Thanks again

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Set it to 80% and visually verify it is working correctly, then dial back down to your 30%.

DavidAgar

My Feedback: (108)

You can also set up a dual rate for the rudder. I have it on all my planes. I have a take off rate and a flight rate. I taxi out on flight rates and when I am ready for take off, I switch it to take off rate which is a great deal less than the flight rates. It really helps on the ground loops. Good Luck, Dave

Bozarth

My Feedback: (15)

WAIT!............................It depends on which brand of radio you have. Neg for Futaba, Pos for JR/Spektrum.

Kurt

tomgreen

I agree with Dave, set the rudder up on duel rates, and that should take care of the problem.

RBACONS

My Feedback: (3)

I have to disagree to a certain extent. Dual rates and/or expo will help with over-controlling but Tom Crump has the best solution which is to limit the tail wheel movement relative to the rudder. Whether or not you can do that will depend on how the plane and how the tail wheel is connected. At low speeds, the tail wheel has more authority (per degree of movement) than the rudder does. If the tail wheel moves the same degree as the rudder, when the tail lifts you no longer have enough rudder stick input to hold the same heading as when the tail wheel was down, hence the usual quick yaw to the left. Ideally, you want them to be equal so that there is not a discontinuity in control when the tail wheel lifts. You can compensate somewhat by holding the tailwheel down as long as possible on the take off run or gunning the engine to get the tailwheel up immediately and only control the take off run with rudder. Neither is a great solution.

flycatch

My Feedback: (26)

A tail wheel is used for directional control when it is in contact with the ground. It will never prevent a ground loop that is what the rudder is for. Learning to fly a tail- dragger is a work of art and it involves a combination of; rudder, elevator and throttle. A ground loop follows if you can't manage all three controls at once. Ask me how I know and my answer will be I have been there.

Bozarth

My Feedback: (15)

It could be a stability issue. Reducing control throws via dual rates or adding expo doesn't correct a stability issue, they are just attempts to tip-toe around it.

Kurt

jrf

My Feedback: (551)

If you are using a hard surface runway, try using the grass alongside of the runway. Ground loops are less likely on grass. (That is also true for full scale Cubs.)

Jim

vertical grimmace

My Feedback: (1)

Yes, What kind of plane is it?

mackeyjones

Id probably suggest slowly advancing the throttle on take off, as well as holding back pressure on the stick while taxiing and the start of a take off before it reaches flying speed of course. Expo on rudder as suggested before is a good idea. I fly a lot of taildraggers and all different kinds, ive never had to mess with how far the wheel travels, thats more of a nose wheel thing. Mind you if a plane is too nose heavy, or the front wheels are too far back, that can be issues all on its own. The closer your wheels are to the COG the more likely you are to have the problem.

stevegauth30

Ahh, the joys of dragging tail.

stevegauth30

Have to agree with Tom and RB

vertical grimmace

My Feedback: (1)

Must be a Fokker triplane or an ME 109. : )

termart

My Feedback: (1)

after many years of trial and error I have found that proper set up of the main gear is crucial to good ground handling. I try to set my mains centered to the leading edge of the wing with slight toe-in, and I always use a spring between the tiller arm of the tail wheel and the attachment point of the rudder to 'soften' tail wheel authority (and reduce wear on the rudder servo). For what it's worth.

jerdavis

My Feedback: (3)

The further aft the CG is from the ground contact point of the main gear...the more likely to ground loop. Move The wheels back or the CG forward (nose heavy. Also narrow, tall (high vertical CG) gear make ground handling worse.

rgburrill

Dual rates AND expo. And if possible a different rate for rudder and tail wheel. I like the ones that have springs connecting the tail wheel to the rudder and the throws are adjustable between them.

stevegauth30

this week flight journal has an article about tail dragger tips.

vertical grimmace

My Feedback: (1)

Actually to get back, directly to the original question, the tail wheel size does not have an effect on ground looping. The set up of the main gear does mainly. The tailwheel only has an effect on control when it is touching the ground. It becomes light, very quick as soon as the stab begins to create lift. Think of WW 1 models with just a skid. Granted, many WW1 models are tricky on the ground, but it is not because of the skid. If this is some type of sport aerobatic model, ground looping will have more to do with technique, than set up I believe.

If ground looping is an issue for you, there are other areas where you need to focus to solve your problem.

earles6169

My Feedback: (16)

Make sure there is enough right thrust in the motor if there is none put a Popsicle stick under the left hand side of the motor mount.