Humbled by Tcraft

[gusc]

I flew N5123M today for the first time after making the deal to buy it. I spent an hour trying to keep it under control but it is obvious I will need a bunch more hours before we are completely compatible.

Granted it was a very rough day, not windy but very unstable. It was even rough flying down in my 3200 lb Navion which I am selling soon. One of those cool, dry days with lots of thermal activity.

Always wanted a BC-12D and now all that is left is the paperwork and check book depletion.

[Jim Hartley]

Re: Humbled by Tcraft

They make you work don't they?

[paulp]

Re: Humbled by Tcraft

Congratulations!!!!

Taylorcraft-A pilots airplane

[crispy critter]

Re: Humbled by Tcraft

Yeah,but once you get a feel for her everything will go smooth as silk.....even on those bumpy days

[flyguy]

Re: Humbled by Tcraft

Smooth--
Yah, sure.
Darryl

[mhorowit]

Re: Humbled by Tcraft

I recall a nice summer day last year.
That's why I'm thinking about a shoulder harness!!
Trying to punch up the freq on my handheld was an adventure!- Mike

Anyone suggested a good Tcraft instructor in your area? I'm specifying Tcraft because my instructor's Citrabria doesn't handle ANYTHING like the T craft.

[mhorowit]

Re: Humbled by Tcraft

I flew N5123M today for the first time after making the deal to buy it. I spent an hour trying to keep it under control but it is obvious I will need a bunch more hours before we are completely compatible.

Ooh. I"d love to hear how you progress.
Any previous tailwheel time?
"under control" - on the ground, in the air, take-off, landing, all of the above?
(we've all gone thru it; some of us several times!!) - Mike

[flylo]

Re: Humbled by Tcraft

But when it all comes together it's awesome!You don't get that from you cessna with that big ugly front wheel.

[Dano"T"]

Re: Humbled by Tcraft

Yes indeed. The Taylorcraft always does what she's told. It depends whose in charge...the wind or the pilot. A little extra control deflection gets those parts of the cables that don't normally see the pullys some time in the groove. I can see it now...stiff gusty breeze....T-Craft pilot dancin' on the rudders with his tounge out and sweaty palms.....screech......screech.....screech........ wheeew! That wasn't so bad.

Sound Familiar.

[gusc]

Re: Humbled by Tcraft

As I said, it wasn't windy, just very unstable air with lots of thermals. I had strong sink on more than one approach but not every one. The weird part was that the first one was smooth as silk. Then came the bounces!!

I have over a thousand hours of tail dragger time but have been flying the heavy Navion for seven years with no TD flying during that time. Flew some gliders but no power TDs. Owned a 7AC and a Stinson 108-3 and started my instructor career in J-3s. Even flew a BC-12D years ago but surely am out of practice now. I've probably flown a dozen types of TDs but not one flies like a Tcraft. 7ACs have their own little quirks too.

[lktiller]

Re: Humbled by Tcraft

I'm sitting and grinnin' at the thought of flying in thermals & gusty air! Lots of fun in a t-craft.

Ride the t-craft, don't let it sense nervousness. It'll wear your arms out trying to keep it level. Use rudder instead.
Relax on the yoke. Let the rudder do the steering and gentle at that.
Kick it with your feet from time-to-time, let it know who's boss.

[btbell]

Re: Humbled by Tcraft

Gusc,

Contact me offline as I may know someone interested in your Navion if you still have it. My e-mail is [email protected]
Thanks,
Brian

[NC36454]

Re: Humbled by Tcraft

gusc,

Just go fly it and have fun. When I started flying tailwheel, we didn't have a required signoff. I had a Luscombe and would run it down the runway with the tail up. One day I pulled back a little and away I went...all I had to do was reverse the process to land! I got luckier as I practiced more. Since you have so much TW time, you can just go fly. Keep us posted.

Ken
1941 BC12-65
W4SWK

[VictorBravo]

Re: Humbled by Tcraft

I must have said this a hundred times... EVERY day is a moderate turbulence day in a Taylorcraft

For whatever my opinion's worth (I do NOT have thousands of T-craft hours), don't try to keep it exactly on course and altitude in turbulence. It's a losing proposition on a rough day. Keep it headed in the general direction you want to go, and within a couple hundred feet of your desired altitude. The Taylorcraft is a powered glider or an ultralight by today's standards. It cannot be expected to be as stable and rock solid in rough air as a C-182. Any more than the 182 can float three-point onto a mowed grass field with quite the same panache

[lktiller]

Re: Humbled by Tcraft

"temporary thread hijack"

quote the last entry "Any more than the 182 can float three-point onto a mowed grass field with quite the same panache"

I watched a Cessna 195 pretend it was a light plane a few weeks ago. Grass strip south of Mobile, AL. The pilot (and plane) was impressive. His short-field takeoffs and landings were great! High speed passes were equally impressive. Round engines sound great! I drool.

Larry Tillery

(take the thread back )