Taildraggers Flashcards
knowledge
What can be done to help break lose aircraft without increasing RPM more?
Pump Stick for/aft, push rudder L/R, Rock the ailerons while add minimal power.
Normal start should produce an engine oil indication within xx Sec?
30 Seconds
60 Sec if cold outside
What unique wind related tendency do only taildraggers have?
Weathervane Tendency, big side area will want to turn into the wind!
Taildragger ‘never’ wants to track straight forward…
Stay on top of it, keep tailwheel between the mainwheels, Dance!
True or False Taildraggers are directionally unstable?
True
Where is the CofG located?
Just aft of my Seat, or 2 feet back from main wheels
What is the order of control effectiveness on takeoff?
REA
Rudder
Elevator
Ailerons
But you also got the Brakes and Throttle
Should you keep your feet on the floor or on the Pedals during taxi operations?
On the Floor
What Body part is most active during taxi?
My ankles, small quick movements
Using your leg will get you out of Phase!
Never Taxi fast (as I get smug)
What causes loss of directional control on taxi?
Looking down in the Cockpit (map, fuel selector, Flaps, GPS, pencil)
Stay well behind any other aircraft…
Jetblast will turn me around
Taxiing a taildragger is like xxx a rope?
Pushing
Always check what once you begin to taxi?
The Brakes
Always repair a Grabby Break; you want smooth applications on both brakes
Sound advice
What factors affect Risk level on taxi?
Winds, Surface type, Taxi Speed
My proper Stick, Brake and Rudder usage
Should you lock a wheel during a turnaround procedure?
No, pump brake on/off
When should you maintain momentum of aicraft?
On sand as well as soft or soggy ground.
What precaution must you manage carefully when adding extra power to taxi on soft-field?
Consider moving elevator Neutral (danger) to avoid throwing rocks at my Elevator Surface!
Because adding more power than usual!
On ice and snow if there is a slope, what precautions should I take?
Stay on the downhill side.
Where should you taxi along a berm?
Along the peak or upwind side.
Under which conditions must taxi speed be always reduced?
Crosswinds or Tailwinds
What scenario on taxi can lead to a Nose-tip?
Turning away from a headwind.
Hold stick full aft, avoid putting much power at all…
If you added power and now the nose starts tilting down, realease the brakes and add more power to exit the nose-tipping over event.
What is unique about ‘upwind’ turns (turning into wind)
Planes wants to go there, very little pedal pressure is required.
What forces are problematic when turn from downwind to upwind on taxi?
Sideforces can weaken structure over the Longterm.
What can happen if taxiing downwind with too much speed when you subsequently turn into wind?
Too much centrifugal force can cause top-heavy aircraft to tip over (on the Prop)
What issue comes up with Turning downwind?
It won’t want to turn, up to Full rudder needed, some brake and some power. Here again it can end-up on its nose…handling will vary with location of Cofg on the day.
Never use xxx against the Brakes on taxi.
Power
Stick full aft on taxi, unless relative wind is from behind and >6kts (like faster than speed we are taxiing and +6kts…why?
Stick in your gut puts need weight on the Tail, when more than 6kts tailwind ontop of relative wind, the put Stick forward.
With left quartering tailwind of 10 kts where should the stick be?
Top right corner, with tailwind the ailerons are positioned parrallel to wind, so wind hits down deflected aleron 1st, making that upwind wing want to stay down more.
Easiest method to remember best stick position on ground?
Thumb Up Method….
Hold Stick with your Thumb straight up
Parrallel thumb to wind flow (either left/right)
What is worst wind direction for Taxiing or takeoff?
Left Crosswind, as weathervane tendency is added to all the other Prop/Eng left turn tendencies.
Do you need to keep moving stick in winds if doing S-turns on Taxi?
Yes
What is worst taxiing wind problem?
Left quartering tailwind
When taxiing on a berm (convex shaped surface) best to go on Left/right side of Berm?
Left, as gravity on tailwheel helps offset Torque, in zero wind.
Why avoid fast turns on taxi?
Tremendous shift of fuel can cause a lot of unwanted side-stress on gear.
What damage is caused by Locked Wheel turns?
Twisting strain on wheel
Twisting strain on Axle
Twisting strain on Strut Assembly
Scuff or Wearing of Tire
A sharp taxi turn can be done using?
Pumping action on a single brake, not locking the the wheel.
True/False On takeoff must correct nose deviation immediatly dont wait until 10deg off?
True
What is common reason for over-controlling the Rudder on takeoff?
Pilot looking to close in front of aircraft
Look towards the end of the Runway
Use peripheral vision to detect nose moves
Always raise the tail?
Slowly and Smoothly
Preferred Rudder technique on takeoff?
Small and fast Pokes on the Pedals.
You can’t move your leg as fast as your ankle
At slow speeds the rudder deflection to correct for a swerve is?
Larger
In crosswind, could line up on downwind side of runway towards the upwind side?
Thus eliminating 10deg of crosswind.
When visibility over the nose is restricted best to move head or eyes?
Eye movement is better
What does having the a/c moving prior to achieving full power do?
This will minimize chance of Rocks or Debris being funneled to the Prop.
Why do you start the Takeoff with stick fully-back?
To be able to conteract left-yaw moment with tailwheel steering as Rudder itself is not effective yet!
What type of rudder deflections are required later in takeoff run?
Smaller
What is the longest amount of time my idle to Full power application should take?
Done promptly
2-3 Seconds
There is a very narrow window when what may solve the develloping swerve?
The application of single brake opposite the swerve
~Reducing power to idle may or may NOT be the best solution depending on the situation…going idle only works <15kts ias (i.e. when rudder is not effective yet) and ground loop would be benign.
When a swerve occurs on takeoff above 15kts ias, what should you do with the power?
Keep it FULL, adds to rudder effectivess with prop blast on tail and on-going accelleration…
What is optimum flap position for Takeoff?
Flaps 0 til
“V1” @45 kts at 50% Tora (no obs)
*Bunch all this together!
…if swerving at low ias, put stick towards outside wing…NOT instinctive…why?
Idea is small amount of UP aileron drag will assist in straightening the ground path.
This requires a lot of RAM on my part, but doing so b/c ailerons not yet effective.
Do you Rotate a Taildragger at VR?
No,
you just pull flap to get airborne above “V1”
What is the difference between Cruise Attitude and Tail low attitude on Takeoff Roll?
Less drag if lift tail to a cruise attitude (i.e. lifting it a bit more); but mostly used in crosswinds over 6 kts or during Gusty conditions
What is the most Ball force (centrifugal) I should use in a Swing-Takeoff?
<1/2 Ball deflection, (i.e. while I Power up a bit as I reverse course and lineup) this is to avoid overloading my landing gear!
Get into habit of checking ball as I swing tail around on taxi
Assuming a 180deg turn from backtrack, what direction must a swing-takeoff turn be made to?
Shortest direction Into wind!
This might require a bit of forward stick to lighten the load on the Tail w bitw once the turn begins….
What is the result of taxiing with a tailwind, sloshing fuel and over-doing the centrifugal Ball force during a swing-takeoff?
Ending up on one-gear and dragging the outside wingtip!
Main difference between Short-field and Soft-field takeoff?
Tail up a bit more to accell vs.
Never stop your Taxi…keep moving
Tail Low off a soft-field & more flap
When taking off from Rocks or Rough terrain what technique is used?
a Soft-field Takeoff
What assumption govern use of Soft-field takeoff procedure?
Surface drag caused by tires is greater than induced drag resulting from high Angle of attack used
OR
In the case of rough surfaces, to save wear & tear on the aircraft…
What consideration comes to mind if Tora limited on Rough Terrain?
Use Short-field technique instead of Soft-field technique to get airborne!
On rough terrain will aircraft accelerate faster on the ground or airborne with induced drag on the wing?
Choose the best available path on ground, aircraft will accelerate faster with surface friction drag than in induced drag while airborne
Simplest wag of Rtow performance in ALL CASES?
50/70 rule
“V1” call at 45kts
Keep in mind, this ROT never dictates a safe ROC after takeoff…that is different performance ROT based on a//c weight, current DA and height of obstacles.
After an abort due to ias <70% of Vr @50% Tora, what can you do to fix problem of not reaching 45kts by the halfway point…
Decrease aircraft weight
Cargo, Fuel, Pax
Wait for cooler Temperature
Wait for more headwind
True or False Most aicraft accellerate better than they stop?
False
So, you can potentially land somewhere that you won’t be able to takeoff from!
Above 2000’ agl, what do winds do on Surface weather charts?
Winds flow parrallel to isobars
True/False Surface winds blow 45 outwards from High and 45 inward on a low pressure?
True
Wag that determines where Lower pressure is?
Face the wind
Extend left arm 45 to my left (i.e. good direction, easy)
Right arm extend 135 deg aft and points at Low pressure area, where worse wx will be
Pilots go off Runways and have prop strikes because messing with flaps…true or false?
True
Only retract flap setting to point you can ergonomically reach without ever looking down!
Partial Flap retraction is good, as it gives more WOW.
Taildragger wisdom
“Keep Flying the darn thing until it is tied down”
It’s not your mistakes that will get you…
It’s how you choose to take care of them…i.e. do the Go-Around
Consider parameters for a Continuous turn from Downwind to Touchdown…
Need some power on, gives visibility of landing area…Tutor Final turn from Ohead pattern…Still using spot method even if offset.
What is a stabilized approach?
Exact Glideslope you want with stable ias!
Flare with Zero sideways drift
Touchdown within -0 +50’
Must avoid idle descent to landing…because?
Cools engine, not ideal if you then do a Go-Around!
15” of MP is nice…
Rod in FPM only varies with?
Slope angle chosen and my Groundspeed on the day!
True or False Flap 1&2 give more lift than drag?
True
Then it becomes the opposite!
But does so at a lower G-limit
Everytime you take flaps, what do you have todo?
Only take flaps with wings level
Check ias prior
then re-trim nose-up!
G-Tolerances are reduced by how much with flaps extended?
About 40% less G
True or False always retract flaps in stages during a go-aroun
True
Need to increase Coefficient of lift by either increasing AOA or IAS
Then Re-Trimming
Whats the difference with a swerve after touchdown at 50 vs 70kts?
Speed difference acts to the square of the force…
So you get double or twice as strong a Swerve at high speed…not a good thing!
When are ‘S’ turns required on Taxi?
Anytime you can’t see over the Nose!
Be moving stick for changes in relative wind on my aircraft with each 90deg iteration!
What is the correct liftoff procedure in a 15kts crosswind?
Downwind wheel will lift a bit prior to upwind wheel!
So flying on single upwind wheel for a bit
Backup for tie-down when remote?
-Dig holes in front of main wheels and push it in them (decreases aoa)!
-Tie 2inch wood ontop of my wing as surrogate lift spoilers on 1st third of the span from fuselage! However, to not scratch wing put wood ontop of some clothing.
Improvised wing spoilers on ground?
Sandbags, Tires, Flight bag, sleeping bag, etc…
With no aircraft around over short time, what can I do to secure aircraft into wind?
Set parking brake of only my ‘upwind’ wheel (single wheel) and let it pivot into wind!
What grazing animal will eat Fabric of my plane?
Cattle
Always leave a Taildragger tiedown when unnattended!
Even for a few minutes to use the Toilet.
Breakfast place if any real wind!
What are best tie-downs chain or rope?
Ropes with some elasticity.
Which are the two most important of the three tie-down points?
Tail and one wing, then if three ropes do the other wing…
Leaving tail untied will allow a/c to flipover!
If you only have two points to tie down?
Tie Tail and one Wing!
What rating on your tie-down rope?
-Rated >3000lbs
-Nylon 3/8 inch
-Twisted Dacron 3/8 or 7/16th
(Twisted is stronger than braided)
-Polypropylene rope (i.e. yellow plastic style) is harder to make knots with so not preferred.
Best non-slipping knot to secure my aircraft?
Best knot to secure my rope to the anchor?
-Locking Half-Hitch (twice thru centre) then 6” lower a Double Half-hitch.
-Bowline (because easy to untie), it will not slip or slide.
How much movement should occur after I tie down my aircraft?
1-2inches, rocking a bit is good.
Always Tie-off rope ends so they don’t wip my aircraft.
Do I need to put chocks when my plane is tied?
Yes, you should
Should you set Parking brake after hard use or a hot day of taxiing?
No
You might blowout O-rings and seals of master cylinder.
Why do you tie the flight controls?
To avoid them banging against their stops!
If you expect really big winds, tie both front and backseat sticks with seatbelts.
