bob turner
Registered User
I actually measured takeoff distances with various techniques. With the J-3 and Super Cub I could not measure a difference.
With the C-180, by the time you get the tail off the ground, a three point takeoff would have had you airborne. It is dramatic.
With low powered Champs and at least the UPF-7, you may want to raise the tail a bit to avoid lifting off too soon. The Cub is controllable well below stall speeds, so I find it better to lift off early. In a Cub, I just relax the back pressure and let it fly off.
Most of my students with prior taildragger experience hav never - ever - done a takeoff from a 3-point attitude. I have seen 180 drivers lower the flaps for takeoff, then get it up on the mains until 70 indicated, then climb out at 90 with flaps extended until 1000' agl. They say it climbs faster that way. The laws of basic physics do not back that up.
With the C-180, by the time you get the tail off the ground, a three point takeoff would have had you airborne. It is dramatic.
With low powered Champs and at least the UPF-7, you may want to raise the tail a bit to avoid lifting off too soon. The Cub is controllable well below stall speeds, so I find it better to lift off early. In a Cub, I just relax the back pressure and let it fly off.
Most of my students with prior taildragger experience hav never - ever - done a takeoff from a 3-point attitude. I have seen 180 drivers lower the flaps for takeoff, then get it up on the mains until 70 indicated, then climb out at 90 with flaps extended until 1000' agl. They say it climbs faster that way. The laws of basic physics do not back that up.
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