Pilots who start their take off run with the tail pointing at the sky expecting a short take off run should pay attention to this.Does any video exist of Steve lowering the tailwheel before takeoff?
Does any video exist of Steve lowering the tailwheel before takeoff?
I have long argued that the fastest way to get a TW airplane off the ground is to keep the tail low and just fly it off. Watching the Huskies and others raise their tails only to bang them on the ground before the takeoff roll starts is just for show in my opinion.
There are probably people and airplanes that benefit from tail high then lower the tail and lift off, but I have never been smart enough to get one off any faster using that technique.
sj
Yep, lots of practice and you can nurse it off just before the tail touches.Timing is everything, and that comes from a lot of seat time to rotate and not let the tailwheel touch.
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That’s about right. Added money to events like this also add complication. No free lunch.Maybe a handicap formula using windspeed coefficient, aircraft empty weight and the square root of the distance to the nearest doughnut shop.
Maybe a handicap formula using windspeed coefficient, aircraft empty weight and the square root of the distance to the nearest doughnut shop.
I have long argued that the fastest way to get a TW airplane off the ground is to keep the tail low and just fly it off. Watching the Huskies and others raise their tails only to bang them on the ground before the takeoff roll starts is just for show in my opinion.
There are probably people and airplanes that benefit from tail high then lower the tail and lift off, but I have never been smart enough to get one off any faster using that technique.
sj
....With my 180, full flaps, tail just out of the dirt and absolute minimum weight gives me the shortest take-off roll. The whole tail high, partial flaps then more flaps and pull up all in the first few seconds of the roll is too much gymnastics for me .....