On Feb 10, 9:23 am, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
William Hung wrote in news:d5ad9f37-e01f-4e0b-9aad-
:





On Feb 10, 11:11 am, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
William Hung wrote in news:b91186d4-fa32-498d-
ac70-
:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FCWFMJaBLl0&feature=related

While "researching" stol aircrafts, I came across this.

Wil

This is actualy pretty easy to do in a lot of taildraggers,
especially a
cub. Just a bit of brake against power with some forward stick. You
can
taxi around all day like this.

Bertie

Keeping the tail off the ground? I suppose it is even easier in a
tricycle geared ones. lol

True!

in some of those I've taxied with the nosewheel off the ground, though!

Inches from a prop-strike, seconds from a prop-strike. I wonder how
many engines he had to have torn down before he got that good.

Like I said, it's easy. Anyone could do it in a cub with only a little
practice. If it starts to go too far you release the brakes and it sits
down. It's as simple as that. It's lots lots lots easier than it looks.
One problem is that you have a good bit of power on, especially at very
low speeds and your prop is down near the ground where it can pick up
grit.

Bertie

I learned to stop the 185 really short doing just this. And
taxied the old Auster like that. Not as hard as it looks, but you sure
gotta be careful. My Jodel, on the other hand, is really finely
balanced, rather light in the tail, and I've never had the nerve to do
it. Maybe this spring:-)
The taildragger's CG is usually 15° behind the main axles.
Picking up the tail of a taildragger, you can hoist it over your head
so that it's pointing down at 15° or so, and it'll balance there. Prop
horizontal so it doesn't get stabbed into the pavement. With the
brakes on and engine run up, it's easy enough to keep the tail from
rising to that level.

Dan