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Old February 1st 10, 05:26 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
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Default Tail wheels, or is this forum really dead?

On Feb 1, 3:54*am, Stealth Pilot wrote:

I believe that the original poster has a problem but is off on the
wrong track trying to solve the problem.


I may be off on the wrong track, but don't have a problem with
'draggers, in general, or particular.

Just have the desire to tinker and see if I can improve the ground
handling a bit ....... and see if I couldn't stir up a bit of
discussion on the group.

One goal accomplished.

Those that think a "negative caster" tail wheel would just flop
sideways, or even swap ends if not restrained are forgetting about
choosing a pivot angle to match. With the proper pivot angle and
weight on the tail the system can be stable up to a point.

For an analogy consider flying a plane that has it's CG behind the
neutral point and an all flying horizontal stab. This is essentially
what a tail dragger is on the ground.. Move the pivot of the stab
back behind the aerodynamic center and add an anti servo tab linked to
a mass. The whole system will never be stable, but can be self
stabilizing with in a narrow range.
======================
Leon