Landing a Mooney

The TWs are all a little different from what I've heard. The Maule is the
only one I've flown. You really have a choice of 3point configs - Landing
flaps will allow you to arrive right at what I'd call "the end of elevator
authority". Not quite a stall but you are done unless you add power. On the
other hand, take-off flaps, 0 flaps or negative flaps (a Maule feature)
allow you to fly it on with authority. All positions approved for landing
in the ops manual.

I've certainly heard that the Maules handle grass fine. But I'm afraid that
my combination of 3300', 50' obstructions both ends, and surface quality
makes it a little too tight for regular operations, close to gross, at 95
degrees. I've never completely run the numbers but even with that light
early model 21, takeoff would be dicey. Then the wet wing.... and all.
Bo's and Commanche's seem to handle it OK but the Mooney seems to push the
limits a bit. But I love that wing on it.
"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
om...
"Maule Driver" wrote in message
. com...
I'm not sure I'm strong enough for the tailwheel trick - I guess that
applies to Cubs and such. No one is picking up a Maule tail like that.

OTOH, there is much advice warning against wheelies in the Maule. I can
do
'em but don't because you don't need 'em. You can fly it on 3 points
quite
nicely with reduced or neg flaps. Still don't know exactly why but make
and
model wise, it just doesn't need to be in your kit.

The Maule is one of the tailwheels I've not flown. 3pts are nice and a
plane's behavior in a 3pt often is related to how close (or far) from
stall it is in a 3pt attitude. In the Swift it is recommended that you
NOT 3 pt it because the 3pt attitude is so far beyond stalls, most
pilots just end up dropping it in (notice that most Swifts have
wrinkles on the top of the wings). In some planes you are still
totally flying at 3pt attitude (Citabria for example).

Wish I could operate a Mooney off my grass....

My Mooney does fine off grass and even beaches (I've flown off a
couple in Mexico). The grass just can't be too deep or the holes too
deep. Our local grass field (C14) has big gopher holes all over it so
I've never taken a nose wheel plane in there. I love taking the Swift,
Aeronca, and C140 into that field. The runway threshold has powerlines
over it and a giant oak tree hanging over the runway. You can't go
below these because its backed up against a levy. Some people land the
other direction but then a go-around is suicide. When my kids were
young they referred to C14 as "the airport where the planes live in
the grass".

-Robert