nose wheel strength

[SkySteve]

Did you say plowed field ... Nose first ... ?
Short landing though

[rogerh12]

see attached

nois.jpg

[DesertFox6]

SEE? That's what happens when you put the "little" wheel on the wrong end!
I keep tellin' people that...nobody listens to me...I just can't imagine what's next...engines without props or something equally ridiculous I suppose!

"E.T."
(sigh)

[Av8r3400]

SEE? That's what happens when you put the "little" wheel on the wrong end!

That's what I was thinking...

[WISDAN]

Roger, Your nose gear is much more stout than mine, I must have the early version of gear. Thanks to all for your comments on this everybody.

Dan G.

[DanB]

SEE? That's what happens when you put the "little" wheel on the wrong end!
I keep tellin' people that...nobody listens to me...I just can't imagine what's next...engines without props or something equally ridiculous I suppose!

"E.T."
(sigh)

LOL E.T. ...I was wonderin when someone was gunna chime in with that. 6 of 1...half a dozen the other I always sez. Skill-sets to learn for both and I aint never heard of a nose dragger doin a ground loop.

[DanB]

Dan,
Try this: Normally your descent rate from downwind when abeam the threshold to very short final is approx 500 per minute. As you begin to enter ground effect pull back smoothly on the stick to increase Angle Of Attack and reduce power to slow descent to 300 FPM. I bet you touch down softly and controlled on the mains with the nose remaining nicely in the air. Now hold it...hold it until you feel the quicker slowdown. Right there smoothly start moving the stick forward, always controlling the smoothness of motion. If it's windy just do the same thing even if you are adding flaperon and/or rudder at a little higher speed. Remember on final your airspeed is controlled by your stick and descent rate is controlled by your power.

Thanks Steve,
how much flap would you consider adding in say a 10 mph crosswind? I'm still on the cautious end of floating in at say an airspeed of 55 and having a gust slow me down faster than I want. I've got the technique of just holding the stick back (haven't done the porpoise dance since student pilot), but I know the more flap you have the less aileron control there is. I know it's just going to be more practice, but I like hearing others technique.

[SkySteve]

Dan,
For me, I don't use any flaperon in a crosswind above about 5-6 mph. I'm over the threshold at 45 mph and usually wheels on the ground about 40 mph or less. I'm probably lighter than you (660#) so take that into consideration. Every landing I do is a spot landing trying to set down on my chosen spot and have the plane just above that "we're done flying" speed. That is critical when landing on the soft desert floor or a sagebrush covered ranch road.

The place that I have learned more about landing than anywhere is at 3,000 ft AGL in slow flight, just above stall. I have spent hours flying as slow as I can fly (and continue to do this on a regular basis) without flaperons, 1/2 flaps and full flaps doing 360's, 180's, S turns, whatever. Just flying the plane to get the "feel" of my plane in slow fligh. After my last BFR my instructor wrote in my logbook, "Steve (Mr. Brick One) has demonstrated outstanding controll of his aircraft during slow flight and precision landings)". I like the Mr. Brick One part.

So why don't I covert my plane back to a Ground Looper? Because so far I have been able to land comfortably in some pretty rough spots and I really like to be able to see in front of me when on the ground. Half flaps and stick all the way back on takeoff gets the Nosewheel off the ground within 20 ft or so, then popping to full flaps and I'm off the ground quick. Flying in ground affect as I bleed off the flaps and away I go. I will not land on rocks next to a river but would certainly land on a packed gravel bar after doing a "Nosewheel up" touch & go to feel how solid it is. Same thing for a dry lake bottom, looking for wet tracks after the touch & go.

Disclaimer: I am not a CFI nor do I have a gazillion years and hours of flying. The majority of my landing is off pavement because that is what I like to do.

[rogerh12]

Another angle (see attached)

[SkySteve]

Did 10 T&G's today on the dirt strip at Ogden's airport (KOGD). The Nosewheel never touched the ground until the final full stop landing.

Hey, ET, why don't we compromise and just get rid of all our nosewheels and tailwheels?