David-aviator
Well Known Member
...I won't do it any other way.
The last 2 mornings were very calm, nice flying in perfectly still air. But today was different. It was not windy, windy by any standards but it was not calm. Two airports were reporting 10 knots or so with gusts to 15 at Spirit.
So the test - can I land the beast in a cross wind, any cross wind?
Apparently I can, did not bounce or bend metal. Its like landing any airplane in a cross wind, lower the upwind wing and apply rudder to keep it straight. And as soon as it touches, a bit of forward stick to keep it glued to the ground and try to keep it straight with rudder.
Did 2 on hard surface, quartering headwind and one on the grass with direct crosswind. I measured the landing distance on the grass, with very little braking it was stopped in 800', the runway slopes uphill a little so that helps.
Pilots need to develop personal techniques that produce good results. Neophyte that I am with a tail dragger, I can not imagine doing anything but wheeling the RV-8 on - it works - for me.
You can apply gentle brakes before the tail comes down. As the machine slows and the tail is lowered, brakes can still be used gently. I'm sure a hard stomp could cause a nose over, but you can feel what it is doing as you brake gently, it is better than no braking if the situation warrants it.
I have a problem controlling direction after the tail comes down, the tail wheel is so sensitive at 40 knots, it is different than he rudder, stuff to learn and tweak.
It was not a gusty, gusty day but the experience was the beginning of taking on more crosswind.
8.8 hours in RV-8, 27 landings, about half of them were ok the rest could have been better. So far the airplane appears to have no bad habits but it has not been flown at aft CG, that will come.
If anyone wishes to report aft cg differences, I will read and appreciate the comments.
The last 2 mornings were very calm, nice flying in perfectly still air. But today was different. It was not windy, windy by any standards but it was not calm. Two airports were reporting 10 knots or so with gusts to 15 at Spirit.
So the test - can I land the beast in a cross wind, any cross wind?
Apparently I can, did not bounce or bend metal. Its like landing any airplane in a cross wind, lower the upwind wing and apply rudder to keep it straight. And as soon as it touches, a bit of forward stick to keep it glued to the ground and try to keep it straight with rudder.
Did 2 on hard surface, quartering headwind and one on the grass with direct crosswind. I measured the landing distance on the grass, with very little braking it was stopped in 800', the runway slopes uphill a little so that helps.
Pilots need to develop personal techniques that produce good results. Neophyte that I am with a tail dragger, I can not imagine doing anything but wheeling the RV-8 on - it works - for me.
You can apply gentle brakes before the tail comes down. As the machine slows and the tail is lowered, brakes can still be used gently. I'm sure a hard stomp could cause a nose over, but you can feel what it is doing as you brake gently, it is better than no braking if the situation warrants it.
I have a problem controlling direction after the tail comes down, the tail wheel is so sensitive at 40 knots, it is different than he rudder, stuff to learn and tweak.
It was not a gusty, gusty day but the experience was the beginning of taking on more crosswind.
8.8 hours in RV-8, 27 landings, about half of them were ok the rest could have been better. So far the airplane appears to have no bad habits but it has not been flown at aft CG, that will come.
If anyone wishes to report aft cg differences, I will read and appreciate the comments.