Hi! Garry
I really didn't wish to defend the mono, but after all I did buy both
landing gears and actually built a convertible. Why? Because the flight
profile of the mono is brilliant. However there is another likely
advantage of staying right way up in a forced ditching. There is nothing
so sure that a trike will flip over onto it's back. However there will
be no way I get to use G-PTAG as a mono thanks.
I don't think you should allege there is mono aircraft doing ground
loops and nosing over onto props. big time because that is not the case.
There are thousands of flights happening per annum in Mono Europa's
without any hitches. But like landing gear up there's those who have and
those who will.
My biggest beef now would be handling the mono because without wings or
a suitable dolly they fall over and for a one man rigging situation from
a covered trailer that makes for extreme problems and IMHO is a total
pain in the butt.
Regards
Bob Harrison G-PTAG Europa MKI/Jabiru 3300
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Garry
Subject: Re: Europa-List: wheel landings [was: Flying a heavy Europa
XS?]
I remain completely baffled as to why so many Europa pilots have chosen
the
mono over the trigear when given a choice. There is absolutely zero
performance advantage to the mono, in rate of climb, in cruise speed, in
fuel burn, or whatever. The difference is that the mono is inheritantly
unstable in landing (and takeoff) configuration. Everyone (almost) else
in
the aircraft business, both large and small, has abandon the taildragger
design, and no one else is building mono wheel planes. For the life of
me I
cannot understand why Ivan thought he could be successful when the rest
of
the world says it's an unstable design. The proof is in the results.
Europa mono's are ground looping, wheelbarrowing, bending props, running
off
the tarmac, and generally destroying themselves with regularity.
Perhaps
that is a smart marketing strategy........to design a product that
requires
regular parts replacement and rebuilding, but as a pilot I'm not
impressed.
I do acknowledge that there are a few among our ranks who get a certain
thrill out of placing themselves in danger on every flight, and love the
challenge of taming a wild and unpredictable beast. It makes for good
chest
thumping and bragging rights at the local pub, but might I suggest that
you
take up the (American) sport of bull riding. It's probably safer and
more
satisfying than trying to land a mono. I'm not trying to stir up the
ranks,
but simply trying to understand the motivation of choosing an unstable
design over a proper one. Both Europas are fabulous planes in the air,
but
one operates on the ground in a proper fashion while the other acts like
a
drunk and wounded gooney bird. Let's hear some logical and unemotional
arguments in favor of the mono.
Trigear pilot
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Thursby" <jthursby@tampabay.rr.com>
Subject: RE: Europa-List: wheel landings [was: Flying a heavy Europa
XS?]
> <jthursby@tampabay.rr.com>
>
> Hi Chris,
> If you are that gung ho, by all means try it yourself but don't say
you
> weren't warned. I thought I was smarter than Ivan Shaw once too.
Against
> his wishes (and unknown to) I spent the better part of two hours
trying
> to
> wheel land one of the company planes. I've been told it was some of
the
> most entertaining stuff the controllers at Lakeland had ever seen.
It
> will
> squeak the main on ever so gently with just a touch of power, then the
> tail
> slams to the runway and you are rewarded for your carelessness with
> another
> chance or two at landing it properly. If you recover from the
resulting
> three to ten foot bounce and haven't clipped your propeller, and if
you
> haven't ground looped it, and if you haven't stalled and dropped it
in,
> you
> can attempt another landing. I tried many times and NEVER got it to
stay
> on
> the ground. If you must attempt wheel landings in a tail dragger
aircraft
> please buy or build an RV and save the Europa community from losing
> another
> aircraft from the ranks. And the prop is VERY close when on the main
> wheel
> with the plane in a slight nose down attitude.
>
> Jim T.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
> [mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Chris
Beck
> To: europa-list@matronics.com
> Subject: Re: Europa-List: wheel landings [was: Flying a heavy Europa
XS?]
>
>
> Jim Brown wrote:
>
>>
>>I would also suggest, to those of you who want to "TRY" to wheel land
a
>>mono wheel, you need to do one thing first. With the engine off, have
a
>>friend or helper raise the tail to normal flight attitude, then take a
>>look at how close the prop is to the ground or pavement. One bounce on
>>landing, and you may be buying new prop blades.
>>
>>The center of gravity is behind the mono wheel, which will make the
>>tail drop down, as soon as the wheel touches the runway, if you
counter
>>with some forward stick, re-read the above paragraph.
>>
>>
>>
> Jim, what sort of clearance are we talking about?? 2"? 6"? I've got
a
> mile on the 140. I'd have to be looking straight at the dirt to get
the
> prop grounded.
>
> Regarding the C of G, it's the same issue on any taildragger. It's
behind
> the mains, which causes the tail to drop when landing due to the
inertia.
> Trick is to zero out the rate of descent just as the mains touch, then
> nail
> it with that bit of forward stick (as I'm sure you know very well from
the
> Pitts). Again, is it strictly a prop clearance issue that prevents
> wheelies
> in the monowheel? Has this been beaten to death in the past where I
can
> look it up in the archives?
>
> I'm just very curious about the mechanics of landing a monowheel.
I've
> flown in a few different ones (a Classic and an XS). Now that I'm
flying
> a
> tailwheel plan, I understand a lot more of what's going on.
>
> Chris
>
>
>
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