Hey Steve! Way to go buddy!
I have used the crab in and kick it straight technique many times but
recently started
trying the forward slip in to landing technique keeping the aircraft
continually alligned with
the runway down short final. I have decided this is much less workload for
me as there is no
rotational inertia to deal with at the last second or trying to guess
exactly when the
main is going to touch down. The aircraft is held straight so whenever it
touches down
it is alligned with the runway. Perfectly straight rollouts every time
(well almost). Much easier at least for me on pavement. On heavy turf
possibly the crab technique would work better as the low side outrigger
could catch on brush but on pavement no worries!
Glenn
>From: "Steve Hagar" <hagargs@earthlink.net>
>Reply-To: europa-list@matronics.com
>To: "europa-list" <europa-list@matronics.com>
>Subject: Europa-List: Less hair raising landings
>Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2006 18:18:04 -0700
>
>After 25 landings in the last 2 days the technique is now becoming
>apparrent , though more subconsciously by the feet rather than by the
>brain. Several nice squeakers toward the end of the effort were very
>satisfying knowing what it takes to do it. Received some wind and rain
>experience to boot. Came in several times with the nose crabbed about 20
>degrees off the runway centerline for wind compensation and managed to get
>the kick to straight upon touchdown fairly easily. As noted before here
>many times the secret it keeping it straight. Early trials had me trying
>to use the "heavy boot" technique. This resulted in much lateral use of
>the runway. My old tailwheel instructor (who isn't very old) was
>permitted aboard by an extra paragraph I had put in my program letter,
>basically had gotten me to consider foot "pressures" rather than radical
>movements. It seems that way you are automatically ahead of the plane
>rather than trying to add a bunch of footwork to cha
> se an excursion to get back to straight. Once out of line it took me
>awhile to figure out to lessen up the pressure much before getting straight
>or the ship would get out of line the other way. I now just have to make
>the feet not forget what they learned if I'm not out there in awhile.
>
>The key seems to be to go at it and go at it hard to get the technique
>down. Back to back days seemed to do the trick. However toting the acft.
>out to the field and assembling it is still a royal pain in the ass, I
>will probably get much less flying than I otherwise would. Though it
>assembles and disassembles fairly easily. I have dolly that is bolted and
>pinned to the undercarriage that allows me to roll it around without the
>wings that takes a little time to do.
>
>Fuel flow meter has been calibrated to within about 1% of at least what the
>gas pump reads at a certain particular station.
>
>Still getting some high CO in the cockpit during pattern work after
>initial mods. It clears right up when the flaps come up and get some
>speed going. Need to get rid of the left eyeball fresh air vent and make
>it look like the right side where I have a 1" X 3" rectangular opening
>inside the NACA vent. I need to find or fabricate a little door for it to
>close it off when not needed. Has any one fabbed up something like this?
>
>Right strobe light is inop, need to investigate.
>
>The plane flys in a straighforward manner and is predictable in every way.
> It has about 18 hours on it with about 15 with me at the controls.
>
>My hand held Garmin GPS 92's screen had faded out so much that I can
>hardly see it anymore. I'm looking for something new now. Is any one out
>there using something they particularly like that they can recommend. I
>don't need color or terrain avoidance etc just basic navigation with some
>airport information. I had been comfortable with using a stopwatch and a
>compass for awhile when my last hand held went south. I am strictly low
>tech. Just give me a plane that's reliable, ecomical and flys good. No
>need for bells and whistles. Though the tune might change when long cross
>country flights become the norm. Erich Trombley's wing auto pilot was
>nice to have when droning back from Oshkosh.
>
>Enough rambling for now.
>
>Steve Hagar
>A143
>N40SH
>
>
>Steve Hagar
>hagargs@earthlink.net
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