Hi Ted!
Welcome to the Europa family. Your problems in handling your Mono wheel
on the ground must be a result of poor instruction during your
check-out, a problem which have inflickted this beautiful design in the
past - by ignorance or otherwise.
Just remember one thing: During ground handling the tailwheel must be
nailed to the ground at all times, PERIODE! In other words:
controllstick all the way back to enhance positive control. (OK - during
taxiing in windy tailwind conditions it's appropriate to ease forward to
let the wind press tailplane downwards). Stick in your lap goes for
take-off's as well. When at 35 - 40 kts ease forward just a little and
your'e airborne. On landing go for the classic tre-point at ALL TIMES-
easing all the way back after touch down. This goes for x-wind landings
as well.
You have absolutely NO lateral steering capacity as on conventional
tailwheel aircraft - like a Cub where you smartly turn around using your
brakes. Your ONLY positive steering below flying speed is your
tailwheel!!
Above all: Unlearn your tailwheel skills regarding the use of toe/heel
(Cub) brakes, and concentrate on the hand brake in consert with your
tailwheel steering. Taxi slowly until you get the hang of it (in
moderate to high winds always have a feel for where the wind comes from
and move ever so slowly!).
Accept wery little x-wind in the beginning and build up experience
gradually. A grassfield is also much more forgiving than concrete.
The Europa Mono is a marvelous design and a beauty to fly. Once you have
the hang of it you will love it! But be patient, and accept that you
have to be tuned to your learning curve. As always: Practice and
experience is the only way!
Cheers
Hans, LN-HJD #334.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ofanoa
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Sent: Sunday, May 29, 2011 9:02 PM
Subject: Europa-List: Can the Monowheel be suitable for the tarmac
Hi
I am a [proud] new owner of a classic Europa Monowheel from Rio Rancho
NM. Since there are no grass strips around here I have been working on
landing the Monowheel on Paved runway and found it very chalanging. This
difficulty planted some doubts in me as to wether the Monowheel can be
ever trusted to be safely, consistently landed on paved runways.
While somewhat rusty I have 200h+ of tailwheel time mostly in
aerobatic biplanes [Acrosport, Pitts] and monoplane [Sokhoi] I was
surprised to realized how chalanging the Europa Monowheel landings were
-[The first day it was with 12 - 15 Knots variable wind but the second
one was with calm wind]
I plan to take some more dual time but are starting to wonder if byond
the learning curve, would the Europa Mono ever be a safe plane for me to
fly around here and in x country [NM is a pretty windy place]
I would truly appreciate hearing the members feedback. I would also
love to find other Europa owners in my relative vicinity.
Thanks a bunch,
Ted I. Weitz
Rio Rancho NM
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