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Touring Motor Gliders Association (TMGA)
  • Cross Wind Discussion - May 2003


    Ethan Graham

    In reference to taking off with full spoilers until up to speed, I feel =
    that may be asking for trouble but as I say, whatever works.  One reason =
    for my concern is that we lost a Ximango a few years ago

    ====================================================

    Date:         Fri, 23 May 2003 22:07:25 -0600
    Reply-To:     "jim.durango" <jim.durango@starband.net>
    Sender:       Ximango Owners Group <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
    From:         "jim.durango" <jim.durango@STARBAND.NET>
    Subject:      Cross wind discussion
    MIME-Version: 1.0
    Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
    Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

    Hi All,

    Very interesting reading the variety of ways to take-off in the same =
    bird!  Whatever works best for each owner is fine as long as it is safe.

    For my two cents worth - don't seem to have any problem up to 15 kts =
    direct steady left crosswind or 18 kts right crosswind.  Thus as =
    previously noted - if it is a direct (or close to it) crosswind, I would =
    choose to take off with the wind coming from the right.  In gusty =
    conditions, lower your take off crosswind limit accordingly.  I guess I =
    have over 2,000 hours of Ximango time now but that doesn't mean I know =
    that I am doing things the best way.  Heinz should tell us what he =
    thinks.

    Personally, I love to have the tail up as soon as it will fly so start =
    with the stick neutral until about 32 kts where forward stick brings the =
    tail up and lift off at about 45.  On landing, I also like to save wear =
    on the poor little tailwheel so unless it is over a 15 kt crosswind (in =
    which case three point and immediately use full spoilers).  I prefer to =
    only let the tailwheel down when almost full forward stick will no =
    longer hold it up.

    In reference to taking off with full spoilers until up to speed, I feel =
    that may be asking for trouble but as I say, whatever works.  One reason =
    for my concern is that we lost a Ximango a few years ago (passengers ok) =
    when we suspect the spoilers were not closed for takeoff after they were =
    used during taxi.  The bird barely made it off the ground and ended up =
    crashing off the end of the runway once out of ground effect.  It =
    appeared the engine was putting out full power.  That was at near sea =
    level conditions.  Soon after that I ran some tests for my own education =
    and found that at our 9,000 ft density altitude at the time you could =
    not get to take off speed on a grass strip and could barely make it to =
    minimum flying speed on a paved runway.  At about lift off speed that =
    old drag really builds up quickly.  Thus, please be very careful if you =
    use the spoilers on take-off.

    Confession about crosswinds:  Coming back from OSH last fall with the =
    bird we had on display, I refueled in Kansas.  There was a direct 25 kt =
    crosswind to the single runway.  Anyone with an IQ over 60 would have =
    left it for the night and gotten a motel or landed at a different =
    airport with a runway running east-west.  I didn't.  Took off with the =
    wind from the right, left the tail down longer, used full left rudder, =
    tapped the left brake but still put a little scrape on the wingtip =
    banking to stay out of the ditch.  Please don't do such foolish things =
    as I barely made it off and spent the rest of the trip reminding myself =
    how stupid that decision was.

    A friend of mine, Larry Bartlett,  produced a video that might help new =
    tailwheel pilots.  "Taming The Taildragger" on VHS Phone 970-731-9552.  =
    Larry has been flying tailwheel aircraft since 1945, has a ATP, CFI and =
    is a FAA Safety Counselor.  He currently flys a Cessna 195 N195LB but =
    has extensive experience in lots of different designs.  As a side note, =
    "Meet the Ximango" and "From Brazil to Durango" are now available on DVD =
    as well as VHS.  Same price, one for $25 or both for $40.   =20

    Have fun out there!    Jim McCann


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