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Jim Brennan asked: > So, to those who eschew that cable, what's wrong with these > pictures? This inquiring mind wants to know. Jim, I won't claim to give any final answers. The debate goes on. Here are my thoughts: 1. In the flying picture, your nose is a bit high but not dramatically so. Do you know if your yoke was at the maximum elevator up stop when the picture was snapped? I'm guessing not but I really can't judge from the picture. 1a. I note that the bottom of the nose wheel is about 3 +- inches higher than the bottom of the mains. 1b. If this plane touched down in this position, I think the nose wheel would touch (and swivel) before the weight came fully onto the mains, due to the shock absorber travel. 2. If the snubber cable were removed, the nose gear would always or almost always touch before the mains were carrying a lot of weight. 2a. Still, the nose gear swivels to line up with the direction of travel, thereby providing little side load. The mains do not swivel to line up with the direction of travel and DO provide substantial side load - that's what turns the plane to line up with the direction of travel. 2b. Coupes with no snubber cable land all the time with no side-load damage or loss of control. 3. If the snubber cable were removed, there would be much more shock absorption for the nose gear. Nose gear damage and subsequent damage to the engine mount happens and is expensive. 4a. With the snubber cable, a drop in landing has more potential for damage due to reduced shock absorber travel. 4b. Unproven: with no snubber cable, there are control issues in strong crosswind landings. Proposed test: Would you guys with no snubber cable do some strong crosswind landing-in-the-crab testing and tell us your results? Would you guys with snubber cables consider doing that testing both with and without them and tell us your results? Ed Burkhead http://edburkhead.com ed -at- edburkhead???.com (change -at- to @ and remove "???") ============================================================================== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
