----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
In a message dated 10/15/2006 11:26:56 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
If you land an Ercoupe on the mains in a crosswind and wait "...until the coupe itself swivels straight down the runway..." please tell me specifically what force will cause the aircraft to "swivel straight down the runway"?
Dr.
The center of Mass of an airplane, that is a nose wheel airplane, is
forward of the main gear. This mass is traveling in a straight line regardless
of the direction the airplane is pointed.....hopefully straight down the
runway you plan to land on.... When you touch down in a crab to counter a
crosswind, the Mass pulls the airplane down the runway, causing the airplane to
swivvle on its main gear ( as the mass in forward of the main gear)....
Then in an Ercoupe, the pilot now lowers the nose wheel to the pavement,
compressing the nose gear assy, As the nose gear assy compresses, the wings are
placed in a nearly negative angle of attack..loosing lift.
Thus the Ercoupe stops flying, and as a result one can simply drive
the coupe to the ramp without the potential of balooning. This, of
course is dependent on proper rigging and proper static tail height...making the
wings sit at a low angle of attack, thus not generating lift at landing speeds
or below. The Ercoupe manual says that one can land at twice normal
landing speeds without balooning due to this design.
Fly Safe - Have Fun
Harry Francis
N93530
============================================================================== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
