Larry,
I did the same thing after flying nothing but short coupled
experimentals for a while. Didn't have trouble with directional
stability, but couldn't get the Cub to land. Was used to a 100 mph
approach in the Mustang, so I thought I was plenty slow at 60 in the
Cub. Kept waiting for it to fall out of the sky..............Bobby
>
>
> An elderly gentleman friend of mine needed his recently restored
> Aeronca Chief moved from a grass strip to the local airport.
> The only person that had flown it since the restoration was not
> available so he asked me if I would help him out. As I seldom
> turn down a possible adventure I agreed to move it for him.
>
> The only favorable winds for the whole weekend was yesterday
> morning early. We arrived at the strip at 6:45AM and rolled it out
> of the hangar. A two minute briefing and preflight had him in the
> cockpit and me giving it a hand prop. It started on the first pull
> and we switched places. I added power and headed for the
> runway. The first 90 degree right turn to the runway should have
> given me a clue as to the adventure that lay ahead. The right
> turn continued an additional 45 degrees before I could stop it
> with the weak left mechanical brake. I added power and got it
> back on the runway and taxied to the end. A quick mag check
> and I was rolling for takeoff. I had considered doing some fast
> taxi tests but it was rolling straight and before I knew it I was flying.
> At about 100 feet altitude I glanced at the airspeed indicator and
> it was pegged on 60 mph indicated. It felt good so I held that
> and continued to climb out. A 180 degree turn at about 500 feet
> and I was headed off to the airport with a 30 mph tailwind.
>
> A 15 minute flight and I was on right downwind to runway 20, an 8000
> foot by 150 runway. I was having to hold about a 30 degree crab
> to fly downwind but I knew the ground wind was 210 at 8 so I wasn't
> too concerned. 60mph felt good on climb out so I used that for my
> final approach speed. With the headwind on landing it seemed I
> was barely above walking speed when the mains kissed the pavement
> and started to roll. It took me a moment to realize I was down.
> A few seconds later and the nose started to drift right. Some left
> rudder brought it back but then it continued left. Some right rudder
> stopped that and it began drifting back to the right. At that point I
> was slowed to about 20mph and the nose continued to the right. The
> weak left brake came back in to play as the nose continued to the
> right. When the nose had gone about 45 degrees past runway center
> I knew I was just along for the ride. Full left rudder and brake had
> absolutely no effect. At about that time I realized I was switching
> pilot groups from "those that will" to "those that had". I caught myself
> leaning as far to the inside of the turn as possible like that was going
> to help. It came to a stop at the 270 degree point with the nose pointed
> back to the runway. I added power and got back to the runway center
> and taxied to the ramp. I lucked out as no runway lights were close
> and no damage done to the airplane. It was just a nice little dance
> step to finish out the flight, much like a dancer jumping in the air
> and clicking his heels on stage exit.
>
> One thing I learned from flying the Chief is that my KR is a real
> pussycat when it comes to ground handling. At 200+ hours in
> the KR I have never had a time when I felt the airplane was out
> of control or when it failed to respond to a control input. I'm
> hoping to get "one more dance" with the Chief before he sells
> it and next time I intend to "lead" and let the Chief "follow".
>
> Happy Easter to all those celebrating the holiday.
>
> Larry Flesner
>
>
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