---------------------------------------------------------- RV9-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Tue 05/03/05:1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 10:54 AM - Re: Re: RV9-List Digest:1 nose gear (Steve Sampson) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 10:54:20 AM PST US From: "Steve Sampson" Subject: RE: RV9-List: Re: RV9-List Digest:1 nose gear --> RV9-List message posted by: "Steve Sampson" Bob, The issue is that it just does not handle soft ground very well with the small wheels. Perhaps somthing that is uncommon in the USA. I think you are mostly on formal runways. The drag is huge on the mains when you land on a soft dirt strip so with the stick against the rear stop the nosewheel soon comes down and there is nothing you can do. The drag is even huger on the nosewheel. It also makes takeoff poor since getting the nosewheel in the air is very dificult. Until you do there is a huge load on the small nosewheel since the aircraft probably has a negative angle of attack. Once you get the nosewheel airborn almost immeadiatly you are fklying. On tarmac I am sure, and in the air it is fantastic. the good news is that it is so easy to land so there is no reason to bounce. Steve. G-IINI -----Original Message----- From: owner-rv9-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv9-list-server@matronics.com]On Behalf Of Bobdeva@aol.com Subject: RV9-List: Re: RV9-List Digest:1 nose gear --> RV9-List message posted by: Bobdeva@aol.com Steve Van's letter addresses the distance between the NOSE STRUT AXLE and the ground, not the wheel axle. I happen to agree with Van's that you cannot design anything, especially a nose gear that is fool-proof and fail-proof. I've seen a lot of collapsed nose gears over the years and almost all were a result of pilot abuse. The most by far are bounced landings and the pilot allowed the nose to drop. And some where they just landed it on the nose. And of course there were a few where the pilot took a short excursion through a ditch or a frozen snow bank. A very small percentage were a result of linkage or unabused structural failure. Bob This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System on behalf of the London Business School community. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email -- --