Today's Message Index:
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1. 04:01 AM - Re: Big X (Rick and Cindy)
2. 08:25 AM - Re: Big X (RJ)
3. 03:05 PM - Re: Big X (Rick and Cindy)
4. 03:36 PM - Re: Big X (RJ)
5. 04:05 PM - Re: Big X (Rick and Cindy)
Message 1
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--> Tailwind-List message posted by: Rick and Cindy <rcaviate@ne.infi.net>
THANK YOU so much!!
Rick
W10 N393RC
O-O II N241SW
Rcaprd@aol.com wrote:
> --> Tailwind-List message posted by: Rcaprd@aol.com
>
> In a message dated 4/22/03 6:02:18 AM Central Daylight Time,
> rcaviate@ne.infi.net writes:
>
> << --> Tailwind-List message posted by: Rick and Cindy <rcaviate@ne.infi.net>
>
> If anyone saved the pics and specs of Big X that were once posted on Bob
> Rudolph's site would you please e-mail them to me. Thanks for your help!
>
> Rick
> N241SW >>
>
> Here ya go :
>
> "BIG X" SPECIFICATIONS 4-PLACE TAILWIND FROM 1965
> Wingspan Approx.29ft.
> Length, Approx. 24 ft. 10 in.
> Fuel capacity 36 gals.
> Engine-Franklin ' , 335 6A4-150-B3
> Propeller McCau'iey klip tip fixed pitch
> Baggage capacity, , , , 100 Ibs.
> Maximum (red line) speed 165 mph
> Cruising speed, , Approx. 140 mph,
> corrected at 5,000 ft.
> Cabin width, , , , , 40 in.
> Cabin height, ... 48 in.
> Panel to back of seat, . 58 in.
> Cabin length seat back to firewall ....47 in.
> By Bill Lewis, EAA 3199 3817-23rd St., Lubbock 10, Texas
> ON A COLD blustery afternoon, May 27, 1961, the Wittman W .D., commonly
> known as the "Big X" easedin for a landing at the Newton, Kans. airport, and
> I accepted the delivery of my first experimental airplane.
> Frank Under, the previous owner, had flown this ship in from Delavan, Wis.
> Frank and I had been corresponding over a year and today was the big
> inspection and final okay on the trade. I found everything to be just as
> Frank had said through our telephone conversations and many letters. The
> paper work was completed, the money changed hands and there I was, broke, a
> little scared, but eager to find out about those so"called "homebuilt"
> airplanes.
> Early the next morning I topped off the gas, checked the oil and slipped
> in on the left side; fastened the safety belt and made my first close check
> of the instrument panel. The panel was adequate but lacked a few goodies I
> would add later.
> I found the doors of this airplane quite large, makin" it very easy to
> get into. The cabin is very roomy with plenty of shoulder and hip room. The
> Wittman-type wind- shield had been brought backward over the top of the
> fuselage to about even with the pilot's head, giving good visibility upward,
> and in a turn in the pattern from down onto base leg you get a clear
> unobstructed view of the runway. This is a real comfort. I received some
> good ground instruction from Mr. Linder in reference to the "touchy" toe and
> combina- tion heel brakes of the "X" which bugged me a little. However,
> after a few taxi runs this smoothed out okay. The left seat had to be
> completely forward for me to reach the rudder pedals comfortably. There is
> plenty of leg room for six footers-re: SteveWittman.
> On my taxi out the inverted Wittman U control felt extremely odd,
> however, Frank had said to just relax and fly the plane as if it had a
> conventional stick control and forget the odd shape of the inverted u. On
> the final run-up I found the Franklin to be very smooth. Everything checked
> and re-checked; I opened the throttle and taxied to the center of the runway,
> pointed the nose down the center line and eased open the throttle on the 150
> Franklin. Well-l-l, right about here is where things began to happen.
> Acceleration was quite fast, the tail came up very quickly and the center
> line of the runway disappeared. The well known torque was making a bid for
> control of the airplane. With a slight pressure of toe brake, as the rudder
> is weak at this point, the center line; was back in its place. At about 65
> mph I eased the stick back and we were airborne. Right at this point I
> remember thinking, "Man, this is no Culver Cadet." A very few seconds later
> the air speed was indicating 110 mph at about 1,000 fpm; rpm was 2,650, with
> 30 in. mercury. I eased the throttle back to 2,550 rpm and the mercury gauge
> 25 in. and held a steady climb out at 100 mph; circled the field and leveled
> out at 5,0OO ft. i adjusted the stabilizer to fly hands off with about 2,400
> rpm at 22 in. mercury. The air speed was indicating slightly over 125 mph,
> which was slow as I discovered later. I pointed the nose in the general
> direction of Texas. The trip to Lubbock was made with two practice landings.
> I find the "X" flies a lot like a Piper Pacer. It is faster in the air and on
> the take-off run. At the same time there is no lunch p'eriod on this take-off
> run or the roll-out in landing.
> The "X" responds well with slight movement of the controls. I found with the
> small ailerons it still has good roll action even in a stall at 50 mph with
> power. With pow- er off stalls occur at about 55 mph; release back pressure
> and the airplane is flying again when the nose reaches the horizon. In the
> stall there is no tendency to fall off on either wing.
> In my 30 years of flying I have flown everything from OX-5 Waco 10 to the
> present day modern aircraft. I enjoyed flying them all, but the "Big X" just
> about meets all specifications for cross-country and general
> sport flying.
> BACKGROUND:
> The Wittman W.D. was built in 1945 by S. J. Wittman of Oshkosh, Wis. The
> first engine installed was a Franklin 130 hp, and the first test flight was
> flown by Mr. Wittman January 1, 1945 for a duration of five min-
> utes. On March 6, 1950 the 150 Franklin was installed and has to the present
> accumulated over 1,228 hrs., the major portion being cross-country.
> The "Big X" looks similar to the Tailwind; however, they are completely
> different planes. The "X" is a four- place. Airfoil used was a NACA 2412
> thinned down to a 2410 or 2411. The "X" was built for a fast cross-country
> airplane and in testing pulls a load of 3.8 G's with full gross load. This
> plane was built with commercial production in mind and had the first steel
> flex gear that was ever used on this type aircraft. The
> Cessna aircraft purchased the rights to use this steel flex gear on all
> Cessna air- craft, and as a result Mr. Wittman shelved the plans for
> commercial production. There is only one "Big X," and I am the proud owner of
> it.
> CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS:
> The "Big X" has had more changes in the past few months than a strip gal
> from Las Vegas, rather something new has been added rather than taken off. A
> completely new instrument panel; primary group, plus artificial horizon; dual
> head temps; master switch, shielded spark plugs and harness; radio~VHF both
> ways and low freq-omni. Lear LR5/RT-10; new fiberglas nose cowl; muffs and
> heat shrouds, exhaust extensions, oil
> cooler, Scott tail wheel, 8 in; refinished complete with Stearman vermilion,
> with gold speed dash on side for stripe plus one on vertical fin; changed N
> numbers from wings to fuselage; they are black.
> It was a ~reat disappointment when for business reasons I could not
> attend the 1962 Fly-In. I naturally wanted to shqw off the "Big X," and also
> to' participate in the wonderful work that EAA is doing. My interest and
> desire to fly and own a homebuilt has been sparked by the splendid EAA
> organization that keeps sport flying so much alive.
>
> Subj: [TailwindForum] Big X
> Date: 1/31/03 9:58:33 AM Central Standard Time
> From: garywood_ts@yahoo.com (garywood_ts <garywood_ts@yahoo.com>)
> Where is the 4 place that Steve built? All I could find was that it was
> restored in 1980. Is anybody thinking of building another one?
> Gary
>
> From: cgalley@mchsi.com (Cy Galley)
> Had an in-flight fire killing the owner and all aboard.
>
> From: jimstanton55@hotmail.com (jrs14855 <jimstanton55@hotmail.com>)
> The NTSB report says that the exhaust pipes set the fabric on fire. The hose
> from gas tank to carb was probably a low pressure hose with standard hose
> clamps. There was no gascolator. People who for now will remain nameless
> believe that the person in the right seat got their foot on the fuel hose and
> pulled it loose. Best to use a high pressure hose in this location, it is not
> likely to be pulled loose. I last saw the Big X at Blakesburg. The cabin on
> this airplane was huge.
>
Message 2
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--> Tailwind-List message posted by: RJ <gatsby8898@yahoo.com>
Also an article in July, 1980 Sport Aviation. RJ
--- Rick and Cindy <rcaviate@ne.infi.net> wrote:
> --> Tailwind-List message posted by: Rick and Cindy
> <rcaviate@ne.infi.net>
>
> If anyone saved the pics and specs of Big X that
> were once posted on Bob
> Rudolph's site would you please e-mail them to me.
> Thanks for your help!
>
> Rick
> N241SW
>
>
>
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Message 3
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--> Tailwind-List message posted by: Rick and Cindy <rcaviate@ne.infi.net>
RJ: Do you have this article and if so, would you copy it and send it to me?
I'll be happy to pay for the copying, postage, etc.
Rick
RJ wrote:
> --> Tailwind-List message posted by: RJ <gatsby8898@yahoo.com>
>
> Also an article in July, 1980 Sport Aviation. RJ
>
> --- Rick and Cindy <rcaviate@ne.infi.net> wrote:
> > --> Tailwind-List message posted by: Rick and Cindy
> > <rcaviate@ne.infi.net>
> >
> > If anyone saved the pics and specs of Big X that
> > were once posted on Bob
> > Rudolph's site would you please e-mail them to me.
> > Thanks for your help!
> >
> > Rick
> > N241SW
> >
> >
> >
> > Contributions
> > any other
> > Forums.
> >
> > latest messages.
> > List members.
> >
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Message 4
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--> Tailwind-List message posted by: RJ <gatsby8898@yahoo.com>
Sure thing, Rick. No charge. What's your mailing
address?
--- Rick and Cindy <rcaviate@ne.infi.net> wrote:
> --> Tailwind-List message posted by: Rick and Cindy
> <rcaviate@ne.infi.net>
>
> RJ: Do you have this article and if so, would you
> copy it and send it to me?
> I'll be happy to pay for the copying, postage, etc.
> Rick
>
> RJ wrote:
>
> > --> Tailwind-List message posted by: RJ
> <gatsby8898@yahoo.com>
> >
> > Also an article in July, 1980 Sport Aviation. RJ
> >
> > --- Rick and Cindy <rcaviate@ne.infi.net> wrote:
> > > --> Tailwind-List message posted by: Rick and
> Cindy
> > > <rcaviate@ne.infi.net>
> > >
> > > If anyone saved the pics and specs of Big X that
> > > were once posted on Bob
> > > Rudolph's site would you please e-mail them to
> me.
> > > Thanks for your help!
> > >
> > > Rick
> > > N241SW
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Contributions
> > > any other
> > > Forums.
> > >
> > > latest messages.
> > > List members.
> > >
> > > http://www.matronics.com/subscription
> > > http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Tailwind-List.htm
> > >
> >
>
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> > > http://www.matronics.com/photoshare
> > > http://www.matronics.com/emaillists
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > http://search.yahoo.com
> >
>
>
>
> Contributions
> any other
> Forums.
>
> latest messages.
> List members.
>
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Message 5
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--> Tailwind-List message posted by: Rick and Cindy <rcaviate@ne.infi.net>
RJ: Thanks!
Rick Crosslin
POB 2493
Elizabethtown, KY 42702
RJ wrote:
> --> Tailwind-List message posted by: RJ <gatsby8898@yahoo.com>
>
> Sure thing, Rick. No charge. What's your mailing
> address?
>
> --- Rick and Cindy <rcaviate@ne.infi.net> wrote:
> > --> Tailwind-List message posted by: Rick and Cindy
> > <rcaviate@ne.infi.net>
> >
> > RJ: Do you have this article and if so, would you
> > copy it and send it to me?
> > I'll be happy to pay for the copying, postage, etc.
> > Rick
> >
> > RJ wrote:
> >
> > > --> Tailwind-List message posted by: RJ
> > <gatsby8898@yahoo.com>
> > >
> > > Also an article in July, 1980 Sport Aviation. RJ
> > >
> > > --- Rick and Cindy <rcaviate@ne.infi.net> wrote:
> > > > --> Tailwind-List message posted by: Rick and
> > Cindy
> > > > <rcaviate@ne.infi.net>
> > > >
> > > > If anyone saved the pics and specs of Big X that
> > > > were once posted on Bob
> > > > Rudolph's site would you please e-mail them to
> > me.
> > > > Thanks for your help!
> > > >
> > > > Rick
> > > > N241SW
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Contributions
> > > > any other
> > > > Forums.
> > > >
> > > > latest messages.
> > > > List members.
> > > >
> > > > http://www.matronics.com/subscription
> > > > http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Tailwind-List.htm
> > > >
> > >
> >
> Digests:http://www.matronics.com/digest/tailwind-list
> > > > http://www.matronics.com/archives
> > > > http://www.matronics.com/photoshare
> > > > http://www.matronics.com/emaillists
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > http://search.yahoo.com
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > Contributions
> > any other
> > Forums.
> >
> > latest messages.
> > List members.
> >
> > http://www.matronics.com/subscription
> > http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Tailwind-List.htm
> >
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