---------------------------------------------------------- Zenith601-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 07/30/08: 2 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 06:40 PM - Re: 601XL/TD (Jim Belcher) 2. 07:02 PM - Re: Re: 601XL/TD (Paul Mulwitz) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 06:40:54 PM PST US From: Jim Belcher Subject: Zenith601-List: Re: 601XL/TD On Wednesday 30 July 2008 20:25, you wrote: > Jim, > I am about 3/4 through building my XL/TD from the slow-build kit. > > When I called Roger about a question a few months ago he told me that ZAC > is really not selling too many TD's. I want to say that he told me less > than 6/year. > > That has really not deterred me too much, because I have never really > considered myself "normal" anyways. Thanks for your reply. How does the projected total weight compare with the tricycle gear version? I would not expect the interest to be as high in the tail dragger version, but I suspect that is because most learn to fly now in tricycle gear aircraft. However, tailwheel aircraft usually have less drag and weight less. While that might not be as important in many applications, for LSA, it seems to me it should have a much greater level of consideration. -- ============================================ Jim B Belcher BS, MS Physics, Math, Computer Science A&P/IA ============================================ ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 07:02:36 PM PST US From: Paul Mulwitz Subject: Re: Zenith601-List: Re: 601XL/TD There are some down side issues with tail draggers too. Tail draggers have much higher accident rates than tricycle gear planes. The accidents are not usually fatal or even very bad for human injury, but the damage to the planes is expensive. That means insurance can be a lot higher for tail draggers. My own (mostly uninformed) opinion is that tail draggers were never really meant for use on runways and particularly not on paved runways. They are well suited to flying fields that allow takeoff and landing always directly into the wind. I read an analysis on RV's that changing from a tail dragger to a nose wheel configuration added a mere 2 miles per hour to a 200 mph plane. Given all that, I feel tricycle gear is a much better choice. Paul XL getting close do not archive At 06:41 PM 7/30/2008, you wrote: >I would not expect the interest to be as high in the tail dragger >version, but >I suspect that is because most learn to fly now in tricycle gear aircraft. >However, tailwheel aircraft usually have less drag and weight less. While >that might not be as important in many applications, for LSA, it seems to me >it should have a much greater level of consideration. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message zenith601-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Zenith601-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/zenith601-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/zenith601-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.