As a pilot maybe Jim could explain the difference in characteristics and handling between a bi-plane and a mono plane?
Knowing little about flying I am curious as to what makes a plane difficult to land, like yours.
Hey Guys,
Sorry I haven't gotten back sooner with the answers.
I will try and explain this but probably not very well.
A tail wheel airplane wants to swap ends because of the center of gravity (CG) placed on the gear along with the momentum. If you were to push a tail dragger fast and turn loose it would try and put the tail wheel out front. I'm sure you have heard of ground loops which is when the plane has gotten off center line far enough that the momentum takes over and it will at least spin around. In a bad one it can also get the side loads to take out the gear and go on a wing tip or turn over. You MUST KEEP them on center line at all times.
Also the shorter the main gear is to the tail wheel the easier it is to ground loop one. A lot also depends on the weight on the tail wheel and the mains in relation to the CG. The farther from the CG the worse it is. Mine is an early plans built plane with the gear to far forward, not good and a lot of weight on the tail wheel. Later ones moved the mains 4-6" closer back to the CG.
A lot of people think that a Biplane will glide well. That is not the case. It is a very hi-drag plane lots of wings, wires, struts and such. What this means is when the power is cut the sink rate is very hi. Which is good in some ways. Except when you are getting close to the ground you have to stop the high sink rate and time it right or you hit REAL hard and bounce REAL high. Having a soft gear helps this situation except mine has a very stiff gear. So hit a little hard and you bounce and need to go around and try again.
When sitting in the back seat which is the pilot seat. You can not see over the nose. So I have to look out the to my left and there is also a lower wing in the way. That is why my final approach is a turning to final rather than a straight in approach. Makes it easier to see the runway.
Another thing that comes into play is both wings don't stall at the same time. Top first and the bottom will stay in ground affect. Wings need to stall to land or you would just keep flying.
Hope this helps. Now you know why they now make one wingers and put the little wheel in front. :D :D
In 24 years of landing the Bonanza I have never made a bad one. Can't say that about The Two Winger :oops:
A good example of this was demonstrated at an air show when a pilot ground looed a DR-1 Triplane and it went on it's back. He had hundreds of landings in it.
Our Piper Pacer was Ground looped by one of the partners that had many hours and traps in a F-18 Hornet. It took out the right gear, bent both spars in right wing. and bent the elevator. Son had insurance so no big deal :D Just hurt pride :wink:
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