Fixed gear vs. retracts

[Tony Stillman]

I had an Excellence (PL Products) that I built with CF gear doors.  It did
work well, but due to a kit manufacturing problem, the wing folded.

The added gear doors did make the aircraft less noisy, but I didn't get
enough flying time to really evaluate the gear doors.  I am planning on
installing them on a future airplane.

Tony Stillman
Radio South, Inc.
3702 N. Pace Blvd.
Pensacola, Fl 32505
www.radiosouthrc.com
800-962-7802
----- Original Message -----
From: "Anne & Xavier" <xavier.mouraux at sympatico.ca>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 7:49 PM
Subject: Re: Fixed gear vs. retracts


> I always had some concern about the cleanless of a retract plane. When I
> look at the bottom of the wing, it is not very aero clean. If there was
> doors to cover the opening, it would be different but more trouble. When
the
> gear is down on approach, it is even worst. It must create some turbulence
> behind the wing.
> I have both type. I have landed both in the rough outside the runway. I
had
> to clean the inside of the belly pan on the retract one since I got the
> wheels up before touching down to save the gear and the wings. I had to
> repair some cracks in the fuse of the other one. You choose :-)
> I prefere the fix gear for the ground handling. I could taxi from the pit
> and to the pit without problem.
> I havn't notice a difference in the air but the two planes have other
> differences and I am not very experienced with this type of airplane. I
have
> about 300 flights total on them in 2 years.
>
> Xavier
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Woodward James R Civ 412 TW/DRP" <James.Woodward2 at edwards.af.mil>
> To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 5:12 PM
> Subject: RE: Fixed gear vs. retracts
>
>
> > Hi Keith,
> >
> > Good, question.  Although many "newer" pattern planes have fixed gear, I
> > wouldn't just assume thats the way to go.  There are black-n-white
> > comparison such as the actual pieces of wood and individual components
it
> > takes to assemble either retracts or fixed gear, and there are other
> things
> > to consider specific to your airplane.  With retracts, you get a cleaner
> > airplane, which will probably fly at different incidences than a fixed
> gear
> > plane.  As I remeber Lance's Aries from the Nats, the fuse is huge!
Maybe
> > the size of the fuse and wing will produce enough drag, where you don't
> want
> > to add more drag with the fixed gear.  Also, consider which mode of
> failure
> > you want to deal with - should there be a tough landing.  Tear the gear
> out
> > of the fuse, or re-bend a retract wire?  Think about the way you want to
> > handle the plane.  Having the gear tuck away in the wing makes for an
easy
> > way to transport the wings and fuselage.  The designer, Mike Harrison,
> still
> > had retracts in his plane in FAI.   Also, consider wing position.  Is
the
> > wing so high that getting retract struts long enough for the long props
> > feasible?  Maybe I didn't give you the reply your hoping for.  My point
> is,
> > don't be so fast to rule out retracts.  I think they have a lot of
merit,
> > still, even though I don't have them.  I think many of the Japanese
still
> > use them.  But, fixed gear may fit-your-fancy, they were certaintly
> > prevelant everywhere in Muncie.
> >
> > Jim W.
> >
> >
> > "Jim"
> > James R. Woodward
> > G. P. F.
> > Project Manager
> > DSN: 527-9445, Comm: (661) 277-9445
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Keith Black [mailto:KBlack at TradeStation.com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 1:46 PM
> > To: 'discussion at nsrca.org'
> > Subject: Fixed gear vs. retracts
> >
> >
> >
> > I'm trying to decide whether to go with fixed gear or retracts on the
new
> > Aries I'm building. I'd appreciate hearing opinions on the pros and cons
> > between the two.
> >
> >
> > This has probably been discussed before, but I'm new to the mailing list
> and
> > would really value the input.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Keith Black
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