Fixed gear vs. retracts

[Dave Smith]

Several years ago,a very well known pattern flier and U.S.FAI team
member,experimented with gear doors on a pattern plane He stated that he
could detect no difference in flying with the doors,versus without them.
He also had a theory about this,but I don't want to rely on just memory to
state it here.
Also bear in mind that the design of  today's planes may have a bearing on
performance with or without doors,as they are quite a bit different from the
planes of 10 or more years ago..
It will be interesting to hear results of any testing.
Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Stillman" <tony at radiosouthrc.com>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 10:14 AM
Subject: Re: Fixed gear vs. retracts


> 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
> > > TradeStation Group, Inc. is a publicly-traded holding company (Nasdaq:
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