FOCUS gear Mod.

[Henderson,Eric]

Gene,
       "Dragging the tail" is an expression meant to indicate that the nose is being held higher than usual. The idea being to create high planform-drag and a desired slowing-down effect. To do a three point landing or just have the mains touch first, you need to fly the plane in slowly that way. I am sure I did not say "drag your tail along the runway".

BTW - I never really understood the purpose of "that" rule. What was it preventing??? Anyone old enough to recall its inception?

 
Eric.


-----Original Message-----
From: gene.maurice at attbi.com [mailto:gene.maurice at attbi.com]
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2003 12:44 PM
To: discussion at nsrca.org
Subject: Re: FOCUS gear Mod.


Eric,

I was under the impression that "dragging the tail in" is a no-no. 

Per the rule book:
"Landing. The landing maneuver will start two (2)meters from the ground. The 
model flares smoothly to a nose-high attitude, dissipating flying speed, then 
smoothly touching the ground, within the landing zone, with the main wheels 
first, with no bouncing or changes in heading after touch down. The nose wheel 
on a tricycle gear and the tail wheel on a conventional gear (unless a three 
(3) point landing of mains and tail wheel touching simultaneously is executed)
should settle gently to the ground after a brief rollout."

Am I mistaken?
--
Gene Maurice
gene.maurice at attbi.com
NSRCA 877
AMA 3408
> I would suggest using a swept landing gear al la Hydeout or Temptation. I tried 
> a set of retract wings on a Focus and noted a couple of inches difference in the 
> wheel positions. Also initial landings tended to bounce if you came in too hot. 
> The wheels work in the current position and you soon learn to land it that way 
> by dragging the tail in! . However the plane will bounce less if you can sweep 
> the gear back.
> 
> The problem, that you already identified, is that you have to widen the gear 
> plate to accommodate the wider U/C legs that are available in CF. They put the 
> gear plate as far back as they could - it almost touched the wing - but the 
> plate is tricky to widen.
> 
> My recommendation is to replace the existing plate with a plywood box to stop 
> the bolted part flexing. You could leave the trailing 1/4" rail in place. Cut 
> through forward to accommodate the wider U/C-leg-top. Fit a 3/16" "box plate and 
> glue to the   former as well. It is more work, but it is winter and you will not > regret a stronger landing gear support on this plane, plus it will be easier to 
> score higher on landings..
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Eric. 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Crozier [mailto:sjcrozier at comcast.net]
> Sent: Friday, February 28, 2003 10:43 AM
> To: nsrca discussion
> Subject: focus gear
> 
> 
> Anybody using Bolly gear on the Focus?
> I don't want to do major mods on the landing gear platform.
> The Sukhoi style has been suggested, but I can't find it on the Bolly web
> site.
> Is the swept back design of the F3A large too drastic?
> thanx...croz
> 
> 
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