Hi, Harold touched on a good point in ground loops. My instructor taught me to use little busts of power and/or cutting the engine to help correct "major diversions from your intended path" (as he put it). Also once a ground loop is inevitable cut the engine, less expensive in a collision, if you do recover you can always restart.
regards Barry Kruyssen Cairns, Australia RAA 19-3873 k...@bigpond.com http://www.users.bigpond.com/kr2/kr2.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: haroldwoods Hi Netters. Ground loops can be nasty in some planes (and very expensive too). A friend built a Stits Playboy.(low winged tail wheel equipped).He had no brakes. If he ran out of runway on landing he would purposely ground loop it at the far end of the runway. I saw this done one day. He spun around about three times accompanied by a great cloud of dust and after it stopped , just taxied away. It had a 125 HP Lycoming . If you have no brakes on full power take off and try to force the tail up quickly you need full right rudder to try to keep it straight. He later installed brakes.I flew it before and after the brake installation. I liked the persons suggestion to taxi the plane all over the place to get used to handling it in tight situations. A tail dragger on skiis will teach you good rudder application and quick bursts of power to force a turn when cross wind and ice decide to make it do the opposite. Think ahead, practice and enjoy.
