Hi guys and girls; AH HA! Now I think I understand why one or maybe more of the KR group got
upset with my first post about the "Tail wheel/rudder interconnection". It seems that they might have took it that I was criticizing the KR tail wheel/rudder design as dangerous, NOT SO! I'm sorry if I left that impression. Many certified planes use the same set-up, so who am I to criticize a time proven design. Perhaps [dangerous] was a poor choice of words but I was having a tough time getting used to the plane and maybe ( I ) was dangerous with it and I was trying to find out why. I also said that I (knew) something was wrong with the plane when maybe I should have said I (thought) something was wrong because I didn't have that kind of trouble in the plane I was taking tail wheel instruction in and my instructor wouldn't ride in the KR so that kind of left me hanging on my own. I was hoping some of you could help me out at the Gathering but of course that didn't work out Now it seems that one or more of the KR group might have thought that I was blaming the tail wheel for my accident, again, NOT SO, I hadn't even touched down yet when the accident occurred. Here's what happened. On approach to the MVN airport I was experiencing heavy turbulence from about 2500 ft. msl on down to the runway, something I was not prepared for because it was not mentioned in my weather briefing, if it had been I would have stayed home and maybe gone Friday instead. As I lined up for the runway it felt like I was being pushed to the right side of the runway even though MVN reported winds of 050 degrees at 11 kts. for runway 5, so I began drifting left to compensate and as I came over the end of the runway at 70 mph (the plane stops flying at just under 60 mph) and was about 2 or 3 feet above of the runway the plane suddenly dropped out from under me, I guess from a change in wind direction and I slammed down hard onto the ground and I remember thinking "OH @%*^ there went the right landing gear". Then the plane bounced back into the air and I tried to keep it from stalling and suddenly I was looking straight at the ground and then nothing but concrete as I slid across the taxiway. Then all I could think of was getting as far away as I could in case the fuel ignited. So the accident had nothing to do with the tail wheel at all and the KR tail wheel setup is as good as can be had anywhere. I was just looking for a possible better way, but it appears there is none unless you build a tri-gear. Now I know there are some in the KR group that have no use at all for X-Plane and that's fine, many others do and enjoy it very much. It helps keep their dream alive while their building. Of all of the simulators that have come and gone, I like X-Plane the best and I've tried most of them. The FAA even certifies an X-Plane version for student instruction. A couple of friends of mine who are or have been commercial pilots have been checked out in muti-million dollar commercial simulators and their comment was that they are very, very good but not perfect and neither is X-Plane. Now I have read several articles on aircraft wheel alignment. Some have recommended slight toe-in (normal), at least one recommended slight toe-out and gave reasons for it. I would guess it comes down to trial and error and what works best for your plane. I set mine at zero, loaded and rolled and hoped for the best. Happy New Year everybody Regards, Myron (Dan) Freeman Indpls, Ind. 46203-3570 Home of the Indy 500, the World's most famous auto race. mfreem...@indy.rr.com ?
