Posted Monday, July 19, 2010 @ 06:29 PM
Since I'm probably the latest "new" fournier flyer, I'll let you know what I found.
I have 100 hours in gliders with 50 in motorgliders, of which about 20hrs are in the RF5.
I think getting some dual time in a tail dragger will help you learn how to flare for landing in the RF.
Spoilers are you rate of descent tool, simply use the spoilers to set up a nice rate of descent on final, or in the pattern if you are too high.
Again they are easy to learn and better than throttle (on your big planes) since the response is instantaneous
Ground loops.....non sense! nothing to worry about there.
I think you are probably getting that confused with weather vaning which is the tendancy for the plane to turn into the wind on the ground.
If the crosswind is so strong that you can not keep straight down the runway then pick another runway or don't fly.
The worst that will happen is that you will run off the edge of the runway a little and have to get out and line the plane up by hand in your intended direction....keeping the tailwheel firmly down when taxiing with full elevator helps.
Up to 15 mph 90 degree crosswind is about the limit although once you get more experience then perhaps even more is possible with the right technique..
Landing is the typical crab technique and then straighten out at the last second before touchdown, then full spoilers and then up elevator after airspeed is below stall to keep the tail wheel firmly on the ground.
Overall its easy to fly and not really much of a challenge, just takes practice to make nice landings, but comming from big planes its certainly different and taildragger experinece in a small plane should teach you everything except the spoilers.
The biggest hazard is forgetting to lower the gear for landing. Its not a complete disaster if you do belly land on a reasonably flat surface but it will sure spoil your fun and be embarassing enough that you never allow it to happen again.
I almost did one recently but because the sink rate was not as fast as ussual (Should have been my first clue after the blinking lights on the panel) I fortunately decided to go around the pattern, and upon applying power and reaching to put my gear UP I realized they aready were up...
[Edit by jb92563 on Monday, July 19, 2010 @ 06:36 PM]
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