On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 18:41:16 -0500, "Kyle Boatright"
wrote:


wrote in message
oups.com...
The shorter wings would decrease slightly the moment of
inertia about the vertical axis, making the airplane a bit quicker in
yaw. A groundloop might be easier to start, but would also be easier to
stop.

Stealth (wittman tailwind) Pilot

What's the Tailwind like for ground handling? I've always liked
that airplane and hope to own one someday, perhaps as a restoration
project. Steve Wittman designed some fantastic airplanes for his time,
and they're still excellent performers for their power.

Dan

An aquaitence who owned one said it was a "mean little airplane". He didn't
use the word in a nice sense. He didn't have any complaints about the
Tailwind's in-flight performance, but really didn't like the approach speeds
and ground handling.

I have to ask...What's wrong with approach speeds? Whether you fly
final at 40, 75, or 120 should make little difference as long as you
have enough runway and know the airplane? True, it does take a bit of
getting used to, but usually doesn't take long.

Yesterday I was coming down a steep final at 76 MPH and using very
little runway. I fly an ILS at 120 in the same airplane. The
transition from 120 to touch down gets a little busy with retrimming
unless you are a weight lifter, or don't like to feel the controls.
Still, I start slowing and going full flaps as soon as the runway is
made. It takes about twice the distance of a normal VFR landing and
about 4 to 6 times that of a short field landing.

I've just never noticed much difference, but I don't rely much on
outside visual clues for speed either.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

He kept it a few months, sold it, then bought an RV-3 which he liked (then
sold), and finally bought a Sonex, which he likes.

The thing I notice about the Tailwinds is the relatively poor visibility.