On Mon, 04 Dec 2006 12:39:58 GMT, B A R R Y
wrote:

Roger wrote:

In most Beech singles that rudder has more authority than the nose
gear unless going really slow.

As a pilot who learned to taxi without brakes on Pipers and Cessnas, I
almost ran the first Beech single I taxied right into the weeds.

You shouldn't need to use the brakes on a Bo either, but the nose gear
has a couple of "quirks" that make it difficult to taxi in a straight
line. The strut is canted forward and to the left. (pilot's side).
This gives the nose gear a negative caster as well as being tilted
slightly. The results are the need to constantly "dance" on the
rudder pedals. Right rudder to get the nose gear straight and once it
centers it will keep right on going to the right. Left rudder to
center and of course it'll just keep right on going to the left. It
is not an airplane you can taxi with your feet flat on the floor.
Leave it alone and it'll go any direction except straight. You also
learn to be "quick" when taking your feet off the pedals to move them
up high enough for your toes to be able to touch the brakes as the
thing is going to want to change directions.

However, it is good exercise for you legs.:-))


A classic case of needing to operate the plane you're in, not the others
you've flown in the past. All airplanes have quirks and idiosyncrasies.
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com