"Jay Honeck" wrote in
news:OWdqk.303325$yE1.116320@attbi_s21:

To achieve this he made it as automotive as possible, with the yoke
working
as a steering wheel on the ground, and the rudder pedals eliminated
completely. (The rudders are interconnected with the ailerons, and
work remarkably well at keeping the ball centered.)

So why didn't it catch on? In _Stick and Rudder_ Wolfgang regularly
sings its
praises, without actually naming it.

I think it's a bit too weird for most pilots to land in a crab. In a
cross-wind, without rudders you can't kick it straight, so you touch
down in a crab, which feels VERY strange the first few times you do
it.

There's also the problem of not being able to cross-control/slip
without rudder pedals. If (for example) you're high on final
approach in the Ercoupe there's nothing you can do to correct it but
retard the throttle. If that's not enough to get your glide slope
nailed, your only option is to go around.

And, finally, it's sort of like asking why there are still manual
transmission cars on the road, when the automatic transmission has
proven itself to be superior in nearly all regards. Some people
(myself included) *like* to have full control of their vehicles, and
that's what the rudder pedals allow.


You having full control of an airplane? You just admitted you kcik it
straight" in a crosswind.....


Don't make me laugh.

Oh wait,

Do.





Bertie