On Nov 19, 2:24*pm, "John" wrote:
With all that logic and experience talking....can't deny that having
something there that comes unglued under stress (tail skid) is a better
situation than something permanently mounted (tail wheel) that increases the
dragging (sideways) forces. * Bare fiberglass slides better.
In my experience, I've had several tail skids come off during off field
landings....did it save my boom? *dunno....but, the thing didn't break!!
(Hard to find those things!!!)

What's probably more important is to avoid any weights (batteries,
ballast...etc) placed anywhere up high in the fin that increases the
torsional twisting motion. * * Mike Adams cautioned me against this when I
bought my first LS-6 from him. * I've always put my
balance weights down low back there, using the factory mount at the lower
rudder hinge bolts.....and no tail batteries, ever.

J4

I believe the issue is that pneumatic tail wheel will provide much
more grip on pavement and therefor provide better directional control.
On grass or gravel, either work about the same. In a cross wind
landing ,the only way to keep her pointed down the runway is to hold
back stick which gives the pneumatic wheel max grip. In the Genesis I
force the nose wheel down with full forward stick in order to give it
max grip, but even then when my speed equals the wind speed, she
weather-vanes into the wind. Then I must lower the opposite wing and
the little tip wheel gives enough drag to keep her doing my bidding.
Landing a flying wing in a cross-wind has been an educational
experience, but I have once landed with a 30 knot direct cross-wind
and walked away unscathed!.
Cheers,
JJ