Which taildragger

Great Advice,
And definitely what I am being told by my CFI's, I only use the brakes
to break the tailwheel lose. The Champs I have been flying you could almost
stop using the Flintstones breaking method if you had to! I'm doing good
in them and hope to solo soon, and I really can not wait to try a Luscombe.
Finding they are harder to get ahold to than a Champ for training! That's
saying something since I drive 5 hours to fly the Champ! I think the
taildragger flying is alot more fun..or should we say the landings and
takeoffs It's a hoot! Going back to Ohio on the 27th I'll let ya know how
I did.
Was the plane you were talking about the one that was for sale in GA for
awhile, white with blue trim if I remember correct. Think he wanted 8 grand
for it, don't know what he actually got for it. The vertical had a "nice"
crush going on. OUCH!

Patrick

"Deborah McFarland" wrote in message
...
I was thinking about putting the brakes on the right side in
my"future" Luscombe, just so the CFI I have checking me out in doesn't
get the "pucker" factor to much! From my understanding of the 337 it's
not to hard of a project to undertake, still looking for the JATO 337 on
it though!

Patrick,

If I ever give one word of sound advice about flying Luscombes, it's this.
Never, ever as long as you live use those brakes during the landing roll.
Luscombe brakes are for ground maneuvering only. If a CFI tells you
different, open the door and ask him to get out. The last person I told
this to flipped his Luscombe on the landing roll. He let it get away from
him, then added brake to correct himself. The airplane immediately
flipped. He was injured, and the beautifully restored bird was totaled.
(see http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...15X01817&key=1)

I've landed in 25 knot crosswinds without touching the brakes. Luscombes
are wonderful airplanes to fly. They react exactly as they are directed.
Land straight with the direction of travel and you'll not have any
problem. If that means landing on one wheel, do so. (I've stayed on one
wheel nearly to the tiedown ;-)) But don't think that braking will help.
Go around or add a blast of power. If all else fails, in a Luscombe, it's
better to ground loop if things have progressed too far than to flip.

BTW, there is a jet Luscombe. It's called the Speedbird. See
http://ronkilber.tripod.com/luscombe/luscombe.htm and all 337s can be
found at http://www.luscombeassoc.org/.

Deb
--
1946 Luscombe 8A (his)
1948 Luscombe 8E (hers)
1954 Cessna 195B, restoring (ours)