Toe in or toe out?? For Taildraggers

There have been a lot of arguments on this issue. The airplanes I've
had trouble with were usually toed-in, or had uneven alignment (one
wheel toed-out, one straight). Cessna and American Champion, among
other manufacturers, will ask for zero toe-in or out.
The RC modeler crowd seem to favor the toe-in outside wheel
scuffing drag theory, but they're operating mostly off grass and have
no idea how an airplane "feels" with toe-in or out. They spend most of
their early hours groundlooping no matter what the alignment. The RC
flying I've done just tells me that it's a lot harder than sitting in
the real thing and flying it.
The toe-in, seems to me, would be counterproductive anyway,
since the inside wheel in a groundloop has little or no weight on it,
and the outside wheel will have more say as to where the nose is going.
I'd align the wheels straight as best as I can, and tolerate a tiny bit
of toe-out, if anything.

Dan

On 16 Nov 2006 14:24:35 -0800, wrote:



The toe-in, seems to me, would be counterproductive anyway,
since the inside wheel in a groundloop has little or no weight on it,
and the outside wheel will have more say as to where the nose is going.
I'd align the wheels straight as best as I can, and tolerate a tiny bit
of toe-out, if anything.

Dan

that is exactly what it is all about.
the wheel with the weight on it not contributing to the groundlooping
tendency. the other wheel has so little influence because it has no
weight on it that it can point anywhere.
the wheels need toe out.

Stealth Pilot
who flies a wittman w8 taildragger.

wrote in message ups.com...
:
: There have been a lot of arguments on this issue. The airplanes I've
: had trouble with were usually toed-in, or had uneven alignment (one
: wheel toed-out, one straight). Cessna and American Champion, among
: other manufacturers, will ask for zero toe-in or out.
: The RC modeler crowd seem to favor the toe-in outside wheel
: scuffing drag theory, but they're operating mostly off grass and have
: no idea how an airplane "feels" with toe-in or out. They spend most of
: their early hours groundlooping no matter what the alignment. The RC
: flying I've done just tells me that it's a lot harder than sitting in
: the real thing and flying it.
: The toe-in, seems to me, would be counterproductive anyway,
: since the inside wheel in a groundloop has little or no weight on it,
: and the outside wheel will have more say as to where the nose is going.
: I'd align the wheels straight as best as I can, and tolerate a tiny bit
: of toe-out, if anything.
:
: Dan
:

I always set up my RC planes with a little toe-out...