Correct way of holding the stick during ground roll?

In article writes:

Michael,

I wanted to respond to your questions with the reasons that I advocate
the takeoff technique described in the Flight Training Manual for
Gliders.

I recommend getting the glider balanced on the main wheel as soon as
possible. You can see why this is important if you look at what can
happen if you keep either the tail wheel or the nose wheel on the
ground too long.

In a tail dragger, if you hold too much back pressure (or the elevator
is trimmed too far back) the glider will lift off while the tail is
still being =93pushed=94 into the ground by the elevator. The glider can
then lift it=92s main wheel off of the ground, but keep increasing it=92s
angle of attack because the excess back pressure keeps the tail wheel
on the ground. The glider can either stall, or more likely, lurch
into the air and climb rapidly. This could pull the tail of the tow
plane up, driving it=92s nose into the ground. Or, as the glider lifts
off rapidly, the pilot/student will often over control, causing the
glider to slam back down to the ground, possibly starting a pilot
induced oscillation.

With a nose dragger, if you hold too much forward pressure (or the
elevator is trimmed too far forward), the glider can reach flying
speed, yet still not be flying because the angle of attack is too low
to generate sufficient lift. If the stick is then moved back to lift
the nose, the glider can lurch into the air quickly, causing the same
problems just described.

And finally, look what could happen if the glider hits a bump while
rolling on the nose or tail wheels, as opposed to what happens if it
hits a bump while balanced on the main wheel. A bump to the tail
wheel can damage it, or drive the nose into the ground. A bump to the
nose wheel can cause a rapid increase in angle of attack which, if
sufficient speed has been reached, can cause the glider to lurch into
the air, or if flying speed has not been reached, the glider can slam
onto the tail wheel, damaging it or the rear fuselage. If you hit a
bump while balancing on the main wheel, the force will act very near
the center of gravity, and will not cause a change to the pitch or
angle of attack.

So, whether you are flying a tail dragger or a nose dragger, the goal
should be to get the glider in to a flying attitude as soon as
possible. To achieve this, during the initial roll on take off, make
sure the stick is held well forward in a tail dragger, or well aft in
a nose dragger.

I hope this helps to clear things up.

Russell Holtz

Gee, and Charlie had me holding it forward of neutral in the 2-32,
sort of the opposite of "well aft".

Alan

On May 6, 12:47*am, (Alan) wrote:
In article writes:



Michael,

I wanted to respond to your questions with the reasons that I advocate
the takeoff technique described in the Flight Training Manual for
Gliders.

I recommend getting the glider balanced on the main wheel as soon as
possible. *You can see why this is important if you look at what can
happen if you keep either the tail wheel or the nose wheel on the
ground too long.

In a tail dragger, if you hold too much back pressure (or the elevator
is trimmed too far back) the glider will lift off while the tail is
still being =93pushed=94 into the ground by the elevator. *The glider can
then lift it=92s main wheel off of the ground, but keep increasing it=92s
angle of attack because the excess back pressure keeps the tail wheel
on the ground. *The glider can either stall, or more likely, lurch
into the air and climb rapidly. * This could pull the tail of the tow
plane up, driving it=92s nose into the ground. * Or, as the glider lifts
off rapidly, the pilot/student will often over control, causing the
glider to slam back down to the ground, possibly starting a pilot
induced oscillation.

With a nose dragger, if you hold too much forward pressure (or the
elevator is trimmed too far forward), the glider can reach flying
speed, yet still not be flying because the angle of attack is too low
to generate sufficient lift. * If the stick is then moved back to lift
the nose, the glider can lurch into the air quickly, causing the same
problems just described.

And finally, look what could happen if the glider hits a bump while
rolling on the nose or tail wheels, as opposed to what happens if it
hits a bump while balanced on the main wheel. * A bump to the tail
wheel can damage it, or drive the nose into the ground. *A bump to the
nose wheel can cause a rapid increase in angle of attack which, if
sufficient speed has been reached, can cause the glider to lurch into
the air, or if flying speed has not been reached, the glider can slam
onto the tail wheel, damaging it or the rear fuselage. *If you hit a
bump while balancing on the main wheel, the force will act very near
the center of gravity, and will not cause a change to the pitch or
angle of attack.

So, whether you are flying a tail dragger or a nose dragger, the goal
should be to get the glider in to a flying attitude as soon as
possible. * To achieve this, during the initial roll on take off, make
sure the stick is held well forward in a tail dragger, or well aft in
a nose dragger.

I hope this helps to clear things up.

Russell Holtz

* Gee, and Charlie had me holding it forward of neutral in the 2-32,
sort of the opposite of "well aft".

* * * * Alan

Alan

You are comparing Russel's useful generalization and one good
instructors' specific advice. If we could just read a book or ras and
know everything we would not need those annoying flight instructors.

Maybe Charlie was predisposed to baby the fragile tail wheel on a
2-32, or even if your 2-32 had a pneumatic wheel mod maybe he wanted
to encourage babying the 2-32 tail wheel in general. Maybe he felt you
were holding on too much back pressure (even without realizing it,
e.g. causing an unexpected balloon up behind the tow plane) and was
trying to help cure you of that. Or maybe one of several other
reasons. Ask Charlie to explain the difference in his advice to the
generalization in the textbook.

Darryl