Earthstar Forums

Hi Guys
I belong to a number of useful groups and there was a topic on wheel pants on "The- similar-type of airplane" site.
These airplanes had yaw problems when first designed because of the long pointed nose shape. To solve this the vertical stabilizer had to be increased in size.
The discussion is that when you put front wheel pants on the yaw problems come back.
The front pants acts as a rudder. The attempted fix is that they added a tail to the front pant.
Mark, will we encounter this problem with our Gulls?
Or is this a problem of pusher configurations? I don't have a clue so I am just asking.
Thanks
Fred

In a message dated 3/8/2011 9:51:54 AM Pacific Standard Time,
gayford@golden.net writes:


Hi Guys
I belong to a number of useful groups and there was a topic on wheel pants
on "The- similar-type of airplane" site.
These airplanes had yaw problems when first designed because of the long
pointed nose shape. To solve this the vertical stabilizer had to be
increased in size.
The discussion is that when you put front wheel pants on the yaw problems
come back.
The front pants acts as a rudder. The attempted fix is that they added a
tail to the front pant.
Mark, will we encounter this problem with our Gulls?
Or is this a problem of pusher configurations? I don't have a clue so I am
just asking.
Thanks
Fred






Hi Fred
The problem of directional stability loss with a wheel pant on the nose
wheel is related to the margin in stability of the design, the greater the
margin between what is needed and what we have, the less the effect of
destabilizing appendages the Thundergull can be flown for long periods of time
with out having your feet on the rudder pedals . People that have installed
noes wheel pants have still Ben able to fly without the feet on the rudder
pedals. as long as the noes wheel pant is not set to far forward on the
wheel. In its proper place it works well.
It is not related to whether it is pusher or tractor other than pushers
typically have longer noses to house the pilot so they need larger tails to
counter this effect.
Happy Flying
Mark

Fred,
If you read further in the thread, they mention that the fin is only required on their springy front fork option, and that if you don't have the suspension, then you don't need the fin. Works for me, and my hangar mate gave me a small wheel pant that was off a Chaos to play with. It's for the same size wheel as my nose wheel, and I will be mounting it and look for the possible shimmy-shake. Keep ya posted.

kb

Thanks Mark
I understand. It just shows the great design you have come up with!
I have learned a great deal in a short time from groups like this.
Fred