Steerable tailwheel meaning?

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francesco.doenz
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Steerable tailwheel meaning?

Post by francesco.doenz »

With the stick in aft position the tailwheel is said to be steerable, does it mean it should move with the rudder? Or does it just mean that it is limited to about six degres of free swiveling, and unlimited swiveling with the stick forward of the neutral point?
Thanks in advance for your inputs!
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DHenriques_
A2A Chief Pilot
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Joined: 27 Mar 2009, 08:31
Location: East Coast United States

Re: Steerable tailwheel meaning?

Post by DHenriques_ »

francesco.doenz wrote:With the stick in aft position the tailwheel is said to be steerable, does it mean it should move with the rudder? Or does it just mean that it is limited to about six degres of free swiveling, and unlimited swiveling with the stick forward of the neutral point?
Thanks in advance for your inputs!
With the stick aft of neutral you have a 12 degree arc (6 to each side) steerable by the rudder pedals. Stick forward of neutral and the TW is free swivel. You can then make sharper turns using differential braking as long as there is forward motion on the aircraft. NEVER allow the plane to pivot on a main gear strut with no forward motion on the plane.
Dudley Henriques

whamil77
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Re: Steerable tailwheel meaning?

Post by whamil77 »

DHenriquesA2A wrote: NEVER allow the plane to pivot on a main gear strut with no forward motion on the plane.
Dudley Henriques

Is the consideration the twisting moment on the strut assembly or is it tire wear.....or both?

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DHenriques_
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Posts: 5711
Joined: 27 Mar 2009, 08:31
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Re: Steerable tailwheel meaning?

Post by DHenriques_ »

whamil77 wrote:
DHenriquesA2A wrote: NEVER allow the plane to pivot on a main gear strut with no forward motion on the plane.
Dudley Henriques

Is the consideration the twisting moment on the strut assembly or is it tire wear.....or both?
Both. Same thing as turning the steering wheel on your car with the car standing still. Terrific strain on both the tire (twisting) and the frame, or in the case of the airplane the tire and strut. Even a slight forward motion receives this stress.
DH

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