Tailwheel Flight Instructors in Anchorage, AK

[AKGrouch]

Bob, Nice bird. Who did you end up going with? Herb at Merrill or Rick at Hood. I know that Herb is trying to sell out and plans on leaving sometime in September last time I talked to him. He also had a 7ECA for sale I think. I'm also a low time tailwheel pilot and my bird is on Merril next to Herb's Cherokee and Citabria. It's the black 180 hp Cessna 172 tailwheel conversion. Anyway, I'm new to the forum and saw your thread. If you want you can call me at 277-7677 during the days and talk birds or compare notes.

Pat

[BobK]

Hola !

I ended up not going with either of those ! I searched Supercub.org archives, and got a couple names that people recommended, and called them as well. The guy I ended up going with is Dean Paulson. Ive been pretty impressed with him and his style. I took my first solo cross-country flight yesterday, and hope to knock the other one out this week as well. I'm getting down to the wire, and am hoping to take my checkride sometime by the end of the month...

I think I do remember seeing a black Cessna taildragger over in that area... I'm parked at the intersection of Gulf and Quebec, close to the dirt strip. Ive only used the pavement once so far, and that was to takeoff on 25 just to see what it was like.

I'll keep an eye out for ya at Merrill !

Hasta ~

Bob K.

[AKGrouch]

Good Luck on that check ride. I bet you'll do just fine. If the examiner is Mike Buckland, he's straight forward and doesn't try to pull any tricks on you. I know I'm still having troubles with bouncing the buzzard a bit. I think I may be coming in too fast which causes it to try to balloon a bit. The problem is that, with the STOL kit, and all, it just wants to fly. I rotate on take off with flaps 20 when it wants to fly, only to see it only indicating 40!.....but it's rock solid and steady. I just can't make myself come in on short final slower than 60-65 mph, especially on pavement.

Safe flying

pat

[BobK]

Thanks for the vote of confidence !

I dont know who my checkride guy will be yet... Since my Champ doesnt have any navigation equipment, I technically cant take the checkride in it. So I may end up having to rent a 172 for the ride. Ive heard of at least one DFE who gave a checkride in a Supercub with no nav equipment, so I will find out the story behind that.

My Champ just loves to get down, so I dont have much of a ballooning/floating problem like the Cessnas do. Plus, with no flaps there is less going on. As far as airspeeds, Im doing everything by the seat of my pants, as the airspeed indicator doesnt seem to be real accurate, and add to that the fact that the slowest indication is 40mph, and a stock Champ is supposed to stall somewhere around 37mph... Mine has VG's as well, so who knows what stall speed really is. (Something else to check on one of these days...) But I definately know what you mean when you say it wants to fly ! Between the STOL characteristics and the silky-smooth oleo gear, its real hard to tell when you've actually left the ground, especially when practicing high-speed taxiing on one wheel simulating crosswind landings.

For landings I just approach at 1700rpm in about a 250-300fpm decent, and cut power to 1200rpm when I have the field made. Then its either a wheel-landing at the same rpm, or cut to idle in the flare and 3-point it. No fuss, no muss.

Takeoffs are also by feel... Full power, count to 3, tail up, count to 3 again, liftoff. I figure Im getting off the ground in about 500-600 feet using that method while solo. I havent tried any real short takeoffs yet...

Hasta ~

Bob K.

[Roesbery]

AKGROUCH I take it you finely got your Black Bird home. I had part of a exhaust valve decide to leave in April. Whole lot of shaking going on till I could yank the throttle back. On the home stretch assembling a mostly new engine, hope to have it installed next week.
Once I trim for cruise I usually don''t touch the trim again, gives me 80 indicated at 20 degrees ( turning base ) 50 indicated at 40 degrees ( short final ). Aim a little short and slow it down in the flare till it won't fly. Going into 600 feet or so dump ( raise ) the flaps soon as the wheels touch. Course you can keep it on at 100 indicated with a wheel landing. Charlie

[AKGrouch]

Bob, I was out at Merrill this afternoon and stopped by to look at your bird......looks a whole lot of fun sitting there for you to discover. Also a pretty darn nice looking bird.....those tires will get you places....just be careful with them on pavement until you have complete control. Once you have your ticket though, you will love it. Also, if you need a darn good mechanic, give me a call. I swear by the IA that did the final work on mine.....he's also got a sweetheart of a J3 Cub he built on the other side of 25.

pat

[AKGrouch]

Charlie! Good to hear from you! Yes, I finally got the buzzard home. Had to go to Hawthorne Ca with a trailer to do it though. The IA there just wouldn't do anything. Then I had a heck of a time finding a mechanic that I could afford and that knew what he was doing. Finally got it done in late April and I've been learning how to fly it since. Man, it is fast. 130 to 135 at 2500 rpm. 110 to 115 at 2300 rpm. I can't trim it for cruise and shoot my landings like you do. I have to adjust trim when I cut power to 1700 and then leave it alone.....usually is set a bit nose low. I usually use about 1600 to 1700 to maintain 70 on base until final, when I slow it to 65 and then shoot for 60 on short final....seems to balloon like heck with the Horton kit and flap gap seals though. That's using only 30 flaps. Haven't tried 40 yet. I've been in it right seat with a friend when he hit 40....dropped like a controlled rock!!! Guess I'll try 40 tomorrow and see how it goes. I ended up having to bite the bullet and go with double puck clevelands to get approval on the 8.50's. FAA wouldn't buy off on the Bodell brakes with the 8.50's....glad I made the conversion. My mechanic and I joke that we took the essna out of Cessna on the plane.....what with all the stc mods and field approvals. I get to Cordova,I'll look you up and we can set and chat for a bit. You come to Anchorage, give me a call....the number's still the same. Would like to see you.

pat

[BobK]

Thanks Pat !

Its not the prettiest toy on the line, but it sure is functional and fun ! I took today off from flying, so Im hoping that the weather stays nice for the rest of the week and weekend. Id like to hammer out my other cross-country by the end of the week, and take my written on Saturday...

Who is your IA ? The guy I bought the plane from is an A&P, and seems pretty familiar with this plane, but he isnt an IA. Ive worked with IA Ben Merrill for getting my Autofuel paperwork in order, as well as for the pre-buy inspection. He seems like a no-nonsense kind of guy, but he doesnt have his own hangar for major work.

Ive heard that I should be careful on pavement with the tundra tires, but I havent noticed too much difference in the few pavement landings Ive done. I know they are more prone to bite and not give like they do on gravel, but as long as you're coming in straight there shouldnt be much difference, should there ? Crosswind landings are the tricky deal with big tires, right ?

Speaking of tundra tires, Ive heard both sides of the pavement/wear deal... Some say to avoid pavement like the plague because it will wear the tires out super fast. Others say that with the Goodyears being super-sturdy, that you dont have to worry, and they will last forever on pavement, especially with a light-weight plane like the Champ. Ive decided to try and go gravel as much as possible, but not to be super strict about it like some of the guys with the $5k Bushwheels do. (Not that I blame them one bit !)

Hasta ~

Bob K.

[KG]

Thanks Pat !

Ive worked with IA Ben Merrill

Bob K.

Hi Bob,
Ben Merrill is a friend of mine. He used to maintain the planes I flew and does good work. Tell him Keith from Georgia said hello and I expect to be in town the last week of August to visit the guys at Denali.

Sounds like you are enjoying your new airplane. Hope all is going well.

Happy Flying
Keith

[AKGrouch]

Hi Bob,

Wonder if Ben Merrill knows anything about generator charging systems. My IA is up on alternators but not generators. Until I find out why mine stopped charging again, I'm dead in the water. Only get 5 starts from the gelcell without a charge and I used 2 this am. Please call me at home(345-7607) in the eve or at my office (277-7677) in the days Mon-Fri. would rather talk to you on the phone about your questions and my questions....get lots more done real quick...unlike the net. I hope to be out at Merrill by mid afternoon on 8/10 trying to find someone to look at my charging system.

pat

[Roesbery]

AKGrouch You may have found your charging problem already, but if not check the continuity across the field circuit of the master switch. These old switches have brass contacts and tend to aquire a layer of old brass patina and they won't make contact. Sometimes moving the switch knob back and forth will get a contact. You can take the switch apart very carefully and clean the contacts. I think it was GAHORN put a spot of solder on the contact points. I only cleaned mine a bunch of years ago and so far so good. Charlie

[GAHorn]

Pat, you may also be experiencing a loss of polarity. Use the procedure laid out in the Electrical System Service manual (available from HQ) or search this site for a descripition. (Easy to do...Master on, engine not running, momentarily connect the ARM and BAT terminals on your regulator.)

AKGrouch You may have found your charging problem already, but if not check the continuity across the field circuit of the master switch. These old switches have brass contacts and tend to aquire a layer of old brass patina and they won't make contact. Sometimes moving the switch knob back and forth will get a contact. You can take the switch apart very carefully and clean the contacts. I think it was GAHORN put a spot of solder on the contact points. ...

Wow! What a memory! That was a long time ago. (I also used a dab of lithium (white) grease in there to keep corrosion down and keep things sliding properly. I expect it to keep working another 50 years.)
Speaking of old planes, I broke down on the side of the road early yesterday driving to DFW. (Serpentine belt) Got out on that lonely stretch of Hwy 281 halfway between Lampassas and Hamilton feeling disappointed, but was rewarded by the sound of radials coming out of the morning mists. Looked up and saw a really nice DC-3 about 3,000 MSL northbound. I watched it a good 5 minutes as it approached and then droned on northward. It made the breakdown worthwhile, otherwise I'd-a missed it!

(Farmer gave me a ride to town and back for a new belt.) Life is good.

[blueldr]

I have had truly exceptionally excellent comm radio service from my Val 760 TSO flip flop set for over fifteem trouble free years. I would'nt even consider trading it for any other radio, no matter the brand. Is is simple to install and inexpensive to buy. Probably the least expensive comm transciever available.
I originally installed it to replace a King KX 170 that had cost me more than the price of the Val after two unsuccessful trips through the repair shop.

[AKGrouch]

Charlie, GAHORN Thanks for the tips to both of you. I'll check out the contacts on the master and reflash the field for polarity. Must be the week of plane probs for me......lol. Got to have the avionics shop look at the VOR on Wednesday.....hope that is an antenna problem, but if it's the receiver in the nav portion of the radio, I will have to make a possibly spendy decision. You can only spend so much on a 170B anymore. Anyway, I let you know what the prob was with the charging system once we find it. In talking to my IA, who admittedly knows almost knothing about generator systems, he stated that he wired the charging system using a combination of the service manual wiring diagram and the Avcon blueprints.......hmmmmm. ... that could be the problem. A question just came into my tiny square brain......if nothing was disconnected in the charging/electrical system, how could the gen lose polarity?

pat

[GAHorn]

Here is a quickie recap/rundown of the generator/regulator system tests:

http://www.cessna170.org/phpBB2/viewtop ... 2449#42449