No more ground loops??

[C170U2]

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Be ... 373-1.html

Interesting, but it would be highly unlikely this will ever make it onto my airplanes.

[voorheesh]

I have flown a Cessna185 with a tailwheel lock and did not have any trouble. Used it for takeoff and landing. No problem with directional control and you could unlock when needed. A good friend with a 185 would never use the lock so not everyone agrees. He never had a problem either. I can't remember if the 180 I flew had a lock or not. The CHP used to have them when they flew 185s and they were SOP. 185s are a little heavier than 140s and 170s and I have been told the lock resists the tailwheel breaking loose even with a relatively minor side load that would not be a problem for a lighter plane. I am sure someone on this forum probably knows the real story.

[c170b53]

At the last convention I took part in the spot landing as a judge determining whether aircraft touched down after the landing line and assessing where to begin the measurement (all gear remaining in contact with the runway). So there I was....I had no idea the amount of abuse/ movement the tail wheel makes when there's a large vertical component to the touch down. Most tail wheels would slam full deflection from one side to another and would repeat the action it would seem for at least twenty feet. Have a new appreciation for the Scott 3200.

[voorheesh]

When you say deflection, you are saying in the vertical plane right? I hope they are not deflecting horizontally. Incidentally, thinking back over other airplanes with tailwheel locks, these include DC3, D18, Most Air Tractors, Thrush, etc. DC3 lever is under the throttle quadrant and I think the crop duster locks get activated by pulling the stick back. Cessna 180s did not come with factory installed locks and I believe the 185 might have earned the lock by its impressive vertical stabilizer. Works real good above 30 knots but becomes a big weather vane when you slow down.

[c170b53]

From one side to the other and almost every plane exhibited at least a few cycles.