Re: My Ground Loop

Deborah McFarland wrote:
My one and only (so far) ground loop came about because I failed to abort a
landing when I should've. When the trees got about 60' away, I locked the right brake, and she came around about 120 degrees. Got her stopped, though.

Years later, I found grass trapped in the bead of the left tire when I changed it.

George Patterson

In 700 hours of flying my Luscombe, I have never used the brake for landing, and I've landed in 25 mph direct crosswinds on pavement. We're taught never to use brake as our airplanes are prone to flipping (and I've seen it happen).

What's the difference do you think?

Deb
Different aircraft. I've never flown a Luscombe (and would love to) but I think it is a much lighter aircraft than the Maule. Plus it is simply different.

The whole wheelie versus 3 point debate always seems to come down to, "different a/c are different". My Maule never needs to be 2 pointed due to wind conditions. It is always easier to handle landings in 3 point mode, no matter what the wind. Of course reflex flaps give you a lot of different configurations for 3 point landings. I've watched a dozen pilots do thousands of Cessna Bird Dog landings. Everyone I remember was a 2 pointer - of course tow pilots stay very proficient in landings.

Regarding brakes - I don't know nothing about other a/c but the Maule definitely needs brakes in high xwind situations - just for that last 5 mph of rolling speed at the end of the landing - or the beginning of the TO - I'm talking 25+ direct xwinds. Plus, the brakes can be used very effectively to avoid an immenent ground loop - Ray told me, then had to demo it, then I used it a couple of times. If you let things go to far, you can simply run out of yoke and rudder but a good stab on the brake can still bring all back around - thank goodness!

I watched a Luscombe doing T&Gs at Southern Pines NC one calm day. They were landing on one wheel, pulling up 6', then landing on the other. Didn't really know you could do that. I tried it and could do it but I'm sure the Luscombe looked more graceful doing it. I think the Maule is just heavier all around.
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