First solo

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:09 pm

Well, in a taildragger anyway!

The weather and my schedule managed to get together enough this weekend so I could get several solo flights in the 170 - including my first on Sat. PM.

I'm slowly joining the ranks of you steely eyed taildragger pilots!

Thomas

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:34 pm

Thomas, did you land the 170 at Last Resort? How did you like the grass compared to the concrete?

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 1:37 pm

Yeah, that was me flyin' in the pic that Chad posted.
I've flown it off grass a bunch - we have two public grass strips right on the north side of Indy so I've taken the 170 up there lots of times.
It is fun - definitely different, especially if there are bumps or rolling / uneven ground. The 170 (ragwing model, not A or B) does not have counterweighted elevators, so if it gets rough the elevator will start to bounce - you really have to lock your elbow to keep the yoke from bouncing. It is probably easier to land on grass if there is a x-wind or if you touchdown a little misaligned, although the 170 hasn't given me much trouble on pavement, either (knocking on wood!

)
We were pretty well loaded, about 500lbs of people (3 of us) and full fuel; still used less than 1/3 of the runway getting out. There is still another 200lbs or so of useful load.

There's just something about flying an old taildragger into a grass strip on a sunny afternoon ... especially when you get there and there are a couple Stearmans and some other classic planes parked nearby. Watching those Stearmans depart from the runway with cornfields on either side ... it could easily have been the 1930's!

You'll have to come down next year and I'll save a seat for you in the 170!

Thomas

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 2:00 pm

tshort wrote: Watching those Stearmans depart from the runway with cornfields on either side ... it could easily have been the 1930's!

Thomas

First of all, congrats Thomas on the solo! I think you told me on Sunday, but not sure if I said congrats!

Secondly, I just had to make note to agree with your statement above. It certainly is special when you're on a strip like that one with antique airplanes hopping off the grass with timeless grace. That is always one of the most special feelings of being at a fly in like that.

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 3:23 pm

Look forward to it T

I'm gonna be coming back down to indy again this year yet too. Last weekend in Sept.

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 5:29 pm

Keep me posted ... if I'm not in CO we can take the 170 up to Elwood (<30 minutes) another grass strip with a good greasy breakfast menu!

Thomas

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:00 am

Right on! Sounds like a winner

bmurrish · Post by **bmurrish** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:25 am

Sweet!!! Now bring that bad boy out to CO. Maybe Andy will let you park it in his hanger.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:17 pm

Thomas, Way to go!!!

The fun starts NOW!!!

CJ

Post by **Spike** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:37 pm

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:04 pm

Good job Thomas! Once I get my learning license (PPL) I would like to get the endorsement myself. I have a ways to go yet though.