I would like to take-off shorter with my 7GCBC. I am interested in VG's. Someone with experience? What about wing tip drop? Gap seals? I have 8.5 inches tire and because of the higner angle of attack my take-off are shorter. Can we change the landing gear for a longer one? Scout landing gear? The higher the nose, the lower the tail= higher angle of attack= shorter take-off!
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Shorter take-off with a Citabria 7GCBC
- Thread starter HHW
- Start date
mike newall
New member
How short do you want ?
I operate a 7GCBC from 1200' of grass and I get off in about 500' 2 up with fuel.
The technique I use is similar to all Aeronca's, let it accelerate with the stick neutral, don't raise the tail, let it fly off the ground then check the attitude to allow some acceleration and continue the climb.
Now with flaps available it should improve things - it does marginally and I use 2 clicks of flap but retain the same technique.
How you could reduce it further - I don't know, I doubt whether it would make a significant difference to warrant wholesale changes.
Try refining your technique and see what benefits you get.
Don't forget - stick position is in direct proportion to your AOA and it is AOA that will cause a stall/wingdrop. If the stick is back - ask yourself why !!
I operate a 7GCBC from 1200' of grass and I get off in about 500' 2 up with fuel.
The technique I use is similar to all Aeronca's, let it accelerate with the stick neutral, don't raise the tail, let it fly off the ground then check the attitude to allow some acceleration and continue the climb.
Now with flaps available it should improve things - it does marginally and I use 2 clicks of flap but retain the same technique.
How you could reduce it further - I don't know, I doubt whether it would make a significant difference to warrant wholesale changes.
Try refining your technique and see what benefits you get.
Don't forget - stick position is in direct proportion to your AOA and it is AOA that will cause a stall/wingdrop. If the stick is back - ask yourself why !!
Nathan K. Hammond
New member
Go fly the plane and work on your technique. Please understand, I'm not bashing, but it's 90% pilot and 10% plane almost always. Try keeping it in 3 point, then do another where you raise the tail and see which is better. Since you've got flaps, it should leap off the ground. Try using them to your advantage; as you advance the throttle hold full forward stick, as soon as you hit full throtle, pull full flap and back on the stick. Think of it like; both hands forward, both hands back in the span of about 3 seconds. That is usually the quickest way I can get a GCBC airborn, then setup Vx.
Gadgets don't make the plane, pilots do; BUT Vg's are worth their weight in gold when it comes to low speed handling. Which would you rather do; spend 3Grand on STUFF that you have to maintain and install, or $3000 on gas while you fly and practice? I choose to go flying. :wink:
Set airmanship goals and strive to achieve them, you'll be a better all-around pilot in the end.
nkh
Gadgets don't make the plane, pilots do; BUT Vg's are worth their weight in gold when it comes to low speed handling. Which would you rather do; spend 3Grand on STUFF that you have to maintain and install, or $3000 on gas while you fly and practice? I choose to go flying. :wink:
Set airmanship goals and strive to achieve them, you'll be a better all-around pilot in the end.
nkh
Thanks Nathan,
Yes, I will practice to improve my techniques. I think that different techniques have to be used depending on different conditions (wind, temperature, weight, altitude, ground (surface) conditions and I think that the plane can be improve too.
What about 160HP? Does it help? More weight?
Yes, I will practice to improve my techniques. I think that different techniques have to be used depending on different conditions (wind, temperature, weight, altitude, ground (surface) conditions and I think that the plane can be improve too.
What about 160HP? Does it help? More weight?
wjwilson2000
New member
One other thing you might like to try is putting in the two notches of flaps after you start your takeoff roll. As we all know drag slows you down and flaps do increase drag, but also increase lift, just depends when you want to make the trade off.
Woodie
N29763
Woodie
N29763
Nathan's technique works. I start with one notch of flaps (so I can reach the handle) tail off the ground, but low. When ac gets light I hold the flap button in and pull nearly full flaps. You jump off the ground, lower the nose, accelerate in ground effect while bleeding off flaps, climb out. When you get the timing right it will amaze you how short you can get out. I also use a Lift Reserve Indicator so I know exactly where the stall is and where I have sufficient lift to operate at the lower end of my flight envelope.
Regards
Morris
Regards
Morris