National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

Hey guys, I'm not planning on anything, but was wondering what kind of seat belts you have/use. My chief has only a lap belt and I would hate to go upside down hanging from that. But from what I'M reading it seems you don't "fall out" of your seat. My plane is fresh (wings and all) would like to do a loop or two some day. I have no formal instruction, but have flown with a guy that was a great acro pilot in a Great Lakes. Boy was it fun to see lake superior coming at us from all angles. So I know I'm comfortable at unusual attitudes.

big chief 48 wrote:My plane is fresh (wings and all) would like to do a loop or two some day. I have no formal instruction, but have flown with a guy that was a great acro pilot in a Great Lakes. Boy was it fun to see lake superior coming at us from all angles. So I know I'm comfortable at unusual attitudes.

Big Chief, Please get some hands on acro instruction first with your hands on the controls. all of the maneuvers we have been talking about can be done while maintianing positive G's butif they are not done correctly you could end up negitive which is not good. If your fuel tank is in the nose you will see your fuel coming out of the tank accross the windshield!
but to answer your question if you are planning to do acro Hooker makes some great seat and shoulder belts. The best setup is to have a ratcheting lap belt (just like a ratcheting tiedown strap) and a second lapbelt that looks like a standard lap belt to act as a backup. Mark

I've got the standard 2" lap belt with "Y" shoulder straps and they work fine. A lap belt is adequate, because when you go negative, your weight should be held by the lap belt, not the shoulder straps. (Which is easier on the body, 200lbs on a backpack or a 200lbs person on your lap?) The exception are the professional acro people, who push/pull 7G's and need to be strapped, taped, velcro'd, epoxied, etc... into their seat. They tend to pull every strap as tight as possible.

And if you're concerned about hanging from the lap belt, consider they have to pass a 1500lbs load test to be certified.

Mark is correct, the 7 point ratcheting Hooker's (double lap belts) are the best for acro, but standard 2" lap belts will work for our kind of stuff. Try to keep it positive though.

nkh

[quote="big chief 48"] is fresh (wings and all) would like to do a loop or two some day. I have no formal instruction,


My first loop was self taught. I was in a USAF aero club T34 out of Vance AFB, Enid, OK. Having watched an airshow at a local airport recently, I thought a loop should be a piece of cake. I nosed down, picked up speed, pulled back, horizon disappeared. At just before the top of the loop, inverted and nose slightly high, we ran out of airspeed. The airplane and me, we hung in space upside down. My chart, plotter, E6B, and about 15 years worth of sand that was under the floorboards of that T34 are still out in an Okla wheat field somewhere today (canopy was about half opened). With me now just hanging upside down in the airplane, as a passenger only, it finally fell through nose down, and I recovered without pulling the wings off. Live and learn.... hopefully. roger

Hello Aeroncanuts,
I am glad so many pilots have show a interest in fllying some acro with their Aeroncas. Great experience, makes you a better overall pilot in my opinion(which is worth what you paid for it!). Just a couple of thoughts though.
1 Must have confidence in ship(no ratty clunkers)
2 Must have confidence in equipment(chutes if required and harness)
3 Must have confidence in self(Do you have ability to get out of a jam)
As a certified acro addict, I will say GENERALLY, as long as you have altitude, normally the worst case of a botched manuever is some type of spin, SO, know thy spin recovery! Get formal spin instuction, preferably in your ship. Any acro instuctor worth their salt will be happy to teach you the basic loop and roll. Would'nt hurt to review applicable FARs either.
We just lost a Ultimate biplane up my way. Guy was doing a Avalanche(loop with snap on top) fairly straight forward manuever, but as his luck would have it, the snap didn't go too well and wound up in a spin. Guy bailed out at 1500 feet and lived to tell the tale.
Practice high, get spin instuction and proceed with caution!
Oh, and don't forget to have fun!
Ray

I read this on a different site... Anyone ever try it, looping with the trim only?

"....One of the guys I worked with busted the elevator on a Citabria. He used the trim to get home. Others tell me they can loop a Citabria just using the trim.... "

nkh

Nathan K. Hammond wrote:I read this on a different site... Anyone ever try it, looping with the trim only?

"....One of the guys I worked with busted the elevator on a Citabria. He used the trim to get home. Others tell me they can loop a Citabria just using the trim.... "

nkh

I've practiced a trim only return to base followed by a wheel landing, using trim and power adjustments only. I'd hate to try my trim only landing on a gusty day. But no wind, wasn't bad. I'm not going to try a loop, but actually it should work pretty well I would think.

We should have our Super Decathalon back together by the end of the month to mid Febuary. (waiting on the prop shop) I'll give it a try when its back in the air. Might be a differance with the wing not being flat bottomed though. Mark

Got a new toy to practice with.

That looks like fun!!

Dumb question, but it is a starduster??

More info, please

Jody Wittmeyer wrote:

"Got a new toy to practice with."

Which one, Jody? The Honda?

I have a BMW GS, but only one airplane. Half of an airplane, actually. Well, it will be half mine after 6 more years of payments. I'm jealous.

Jim

Jody Wittmeyer wrote:Got a new toy to practice with.

Is that the plane that Dale had all that trouble getting back to Kewanee? Bring it out to Elmira sometime when Im home from college.

-Ryan

Yep. Cornfield landing on way back. Great landing. It should be ready by spring. Sending the engine off to get rebuilt.

It is an Acro Sport II. Same as a Star Duster.
It sat for 10 years with car gas in it. Replaced Mags, cleaned carb and cleaned and flushed (several times) the fuel system. Ground run and taxied, with full throttle run-ups for@ 3 hours, in 2 days. Must of missed a piece of varnish. A minute in the air and the fuel pump quit, second minute the Christen wobble pump quit pulling fuel. Got all winter to replace everything, including engine overhaul.