National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

Hey guys. I need to relocate my champ to the other side of the airport so that I can do a compression check. The easiest way is to taxi it. But, how safe is that without wings on it? I'm wondering if there is enough weight on the tail.

I think I'd find some other way to move it. They're pretty light without wings. Even revving the engine can cause the tail to come up (don't ask me how I know).

Mike Berg

My Chief evidently had an accident that damaged one of the wings way back in 1954 in Montana. After owning it for a while I received a letter from one of the old owners with some of its past history and other information.

Seems that they took the wings off of the plane and put skis on the plane. They then filled it up with fuel and used it on the snow and ice all winter long as a early version of a snow mobile!

Never ever heard of anyone doing something like this but evidently they did and enjoyed it!

As for taxi'ing from one area to another, I would think that it could be done but if you try, do it very carefully.

...I've done it many times, crossed the field changing locations, engine run-ups, engine cleanings,
and just plane periodic/regular run-ups at T/O power.
(I wouldn't turn any corners at thirty or forty though, if you know what I mean)

"cause the tail to come up"??...pull back on that thing between your legs.
Jim

The wings sit behind the main gear, and put a lot of weight on the tail. Just be aware of that and you'll be fine.

nkh

Hi I've done it but be a where that it will accelerate like a bullet, and the brakes become less effective because of less wt on the wheels .

Hey I remember when I was a kid a number of airplanes with the wings removed and skis on used as snow machines, back in the 50's I suppose one could buy a Champ or a Cub for about $300.00 back then.

Thanks for the input. I just painted my leaf springs, and I don't wont to rap a rope around them to tow anymore. So I'll taxi it today. I'll sit in the back seat to help with the C.G.
Thanks a lot.

I know that without the wings the moment of inertia goes down significantly.
In other words, a wing tail dragger will be more apt to ground loop and do so much faster. I have an octogenarian friend who watched a fellow in T-craft attempt such a taxi and ended up putting on its side. I don't know whether this guy was going at good clip, though.

At a walking speed, I don't see a big issue other than higher awareness.

I've never heard of anyone doing this so let us know about the experience!

Carl

Carl Prather wrote: I've never heard of anyone doing this so let us know about the experience!

Carl

To hell with this.... we WANT PHOTOS!

Champ taxied fine without wings today. I sat in the back seat to help with the cg and let a little air out of the tires to compensate for the lack of weight.
I sure didn't like it in the back though.

So... does it really need the wings to fly?

nkh

Nathan K. Hammond wrote:So... does it really need the wings to fly?

nkh

A brick will fly if you put enough power behind it. The F-4 Phantom proved that!

I have to relay a story that I heard from an NTSB type. (over a beer or two several years later so actually coorelation to facts is highly suspect)

It seems that they responded to an accident at Crest Air Park in Washington State. Someone had reported an accident at the field in the middle of the night involving an airplane on fire on the runway. They arrived sometime later to find the Firemen rolling on the ground…….Laughing. They couldn’t get a straight answer out of the fireman so they looked at the airplane, an RV tail dragger which was still smoldering on the runway, but was missing its wings, not just burned, but missing. Worried about the occupants, they looked and there was no sign of any injuries, or people for that manner.

By this time the firemen had recovered some. Worried about the fate of the pilot and passenger the fire department began a search. It took them some time to locate them, but eventually they found them hiding in the bushes, completely naked. It seems that the couple had been working on the airplane in their hanger, and had gotten to the point of getting the engine and fuselage assembled. They were so exited, that they couldn’t wait to try it out. Given that the wings are where the fuel tanks are, they decided to taxi test the airplane with a hose going to a coffee can between the knees of an attractive young lady. To increase the excitement, they decided to do it naked for a bit of fun (so to speak) and given their state of dress, night time was a requirement.

Apparently the airplane without wings or lights was a little hard to handle, and they ran off the taxi way, spilled the gas, and caused the fire. They ran from the airplane, to the closest bushes, but got trapped there when the hubbub started and people arrived from the surrounding houses, eventuality to be found by a fireman’s spotlight.

The moral of the story is if you want to taxi with your wings off, don’t do it naked!