Champ Owner's Questions:

[CptKelly]

For all you Champ owners out there, Please answer these questions:
What brand of tailwheel do you have on your Champ?
What type of springs are you using, (Compression) or (Tension)?
Does your Champ steer and unlock its tailwheel correctly?

Thanks all,

Mike

[pablo]

Maule (solid rubber), Tension and Yes
Pablo

[MikeB]

Maule, pneumatic, compression springs, works fine other than a shimmy problem at times.
MikeB

[Rich Valler]

Lang (solid tyre), tension springs, steers and (un)locks perfectly.
Rich
G-TIMP 7BC

[lowflyer]

Maule, pneumatic, tension....

Ground handles like a dream. Shimmy on one out of 30-35 landings (pavement). Seems hesitant to unlock sometimes. I'd rather have that than unlocking easily.....

Much better tailwheel than others I've flown with. When I say ground handles like a dream, I mean it steers like a PA-28 Cherokee. You give it rudder and it steers. Love it

Josh

[SFC Hiatt]

Tailwheels are over rated.

[james gevay]

Maule, pneumatic and tension springs, unlocks like it should.
Shimmy on pavement with someone in the rear seat.

[CptKelly]

Hey Sarge,
Do I detect a bit of jealousy?
Thanks guys, I'm getting the picture.

Mike

[Paul Agaliotis]

Mike,
I use the Aviation Products, same as ACA on the 7E-LSA. I use tension springs and have had no problems.
Paul

[DELCOM]

I also use the API tailwheel with tension springs and have had no issues. While learning to fly with my instructor I went right thru the first set of main tires in nothing flat, but that was from one wheel landings the length of the runway again and again. Oh and did I mention again and again.

Del

[joea]

Swear by the Scott (or ABI) 3200.

Yes its heavier and not cheap but neither is taking a detour off of the runway with a tailwheel thats not going where you want to go...

[Paul Agaliotis]

Joe,
The big Scott is a great tail wheel but overkill on the 7AC. All of the smaller 4" wheels work well but spare parts are getting scarce. I've seen many guys buy used tail wheels and suffer along with then until they fling them into the lake. I've used pretty much everything available and chose the Aviation Products. They always work and are reasonably priced.
Paul

[David Johnson]

Agree with Paul. 8" tailwheels on the little planes way too much. I was using a 6" Lang on a 7ECA Citabria. David J.

[MikeB]

Actually, the old hard rubber Maule I had worked pretty well and didn't shimmy if I remember correctly. I also don't remember why I replaced it with a pnuematic. They're both kind of heavy buggers, though. The pnuematics do work better on grass rather than a thin, small wheel..

MikeB

[Holcombe]

I have the Scott 3200 with the Alaskan Bushwheels HD steering arm. With compression springs the HD steering arm got bent upwards landing on rough ground so have gone back to the tension springs and am very happy with the set up.