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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It wasn't that long ago that I was asking the same
question on this list. I ended up going with retracts for three reasons. 1)
Less bounce on landings, 2) Transportation and storage (no gear sticking out
from fuse), and 3) Landings in the weeds are less likely to tear something up.
All of these are major considerations for me.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now I'm building my second 2M plane and I've
decided to go with fixed gear for the following reasons. 1) Putting the plane
together and taking it apart at the field is faster, no need to mess with
hooking up the retract servo. 2) You can set the fuse on the ground and slap the
wings on right by the car, no need to use a cradle as with retracts. 3) No need
for constant inspection/tweaking with the struts. Even with smooth landings
I periodically have to bend the struts back forward and I feel compelled to
check them after each flight to avoid having them jam and draining the battery
the next time I fly. 4) Makes the wings much easier to build. 5) When
flying in poor light conditions, like when the plane is silhouetted by the sun,
the gear sticking out gives another reference point to confirm orientation. This
can be helpful when doing rolls, etc. and all you can see is a shadow. 6)
With fixed gear you can taxi onto the runway and not carry the plane out each
time.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Both approaches have their definite advantages. My
main reservations with changing to fixed gear are damaging the fuse from
deadsticking landings in high grass and scoring downgrades due to bounced
landings. Hopefully these won't be a big issue. I'm looking forward to my
fixed gear plane!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Keith Black </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=wgalligan@goodsonacura.com
href="mailto:wgalligan@goodsonacura.com">Wayne Galligan</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=discussion@nsrca.org
href="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, July 16, 2003 10:13
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> fixed gear vs. retracts</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> How light is light on the 7075
aluminum l.g. setup? My setup with Bolly F3A large gear with wheel
pants, axles and wheels weights 7.5 oz I fly off grass and
have had no problems with the setup where guys with retracts are constantly
fiddleing and tweaking the struts. The big plus(for me) is
set-up. Easier to build light wings, no linkages, one less servo,
sets up in the field in no time flat. As for tearing it up on hard
landing.... just dont land in the tundra. That is a plus for retracts if
you have the gear up, otherwise retracts can tearup a good set of wings
if stuck down or if one hangs up or colapses on landing on the
runway. Its a fliers choice. I have fixed gear on 3 airplanes now
and lovem all. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I personally like the looks of a nicely setup
fixed gear airplane. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Wayne G</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=johnferrell@earthlink.net
href="mailto:johnferrell@earthlink.net">John Ferrell</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=discussion@nsrca.org
href="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, July 16, 2003 8:50
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Nats photos online</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From this site and personal
experience:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The change to fixed gear on the Prophecy seemed
to require less power than those with retracts. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It seems to me that the weight is about the
same.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A harsh landing with retracts usually results
in needing a little attention on the struts.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The same landing with fixed gear frequently
results in extensive damage to the fuselage.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There is less bounce with
retracts.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Taxii out is not recomended with
retracts.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Retracts usually provide a wider footprint
.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The wire gear in the pictures on Pastorello's
web site looks a little heavy but should be less punishing to the airframe
than the fixed aluminum or composite gear.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>7075 Aluminum gear is lighter and more
durable than any of the composite gear. Unfortunately, it is harder to work
and not nearly as available as 6061.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>6061 aluminum for fixed gear is a waste of
time.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If landings were all scored K4, stif gear would
go away...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>John Ferrell <BR>6241 Phillippi Rd<BR>Julian NC 27283<BR>Phone:
(336)685-9606 <BR><A
href="mailto:johnferrell@earthlink.net">johnferrell@earthlink.net</A><BR>Dixie
Competition Products<BR>NSRCA 479 AMA 4190 W8CCW<BR>"My Competition is
Not My Enemy"<BR></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=mmueller@triangleprinters.com
href="mailto:mmueller@triangleprinters.com">Mike Mueller</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=discussion@nsrca.org
href="mailto:'discussion@nsrca.org'">'discussion@nsrca.org'</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, July 16, 2003 9:27
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: Nats photos online</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=156171913-16072003> I'm flying with my 1st fixed gear plane
(Temptation) this year after many years of retract planes. It's all about
taste in my opinion. It's also a fad to have fixed gear now. As far as
looks I'll take retracts in the air. I still get a thrill out of sucking
up the gears on takeoff. Wheels hanging out of my plane give me the
constant feeling that my retracts aren't working while I'm flying. The
fixed gears are stronger and allow you to taxi easier ans suppose to
increase drag. Either way works well. Mike</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
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