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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bill,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm building another Aries. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Here's a picture of my first one: <A
href="http://www.fototime.com/9F7C7FD250DD50F/standard.jpg">http://www.fototime.com/9F7C7FD250DD50F/standard.jpg</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I love it, it flies so sweet!!</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=bcarpenter@greenvilleisp.net
href="mailto:bcarpenter@greenvilleisp.net">Bill Carpenter</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 1:14
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: fixed gear vs.
retracts</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>Keith,<BR><BR>What are you
building?<BR><BR>Bill<BR><BR>----------<BR>From: "Keith Black" <<A
href="mailto:tkeithb@comcast.net">tkeithb@comcast.net</A>><BR>To: <<A
href="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A>><BR>Subject:
Re: fixed gear vs. retracts<BR>Date: Wed, Jul 16, 2003, 11:30 AM<BR><BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>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.<BR></FONT></FONT> <BR><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>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.<BR></FONT></FONT> <BR><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial>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!<BR></FONT></FONT> <BR><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial>Keith Black <BR></FONT></FONT> <BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE>----- Original Message ----- <BR><B>From:</B> Wayne Galligan
<<FONT
color=#0000ff><U>mailto:wgalligan@goodsonacura.com</U></FONT>>
<BR><B>To:</B> <FONT
color=#0000ff><U>discussion@nsrca.org</U></FONT> <<FONT
color=#0000ff><U>mailto:discussion@nsrca.org</U></FONT>>
<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, July 16, 2003 10:13
AM<BR><B>Subject:</B> fixed gear vs. retracts<BR><BR><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial> 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. <BR>I personally like the looks of a nicely setup
fixed gear airplane. <BR> <BR>Wayne G<BR></FONT></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>----- Original Message -----
<BR><B>From:</B> John Ferrell <<FONT
color=#0000ff><U>mailto:johnferrell@earthlink.net</U></FONT>>
<BR><B>To:</B> <FONT
color=#0000ff><U>discussion@nsrca.org</U></FONT> <<FONT
color=#0000ff><U>mailto:discussion@nsrca.org</U></FONT>>
<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, July 16, 2003 8:50
AM<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Nats photos online<BR><BR>>From this site
and personal experience:<BR> <BR>The change to fixed gear on the
Prophecy seemed to require less power than those with retracts.
<BR> <BR>It seems to me that the weight is about the
same.<BR> <BR>A harsh landing with retracts usually results in
needing a little attention on the struts.<BR>The same landing with fixed
gear frequently results in extensive damage to the
fuselage.<BR> <BR>There is less bounce with retracts.<BR>Taxii out
is not recomended with retracts.<BR> <BR>Retracts usually provide a
wider footprint .<BR> <BR>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.<BR>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.<BR>6061 aluminum for fixed gear is a waste of
time.<BR> <BR>If landings were all scored K4, stif gear would go
away...<BR> <BR>John Ferrell <BR>6241 Phillippi Rd<BR>Julian NC
27283<BR>Phone: (336)685-9606 <BR><FONT
color=#0000ff><U>johnferrell@earthlink.net</U></FONT> <<FONT
color=#0000ff><U>mailto:johnferrell@earthlink.net</U></FONT>>
<BR>Dixie Competition Products<BR>NSRCA 479 AMA 4190 W8CCW<BR>"My
Competition is Not My Enemy"<BR></FONT></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>----- Original Message -----
<BR><B>From:</B> Mike Mueller <<FONT
color=#0000ff><U>mailto:mmueller@triangleprinters.com</U></FONT>>
<BR><B>To:</B> <FONT
color=#0000ff><U>'discussion@nsrca.org</U></FONT>' <<FONT
color=#0000ff><U>mailto:'discussion@nsrca.org</U></FONT>'>
<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, July 16, 2003 9:27
AM<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: Nats photos online<BR><BR><FONT
color=#0000ff> 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<BR></FONT></FONT></FONT>
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