Primarily for general aviation discussion, but other aviation topics are also welcome.
By patowalker
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1699595
Tue Jun 11, 2019 6:45 pm
The recently completed Radial Rocket ZU-IJP has been involved in an accident at Bara-G
Undercarriage ripped off and damaged propeller
I dont know further details but it looks like nobody was hurt other than the plane
:(
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By Flyin'Dutch'
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1699640
patowalker wrote:
Tue Jun 11, 2019 6:45 pm
The recently completed Radial Rocket ZU-IJP has been involved in an accident at Bara-G
Undercarriage ripped off and damaged propeller
I dont know further details but it looks like nobody was hurt other than the plane
:(


If it was flown by the same person we might not be too surprised.
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By Sooty25
#1699657
Flyin'Dutch' wrote:
patowalker wrote:
Tue Jun 11, 2019 6:45 pm
The recently completed Radial Rocket ZU-IJP has been involved in an accident at Bara-G
Undercarriage ripped off and damaged propeller
I dont know further details but it looks like nobody was hurt other than the plane
:(


If it was flown by the same person we might not be too surprised.


or it might have been a perfect landing destroyed by a rabbit hole.
#1699705
ChampChump wrote:I'm not casting nasturtiums.


Neither are you a shrinking violet Nic . :D

But like your good self , I also fly a tailwheeler that I am happy with . Not that any of 'em won't bite you in the rear though , given half a chance !

But that particular one , which I couldn't for the life of me identify [ thanks @patowalker :thumright: ] looks a real bad @ss mother . Short wingspan , big engine , and an altogether unforgiving beast . Even on roll-out , it was having naughty thoughts . It couldn't quite decide whether to ride up and ding its prop . or go for a groundloop .

Like Lockhaven , I'm not going to sit in my comfort zone and criticise the guy , but that is definitely not for me . Neither my ego nor my budget are up to it . [ thankfully :D ]
Rob L, ChampChump, seanxair liked this
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By Wildcat One
#1699711
Near the end of this video at 11.00 there is a Pitts demonstrating its robustness :)

I don't normally watch vids - bandwidth issues. However, as it was a Pitts I was compelled to - just in case I had to defend myself!

I know that aeroplane very well - in fact I built it 20 years ago from a broken fuselage and a few other bits.

Again, its intrepid pilot could have made life so much easier for himself. Nothing wrong with being a wee bit faster and landing on one main and tailwheel at similar times - then allowing the other main to touch down whilst keeping it straight.
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By TheFarmer
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1699714
Tailwheel landings on tarmac can sometimes be a horrible combination. There is little forgiveness when it suddenly grips, and a short coupled aircraft like that can often make matters worse, not giving much warning before it decides to let the tail overtake the nose, and travel backwards.

Add in a high wing loading (and subsequently high stall speed), and an engine that the slightest blip on will add in some torque, and things get even spicier.

Then there are the unknowns. He might have had all sorts of issues we know nothing about, such as fatigue, a technical matter that was worrying him, a wife nagging him over the radio, or even a flipping great hornet in the cockpit with him. We don’t know.

Then, add in a load of people filming him.

To top it off, there’s nil headwind, so his touchdown speed is as high as he will ever have had, and with a tailwheel aircraft that means a longer period of time to have to be ever so slightly ahead of the aircraft all the way to walking pace.

Was it pretty? No.

Did he mess up? Not really.

Are we ones to judge? No.


However, he might also just be really rubbish at flying.

We will never know.
G-BLEW, ChampChump, flybymike and 7 others liked this
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By seanxair
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1699719
Definitely not judgemental as I've made some unattractive arrivals. Well designed aircraft are pretty sturdy really. And if you can use it again it's win win :D