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| For the past 3 1/2 years, I have read the GG, Bondline, and all the information available from the AYA. That is a lot of reading. In the packet from the AYA, there was a section on flying tips. One of these referenced using flaps on t/o. This isn't in the owner's manual(as we all know well) but has been often used/discussed through out the years. I fly 2 Travelers(stock 1973 and about as highly modified as possible 1974) and an 0320HC'd(I didn't want to get chastized for writing 160hp) AA-1B with DMA speed mods. I also flew(in the early and late 1970's respectively) a 1969 AA-1 with a cruise prop and a 1976 AA-1B. I gave the owner flying lessons in the AA-1 and general flying lessons in the AA-1B. The AA-1 was flown off a 2500' strip in the summer with 2 people and the other was flown off a 5500' strip also in summers(at 7M7 and West Mem,AR respectively). The usage of flaps in the AA-5s seemed to help very little in the 1974 and possibly somewhat more in the AA-5 stock, especially when near gross. The AA-1B didn't seem to be helped much at all with flaps.
| | Steve White is a dentist who owns a blue,white and gold 1974 Traveler. It has a new "N" # since the picture, N749MC. The plane which has PF,Sens "tweeked" prop, HC,RR cap,all DMA speed mods,no steps,buried antenas,extensive aero clean-up,etc, normally flies appx 155 mph tas and climbs appx 1000'/min @ 115 ias with 2 people/full fuel. Travelers have potential. |
| In 1972, I was an inexperienced pilot and made some stupid mistakes. On a near 100 degree day, I got too far down the 2500' strip in the AA-1 to abort but didn't have the speed to t/o. A 15' ditch is at the end of the RW. In the last 500' of roll, my mind went into a hyper mode; and I lowered the miniscule flaps which helped the very low-lift AA-1 wing. The airplane wallowed off, gained speed in gnd effect going across the cotton field and eventually climbed at 100-200'/min. I landed and stayed on the ground. Later, I practiced more with the flap t/os in this cruise prop'd, hi time 0235, slick wing'd airplane. It really made a difference. I'd go with neutral controls until appx 55 mph ias, lower the flaps and apply gentle back pressure. This significantly decreased the t/o roll, in this plane. This became std procedure for the owner of this plane and me. He now owns the 1976 0320HC,AA-1B that is in the hanger between my AA-5 and the 1973 AA-5 mentioned above.
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| I doubt that I am the only one who used flaps in the original cruise prop'd 0235 AA-1s. I suspect this is where the entire flap/flap issue started. To me, the Ron Levy testing of flap effect on t/o roll was incomplete due to no stock AA-1 being tested also.
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| In summary, the usage of flaps has a significant effect on t/o for the original AA-1 with the stock engine/propellar. Likely many pilots discovered this thru word of mouth, being shown, or out of necessity. The extrapolation that this technique is beneficial to the AA-1a-c, and AA-5 series is questionable. Likely, the majority of Grumman pilots have not experienced the unique "flying" characteristics of the stock AA-1.
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| [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/sewdds/1974Traveler1.jpg[/IMG] | | [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/sewdds/1974Traveler1.jpg[/IMG] |
Revision as of 02:33, 19 March 2009
Steve White is a dentist who owns a blue,white and gold 1974 Traveler. It has a new "N" # since the picture, N749MC. The plane which has PF,Sens "tweeked" prop, HC,RR cap,all DMA speed mods,no steps,buried antenas,extensive aero clean-up,etc, normally flies appx 155 mph tas and climbs appx 1000'/min @ 115 ias with 2 people/full fuel. Travelers have potential.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/sewdds/1974Traveler1.jpg[/IMG]
