Warbird Information Exchange

Saw a few pictures today of the first oscar replica with its gear wiped out. Apparently they were doing high speed taxi tests and ended up ground looping. Damage dosen't look too bad, 3 bent blades, belly damage, and of course the gear. It happened yesterday. I'll try to get some pictures if I get a chance.

Steve

High speed taxi tests are always a bad Idea

Uhhhhh...what?

could you tell us where to look for the pics please?

There have been more planes wiped out doing high speed taxi tests than actually flying low level off the runway.

dont know why anyone would want a Japanese plane in first place

Guys any more news/pics...seems like a real shame. Bent prop blades = engine out etc etc.. big $$$$$$$

I am by no means an expert, but have done a fair share of post-restoration flights, and would agree with the statement that was made about the danger of high speed tests. In my experience, if the tail comes up relatively normally on the initial run, I'll take it around the pattern. Unless something is wrong on initial power application or there is a W&B issue (tail up to fast or to slow), I will go. I feel, by the time your ready for "taxi tests", most of the systems have been tested to satisfaction. Just the way I do it, but again, I'm no flight test expert.

Agree with Gary. The concept of a "high speed taxy test", particularly in a tail dragger can be frought. If it's fast enough to 'fly' then it should...much safer. Normal taking tests for brakes etc are generally rstricted to low speeds for obvious reasons...and remember we're not building prototypes or genuine experimental ships...

These pic's were taken by a friend of mine who was at the scene. I'll try to get them up in a day or so.

Steve

Hmmmm, with the Focke-Wulf, we did 2-3 runs down the runway to check if the engine wasn't going to go boum in our face and to test the brakes and the rest.


One or two is always good.

_________________
Olivier Lacombe -- Harvard Mk.4 C-GBQB

So tell me how does a run down the runway tell you if the engine is going to go boom better than by other means eg. static runs and maybe a lineup..set power and release brakes, close throttle slowly...as for "testing the brakes"...a high speed taxy test is frought...

Wow! Luckily you didn't ground loop it.

We hold the brakes, get to static thrust, release the brakes, run down to the point where we read something on the ASI and then cut the juice, brake and exit the runway.

If the engines doesn't go boom then, it won't go boom when we go flying.

_________________
Olivier Lacombe -- Harvard Mk.4 C-GBQB

I imagine a high speed run with a tricycle geared airplane is a much different ballgame than one with a tailwheel. At least that is what my experience with large scale models tells me. I no longer do high speed test runs with my models as they, more often than not, do more harm than good. Just my .02 cents.