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Author Topic: Rule of thumb for wheel size for grass  (Read 161 times)

Offline Dennis Toth

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Rule of thumb for wheel size for grass
« on: Yesterday at 09:53:01 PM »
Guys,
Anyone know a good rule of thumb for selecting wheel size for grass? Fields I have access to are typical baseball fields with  1" + grass. Plane is Ringmaster.

Best,    DnnisT
« Last Edit: Today at 09:37:34 AM by Dennis Toth »

Online Brett Buck

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Re: Rule of thumb for wheel size for grass
« Reply #1 on: Yesterday at 10:00:31 PM »
Guys,
Anyone know a good rule of thumb for selecting wheel size for grass? Fields I have access to are typical baseball fields with  1" + grass. Plane is Ringmaster.

Best,    DnnisT
   

   I don't know any rules of thumb, I just use regular 2 - 2.125 wheels and it works on grass or pavement.

     Brett

p.s. 1" grass would make that the best WAM site ever. We used to have the Golden State meet in Clovis on the football practice field, it was 1" or so, it was perfect better than pavement (since it didn't get so hot).
« Last Edit: Yesterday at 10:39:46 PM by Brett Buck »

Offline Dan McEntee

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Re: Rule of thumb for wheel size for grass
« Reply #2 on: Yesterday at 10:13:06 PM »
  You figure out what works by experimentation, or take your mower or weed whacker and cut yourself a take off strip. Big wheels mean more weight and more drag below the thrust line of the airplane and then comes trim issues.

   I, also, am in the 2" to 2 1/4" camp for just about everything I have, sometimes  1 3/4".  Either cut the grass or follow the recommendations for a portable take off pad.
  Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee
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Offline M Spencer

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Re: Rule of thumb for wheel size for grass
« Reply #3 on: Yesterday at 11:02:12 PM »
wheels . wheels ! Youwant Wheels .  >:(

Id used 2 3/4 ballon tyres ( well , round not yr tundra tyre ) you felt the tailplane go through the wheel wash , on tight insides , when it was going for it ( working in a breeze )
cant remember it somersaulting or suchlike , on a sometimes unmown field . To soft for the council tractor in the wet season . Are a factor in ' trim ' , but dont sink or bury .

Even trike gear , the noseleg can take a pounding , you need ' full up ' so the weights of it , initially . So you could do with the round tyre on the front , for landings .
the 1 1/2 on the Phantom , likely half responsable for the nose eventually falling off . you want a torsion bar or loop in the legs .  >:(

Traditionally , Fuse. mounted gear for grass . As with wing mounted gear you can bend a leg doing hourglasses at   night with no lights .  S?P

With the ' little wheels ' on it , you tend to ' drift it in  ' , Hold off , low , so as to loose most of the airspeed . If you let it stall , below six inches , it 's possable to hit full up
after its on the deck , as it dosnt always bounce .  :(

Taliking of TORPEDO's .

actually , its a RV 7A ! .
but the shapes about right , Bar the front of something is the node point or something . Paspellum uncut used to whip back and through the covering . Otherwise its V T O L .  ;D  LL~
           ( for NO wheels )
carrier hooks would be better , then it'd stop . Detachable gear , so it can be straightened unattached , makes sense . the whole weight / durability thing .

Blah Blah .

this Aircraft tundra tyre , is untreaded . Likely a smooth tyre , on rouh surfaces , is better with the less grip , so the camber / bump steer isnt so bad . ( cambered / Bumpy surface - directing plane )
Sounds like it'd be better to have a few sets of landing gear , to suit . tarmac , bowling green , and hay field ! .

theres the wheel fairings , to gather grass stalks & trip the plane , too .

You dont need floats , as long as you dont stop , on water . ACTUALLY , long skiny aerodynamic floats give very good take offs & landings , on less well maintained fields .
but you need 5/32 wire , particularly for the front leg . preferably both . unsprung you get the odd thump & bang , on bumps , but seem to hold out  well.
Plus you get extra ' area ' working . Which helps more than hinders ! .


Theyre  1 : 10 A.R. wheel fairings ! ( without the wheels ) . Id contemplated , wheel , no wheel , etc ad infinitum. but couldnt find any waterproof . dont mention SALT . Its a no - go .
considerable area works . Foist Flt. with a .40 Torpedo , it waffled along semi stalled - 10 deg. nose up , Tailplane & floats working , wing in buffet / semi stalled . so there !
kept it STRAIGHT - and the ' Ski effect ' of 30 inches x 2 , were giving as much lift as the wing . So skids , Skis , or somesuch , without wheels , would cut the air cleaner than big round tyres .

 the Mc hine swapped the pitchers about . Tough titty .

Heres you CURTISS Model E wheelless wheel fairing . Otherwise known as flying boat hull . About the right shape for on the ends of the gear legs , wheelless . And Art deco Cool .

as well as being pretty basic to knock out a ' test Set ' upturned nose so as not to get caught by grass ./

or copy this Tip float shape / https://www.kitplanes.com/nothing-small-about-it/

Long Grass winding round axxles , ifits that bad , used to mow with prop & get cuttings stuck all over , on take off (trike gear ) wore the prop down , so wood props a no No .

PLUS the wheels'd wanna be further forward . Anyway . So as to not tipup . NEEDS to be axle under L E at ' the club ' field . ive FINALLY discovered . For good Landings .  H^^ adios .
« Last Edit: Yesterday at 11:54:54 PM by M Spencer »

Online Dave_Trible

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Re: Rule of thumb for wheel size for grass
« Reply #4 on: Today at 05:30:12 AM »
I use 2 1/4 or 2 1/2" very narrow wheels on my grass field and do well.   However there are a few variables that make a lot of difference.   One is simply how thick or dense is the grass.   In general the nicer looking the grass the harder it is too take off from-the wheel drag is a bunch.   Another is wheel location.   The best grass location is further forward to compensate for that wheel drag but then the airplane lands like a kangaroo on pavement. Landing gear length and how stiff it is will also matter.   The more prop you can keep clear of the grass the better.  The weight and power of the airplane matter and whether you are taking off more into the wind or not.  The wheels that are a little larger but narrow and very light have worked best for me.  I wish the Maxx aluminum hub wheels were still around-worth their weight in good balsa....Something like a Ringmaster though should be able to mostly jump off in a couple feet at most ,  don't weigh much and usually have the gear ahead of the leading edge.  You might do OK with 2" but it will likely flip over on most landings.

Dave
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Online Perry Rose

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Re: Rule of thumb for wheel size for grass
« Reply #5 on: Today at 05:41:39 AM »
2 1/2 min. Even then I use full up elevator until the plane gets rolling. The plans generally list the wheel size.
I may be wrong but I doubt it.
I wouldn't take her to a dog fight even if she had a chance to win.
The worst part of growing old is remembering when you were young.

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