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TomParsons Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 8. "RE: First Flight in My Pitts!" 12-17-02, 18:57z  Thanks everybody for the nice words. Owing to the crummy weather in NJ, I've been up only once more since the first flight. I got to experience the splendor of operating a Pitts in a busy pattern- not nearly as much fun as when you have the airport to yourself! The 152s that waited forever to turn crosswind, the Cherokees that decided to mosey onto the runway and sit there just as I pulled the power abeam the numbers on downwind (thinking they had two minutes to get out ahead of me, when they actually had about 30 seconds!), the twin driver who pulled out on the runway about 12 seconds before I planned on touching down- it was all part of the holiday scene of unwanted potential togetherness. Andrew, I see why you recommend waiting to do landings until the airport is quiet! Dave P.- I took another look at the tailwheel bolt. It is tilted just very slightly forward. I'm not sure if it has the full 5-10 degree tilt you recommended, but it is not exactly vertical at least. Vic- You and I were BOTH wondering if I'd ever get to fly the thing! Dave H.- You're right. It did seem like as big a deal as the first solo. Cary- I'm not actually dangerous taxiing around in front of the Haigh tailwheel, but do I hope to get a little smoother once I have more practice. I notice that the tilt of the surface I'm taxiing over has something to do with which way I drift off, and how fast it happens. But if you average out the effect of taxiing on various inclined/crowned surfaces, it seems like my right brake (and leg) gets much more of a workout than the left brake. This is consistent with the airplane log's entry for a right-brake-only replacement last year. I assumed that was a p-factor thing. BTW Cary, the 2003 Sportsman Known is posted on the IAC Web site now! Time to start studying and chair-flying! Tom P. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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Subject      Author      Message Date     ID      First Flight in My Pitts!    TomParsons       12-10-02              RE: First Flight in My Pitts!    djpacro       12-10-02       1            RE: First Flight in My Pitts!    TomParsons       12-11-02       2         RE: First Flight in My Pitts!    aboyd       12-11-02       3         RE: First Flight in My Pitts!    vgbaron       12-11-02       4         RE: First Flight in My Pitts!    DHamblin       12-11-02       5         RE: First Flight in My Pitts!    Ben_Chiu       12-11-02       6         RE: First Flight in My Pitts!    CRodin       12-14-02       7         RE: First Flight in My Pitts!    TomParsons       12-17-02       8            RE: First Flight in My Pitts!    djpacro       12-17-02       9         RE: First Flight in My Pitts!    Patty_Wagstaff       12-25-02       10         RE: First Flight in My Pitts!    Ninepilot       01-20-03       11

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