Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bob McDonald on September 15, 2011 at 8:19pm

Mike

Don't listen to 2nd hand info from people who don't own a STOL Zenith. Buy yourself a treat http://www.stol-adventures.com/

Watch this DVD of a STOL CH701 and see if meets your needs... the CH801 can be just as tough. Perfect engine for the CH801 is Lycombing I0-360. Expect a cruise in 110 mph area. You can only push ugly through the air so fast. I have landed and taken off in water 1/2 up the tires on my CH750...in a blue clay field. Lighter is better...build to suit your needs. The CH801 is an ugly 2500 hr build vs. 600 hr assembly of a CH750.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Ice on September 15, 2011 at 10:18pm

Bob,

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

The 801 I mentioned is built light with the O-360

 

I listen to everything and then try to filter out the noise and make decsions that I hope will suit me. More info the better.

 

I hope to get more replies like yours.

 

Mike

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wayne Clagg on September 15, 2011 at 8:53pm

I don't have a 750 but I can say with complete certainty that the 701 is as tough as they come. I had a landing incident that resulted in a 4.5 g impact that bent the nose forks over until the front wheel would not roll. I mean it was violent. it never put a blemish on any other part of the air plane except for the main gear which bent. I put on new forks, straightened the main and inspected the rest. I flew my plane from my farm pastures and it is very rough, I wouldn't worry to much about the nose gear being weak.
wayne

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Ice on September 15, 2011 at 10:20pm

Wayne,

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

What technique do you use when you are operating in the rough. Stick all the way back? DO you ever worry about the nose wheel getting stck in a hole or behind a rock?

 

Mike

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by John Austin on September 17, 2011 at 8:51am

I'm buiiding a 750 but fly a 206 Stationair with an IO-540 off a 2100' turf strip - since I don't carry much passengers or cargo, it is relatively nose-heavy. I always taxi and start the takeoff with the yoke back in my lap, relaxing somewhat when I feel it get "light". Your nosegear will love you for doing that! LOL! (Can save a prop tip, too!)

Regards,

John

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chris Aysen on September 20, 2011 at 7:10am

Mike - I was also concerned. What I noticed was the easy side-to-side movement of the front wheel while sitting static (weakness of the plate). So I beefed up the sides with an added plate. I have "shimmy" sometimes on high speed landings; however, I must say it may be due to my spring loaded rudder pedals. If I keep my touchdown speed under 50 mph I don't experience the shimmy. I landed on some grass strips a few times and the sound of the front wheel rolling makes you think it going to come off. After inspection I seen nothing that would cause me concern. I would think bungee condition would also play a role in the functionallity of the front wheel. I not saying its (front wheel design) bad or good just that my experience has made me careful about what kind of terrain I go on. I know enough about metal fatigue that when you hear metal parts knocking together you should try to avoid it. Like some of the other post here I've seen some very impressive videos of rough terrain landings and takeoffs. With all that said Cessna design doesn't look all that healthy either.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Don Burkholder on September 25, 2011 at 11:57am

  I bent the hollow axle once then switched to the solid axle. Scars on the tread proved the tire had just "touched" the bolt heads holding the fork to the gear. Thankfully, not long after buying the plane I had turned the bolts around so that there would be greater tire clearence while installing my tow bar bracket. I can only imagine what would have happened had the tire locked up.  I have seen too many pictures of wrecked planes because the nose gear folded for one reason or another.  I had the nose gear out to replace the bungee and install thicker oil impregnated bearings and it weighed about 17 pounds complete with wheel and tire.  It would be nice to have something like the front forks of a motorcycle or something that has some hydraulic dampening to prevent the pogo stick effect. Don't get me wrong, i'm not bashing the design as it is light and does the job for the most part. Just the experimenter in me would like something better that has a true suspention that you don't need to be so concerned about when landing in the rough. Has anyone seen anything different for a nose gear??

  Thanks for reading, Don

• ▶ Reply