REFLECTOR: Main Gear Emergency Extension

[Ron Brown]

Chuck,

Check and see if you have some sort of restriction in your main gear 
hydraulic system - I'm guessing in the hoses.  When I made up my hoses the 
first time, I found that the fitting barb had damaged the inner lining to 
the point that when I tested the hydraulic lines they would hardly pass air.

With the mains being heavier, they should fall out first.  My gear will fall 
out in about 6-8 seconds and lock.  In fact, they fall out almost as fast as 
the pump will put them down.

Ronnie


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chuck Harbert" <c.harbert at comcast.net>
To: <reflector at tvbf.org>
Cc: <p51 at hotmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2005 4:21 AM
Subject: REFLECTOR: Re: Glide Ratio


> Having survived a no engine emergency landing, I do remember that the 
> plane glides very well with the gear up, but sinks like a rock when you 
> open those gear doors (probably 6:1). The other thing that is surprising 
> is how long it takes to lower the main gear (the nose comes down and locks 
> quickly). If you really want to practice this, time how long it takes to 
> get the mains to lock, then go out and try to estimate when you need to 
> start them down. It's way more time than you think. Probably better to put 
> them down at a higher altitude and circle to land to get the feel of the 
> sink rate before you have to land.
>
> The engine quit when I turned crosswind shortly after takeoff, and I just 
> made it back to the field, but too little time to lock the mains, so I 
> skidded in on the backside of the plane. Fortunately, no fire and damage 
> was not too much due to an iVO composite prop. I was very lucky.
>
>
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