Here is 2269V before heading out to play...

I have posted this before - I think - for those that didn't see it me out playing in a friend's DH82a Tiger Moth. She's a bog standard DH82a (no brakes and a tail skid) but has a Gypsy Major 1C engine (think Chipmunk) so has an extra 15hp (145 vs 130)...It does make a difference.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/J_12Vlo6guc[/youtube]

Starduster wins hands down.
We flew this today!
This is the very first plane I built.
IO 540 powdered.

Starduster wins hands down.
We flew this today!
This is the very first plane I built.
IO 540 powdered.

Starduster wins hands down.
We flew this today!
This is the very first plane I built.
IO 540 powdered.[/quote]

Charles,

I'd like to hear your thoughts on both. I've flown both, and preferred the skybolt, but it was tricked up a little bit more than the starduster I flew. . . what was your thought process?[/quote]

I really don't have any real reason for preferring the Starduster other than I am completely biased since I built the Starduster.
I do think thr SD is very elegant in the air and shows great.
If I had built the Skybolt I would most assuredly be biased in its favor.
BTW, I may have to sell my Duster, as my wife thinks 7 airplanes Is too much.
I want to buy a boat and she will not approve, until I sell a couple of airplanes and a car or two. She also thinks 3 corvettes, a Turbo Porsche, a truck and an SUV are too much.
Damn, you would think she would be a little more understanding.

Charles,

How well does the skid control directional stability once the tail is down and you lose rudder authority? With the drag it creates I wonder if it isn't easier to control than a steerable tailwheel. But I have no idea...I assume it's all grass all the time.

Boy, that TM doesn't look fun at all...

CK,

Did you get to fly yesterday?

You're right CK....its just awefull

Tony the tail skid is mounted at the bottom of the rudder post and is thus steerable. In calm weather the Tiger presents few challenges...but add in wind....even on grass ...on tarmac or hard baked ground

You will notice in the vid I am not strapped in taxiing and I unstrap at taxi speed after landing...thats so if you lose it you can knock the switches off, jump out and grab something to stop the aircraft...I am not joking.

The DH82a was designed in 1930 odd...an era in UK/Europe of all over grass landing grounds where crosswinds were just not a consideration.

Aircraft designed with a skid and no brakes also have a CofG that is further aft than their wheeled/braked brethren - more weight on the skid which is also your brake. To turn on the ground you must have just the right amount of weight on the skid...you cant just taxi around with the stick sucked into your gut like you do with a braked tailwheel aircraft. Of course not enough weight is not good either...its a skill that cant really be described/taught...experience is the best guide.

Ground ops on windy days are VERY challenging - its 'demonstrated' crosswind limit is about 7kts. On grass I have operated regularly approaching twice that but that is getting a little scary. On Tarmac forget it - you have very little directional control and NO BRAKES -yes you can use a burst of power to regain directional control but then you also go faster and the following ground loop is bigger so you hit the bowser/parked aircraft/ditch harder. Unless the grass is directIy upwind I walk the aircraft out to the grass if no wing walkers are available.

Funky little aeroplane - you can see why pilots who learned in the era of the Tiger Moth have airmanship oozing out of every pore...the aircraft absolutely demands it.

Hi CK,

Good thread. Mine is not a biplane, but it is a 1929 open cockpit Davis monoplane. We are currently doing a complete restoration, but will hopefully have it back in the air by this fall or next Spring. The Kinner B5 is fairly loud so your suggestion for the haedset is a welcome idea. I'll look into it. Below is a pic of the cockpit and a photo from the 70's.

Alex,

That aircraft is STUNNING! More photos PLEASE!

It may not be a biplane but it is open cockpit so who cares?

Nice thread gents,
MC

Thanks Tony. Interesting trivia on this plane:

A Davis like this one with a LeBlond engine won the Thompson Trophy during the 1930 National Air Races (flown by Art Chester on a 3 pylon course). Only 11 D1-Ks made (Kinner powered). This one was originally purchased by Jimmie Angel (guy who discovered Angel Falls in Venezuela), was owned by my grand father from 1931-1940, then by my Dad from 1959-1981, and I was able to recover it in 2000 (with original logs!).

I hope to fly it to Oshkosh next year. Below is Art Chester's wining monoplane.

Alex...that is VERY cool. Neat plane.

Here are some pictures of our Davis as it sits today (it's in Indiana right now) along with the great bunch of guys helping me restore it.