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Old 07-17-06, 06:39 PM   #19
Sailor Steve
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NeonSamurai
Pipers still have a stall speed of around 80 knots at least.
Well, you're way off the mark there. The Cub's MAX speed was only around 80 knots:
J-3C-65 - Max speed 148km/h (80kt), typical cruising speed 132km/h (71kt). Initial rate of climb 450ft/min. Service ceiling 12,000ft. Range 402km (217nm).
http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=298

The nice thing about a Cub landing is that it happens at a near-walk. Actual touch down is around 35 mph, so even if your technique is sloppy, everything is happening so slowly you have all day to set it straight. If you don't have much tailwheel time, try not to think about it. Get the airplane on more or less straight and it will roll more or less straight. Start fighting the rudders simply because it's a taildragger and you think you should be doing something, and it will do a slow motion dance. Best advice in landing a Cub is to make sure it is straight and not drifting and leave it alone after touch down. There's a reason for the saying "...lands easy as a Cub..."
Here's the whole article:
http://www.airbum.com/pireps/ClassicCompCub.html

I've seen 'clown' stunt pilots at air shows climb out of the cockpit and back in; the plane is incredibly stable. I'm certain the shot was staged; the source even says it was being flown from the back seat. That said, I'm equally certain there was no computer juggling; it also says the photo was taken in 1946. That should be verifiable.
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