High to low wing transition

What low wing are you going to fly? I went from a 172 to a Hershey bar Cherokee and was surprised after only having flown the taper wing Cherokees. Just have to realize the old Cherokees don’t float, they fall. Still easy peasy.
 
Daleandee said:
I've got an EZ-bake oven, large canopy, low wing. In these temps the southeast has had lately I've been content to go out early in the morning and cruise the local area for a bit & then come back for some take-off/landing practice before I start to melt down.
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You just need a Sport Canopy.
 
FPK1 said:
I really can't say as I've never downgraded to a low wing...
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The best part about a high wing is having a strut in every picture. That, and cutting your head open on the flaps and ailerons.
 
I think mostly it's that high wing you can hit your head, and low wing you can bang your shin. For low wing, don't step on the parts of the wing you're not supposed to. For high wing, don't put your hand through the wing covering.

Low wing it's easier to check the gas. I think high wing pilots hire someone to put in the gas. Low wing if you're in bad shape you might not be able to get up after sumping the fuel.
 
Albany Tom said:
I think mostly it's that high wing you can hit your head, and low wing you can bang your shin. For low wing, don't step on the parts of the wing you're not supposed to. For high wing, don't put your hand through the wing covering.

Low wing it's easier to check the gas. I think high wing pilots hire someone to put in the gas. Low wing if you're in bad shape you might not be able to get up after sumping the fuel.
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On a Luscombe you might bump your head on the gas sitting in the airplane.

Better yet: buy a glider . . . no fuel worries.
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Refueling a low wing won't give you a panic attack if you're afraid of heights.
 
It's hard to hurt yourself falling off of a high-wings wing.
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I said hard . . . not impossible.
 
asicer said:
In a bubble canopy low wing at high noon on a hot summer day, "cooler" is not the word that comes to mind. ;)
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Fortunately, in my Ercoupe, I can open the canopy while in flight and/or on the ground. The only caveat is that the hair tends to blow around.

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Daleandee said:
I do! But I'm told my aircraft type becomes pretty difficult to handle if the canopy is missing:
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The factory made Schweitzer sport canopy simply replaces the standard (enclosed) canopy on a 1-23 or 1-26. (Pull the pins and replace in summer, do the reverse in winter.) It does not appreciably affect the aerodynamics . . . or as some may say lack thereof . . . of the glider. There are some home-made modifications . . . which aren't on the Approve Type Certificate, just sayin' . . . that do have some turbulence and blanking effect that the factory sport canopy does not.

People fly Cubs with doors open, Cezznas, Aeroncas, and T-craft without one but not both doors, Ercoupes and Bede 1 and 5's with the canopy's open (just don't spin the 1). I am curious as to what you are flying that has such different aerodynamics canopy open v. closed.
 
billsgs126 said:
The factory made Schweitzer sport canopy simply replaces the standard (enclosed) canopy on a 1-23 or 1-26. (Pull the pins and replace in summer, do the reverse in winter.) It does not appreciably affect the aerodynamics . . . or as some may say lack thereof . . . of the glider. There are some home-made modifications . . . which aren't on the Approve Type Certificate, just sayin' . . . that do have some turbulence and blanking effect that the factory sport canopy does not.

People fly Cubs with doors open, Cezznas, Aeroncas, and T-craft without one but not both doors, Ercoupes and Bede 1 and 5's with the canopy's open (just don't spin the 1). I am curious as to what you are flying that has such different aerodynamics canopy open v. closed.
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See the link in my previous post ...
 
Daleandee said:
See the link in my previous post ...
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In gliders that is called kiting. Where the trailing glider encounters unexpected drag, or the glider pilot becomes distracted and allows the glider to move high forcing the towplane's tail high. On my 1-26 the canopy is two pieces, divided right behind my head. The front half of a factory sport canopy has a windscreen and then sidewalls to the break.
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The rear half has a headrest and continues into the fuselage.

On your airplane, it seems as if . . . had the front windscreen continued back a short distance . . . it would be a minor annoyance. It also appears that the canopy opened, shattered, and then remained as a significant source of drag. Simply having an open cockpit would certainly have less of an effect. Gosh, a slight redesign and an amended TC or STC seems like a no-brainer.
 

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billsgs126 said:
Gosh, a slight redesign and an amended TC or STC seems like a no-brainer.
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I agree but I'm not engineer nor a test pilot. The plane is experimental so the red tape is minimal.

These little planes are fun to fly and I installed vents that do well in flight but on the ground waiting to launch in high temps is a really miserable experience. I went flying this morning before it got too hot ...
 
Half Fast said:
Apparently, the resulting brain damage is what causes people to like them.
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Yup…only the dain bramaged could appreciate 185kts TAS, plenty of cabin space, ease of entry and over 800lbs in the cabin, fuel fuel and over 350lbs under gross. :biggrin: Oh, forgot the high speed internet in flight :p

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Ed Haywood said:
Ah the classic PoA escalatory cycle begins:

Light hearted jibe
Passive aggressive response
Actual debate
Angry argument
Ad Homenim exchange
Politics and Religion tangent
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Flying a high wing is like riding a moped or...
 
Since no one mentioned it, the only thing that still occasionally gets me is I look the wrong way to clear a turn.
 
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