Got to fly in a W-10 for a Flight Review yesterday. I'm glad we don't have one.
First, it's small. I barely fit in the aircraft and if I was 2-4 inches taller I wouldn't fit (I'm 68inches tall). Plus side to side it was more cozy than the 152. And the yoke was VERY poorly designed and took up most of the room.
Second, it's fast. I'm talking 160kts in the cruise fast. The Seneca II flys that fast. Sadly, it the Seneca II takes off faster and uses less runway. It's a pretty big runway hog. Climb is decent, but I think it should be flown at a slower climb speed to get closer to Vy instead of 140kts.
Third, it's twitchy. Like REAL twitchy. The small elevator controls result in being thrown into the ceiling (refer item 1). Roll is a little faster than a C152. And in non-issue turbulence in a 152/172, it's throwing you around the cockpit.
Fourth, you can't see squat. There is a window, but has the airframe supports running through your sightliness and you can't see to either side.
Fifth, the rudder is connected to the brakes. Every landing resulted in massive breaking on landing. Decent ground control, but takeoff/landing definitely resulted in using brakes as you kept it on the centerline.
Sixth, the instrument cluster is a cluster fuck. There is NO logical flow of instruments, and even the guy didn't know 100% where they were all. It's almost designed as a vertical 6 pack, except that there was room for a normal 6 pack if you moved stuff around. Plus I had the throttle/mixture sticking out at my face (glad to know I'll impale my forehead on it if we crash).
Overall, I'm not impressed. And I got some ideas of what not to do when I build a Sonex. But it's an airplane and I got to fly another type. Why won't anyone let me do a Flight Review in their G550? ;)
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I have soared amongst the birds
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JediCheese
CFI/CFII/MEI
ASEL/AMEL Commercial IA
AGI/IGI
BS Aviation from SCSU
This is a blog of my professional life and the events within. Whoever says being a pilot is glamorous and fun filled hasn't been a pilot. It's boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror.
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CFI/CFII/MEI
ASEL/AMEL Commercial IA
AGI/IGI
BS Aviation from SCSU
This is a blog of my professional life and the events within. Whoever says being a pilot is glamorous and fun filled hasn't been a pilot. It's boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror.
View my Complete Profile
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All things posted on this website are total fiction. I didn't do what you thought I did. I have yet to break any regulations. All stories are a figment of my imagination...
Additionally, I'm a trained professional. Don't try this at home!
Please don't notify the FAA :)
6 comments:
Do you know anything about the history of that airplane?
Ever heard of steve whitman or what he did for aviation?
check it out
Kelly Wheeler
old Ag pilot
You don't know much about a Whittman Tailwind based on what I just read. I own a W10 Tailwind and your exagerations are far from reality. First, I will tell you that the W10 is very similar to the flying envelop of a Mooney M20E. I own both by the way. The W10 has relatively a lot of room for a homebuilt; I am 6 ft tall and have no trouble what so ever and the airplane is smaller but not such that in comparison to most other small single engine aircraft is appreciable. It is comfortably close with another person, but not crowded with room to have maps and equipment in your laps. The stick is a very cool design and works beautifully, in fact it does not get in the way at all like conventional sticks located in the center of the floor. It works beautifully whether flying from right or left seat. I have sit in my W10 for 4 solid hours on many occassions and it has not given me anymore fatique than my Mooney! My assessment is that it is very comfortable.
The plane is not a "runway hog" at all, it can be flown out of small grass fields. I do admit takeoff is longer however. My climb rate is 1200 fpm. Additionally, I don't have to use a lot of brake as you state; in fact, I use very little to keep centerline whether taking off or landing. My brakes are pilot side and are toe brakes (not contected to the rudder but intergal to the rudder petals?). Over the cowl visibility is limited when the tail is down, characteristic to most other tailwheel planes. The visibility appears more limited than what it actually is due to the bottom of the wings are at eye level giving this illusion/sensation.
The control sensitivity is relatively smooth in comparision to a lot of homebuilts, but I would not describe it as "twitchy" (unless you are heavy handed and abrubt (or used to sloppy controls), and don't have homebuilt experience). Most all homebuilts are quicker in response, so this is not isolated to the W10 by any means.
My instrument panel is layed out in standard IFR configuration -simular to most GA aircraft panels (Primary patern on pilot, radios/nav center, and assesories and backups/speicalty instruments on co-pilot side). In fact, I fly my W10 IFR and it does a good job flying - solid platform and navigation wise too.
You review does not describe my Whitman Tailwind W10, Lycoming 160 hp at all. I have owned it since 1995 and the plane has served me faithfully and safely in all kinds of weather and on long trips! Steve Whitman did an excellent job designing this plane and it has existed thru the test of time.
You mentioned in your bio that being a pilot: "...it's boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror." My old man used to say that - he flew Spitfires, Kittyhawks, & was shot down in his Hurricane - it's all relative I guess. Notwithstanding, you are living the dream though, since you're not stuck in an office. If I could start over, I would've stayed in the cockpit. Enjoy every minute of it while you can!
Gudgerz,
I reviewed the one that I flew. Being that it's a homebuilt, you can do a ton of different things with them. The one I flew had some serious flaws but the owner loved it (more power to him, everyone's got their quirks).
This one had a castoring nosewheel and wasn't a tailwheel.
I am a flight instructor with about 5000 hours. I have owned and flown a Tailwind for 18 years and flown it over all 50 contiguous states.
I have flown many home built and factory aircraft but NONE of them have given me more satisfaction than my Tailwind named " GONZO! "
No longer the owner, I rue the day I ever sold it.
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