Re: Books Containing Steve Wittman
I have a really cozy hangar for your Tailwind here at M21, Jim.
On Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 4:45?PM Tailwind14855 via <Tailwind14855= [email protected]> wrote: I recommend the Sport Aviation article by Jim Cunningham? and the EAA video on Steves life. I am losing my hangar May 15 and most of my stuff is packed away so I can't offer any help. There is a lot of information available on Steve. Much of it concentrates on one airplane or two in the case of the midget racers. If you are willing to search for it there is more information available on Steve than any other air race pilot. many articles in Sport Aviation. If you are an EAA member all the back issues are available via the EAA website.?
|
Re: Books Containing Steve Wittman
If the "Golden Age of Air Racing is still available from EAA it has multiple articles about Steve's early life as well as info on most of the airplanes.
|
Re: Books Containing Steve Wittman
I recommend the Sport Aviation article by Jim Cunningham? and the EAA video on Steves life. I am losing my hangar May 15 and most of my stuff is packed away so I can't offer any help. There is a lot of information available on Steve. Much of it concentrates on one airplane or two in the case of the midget racers. If you are willing to search for it there is more information available on Steve than any other air race pilot. many articles in Sport Aviation. If you are an EAA member all the back issues are available via the EAA website.?
|
This is why ¡°seaplane¡± props are always big diameter.? Gives you more acceleration ¡°out of the hole¡± (as the drag racers like to say). Might hurt the top end a little bit, but sure does pull on the low end.
The only thing you want to avoid is the tip speed breaking the speed of sound. ?(And of course you have to consider ground clearance.) ?Pponk Aviation has a prop tip speed calculator on their website.? Go to Pponk.com, click the ¡°props¡± tab, then click the ¡°tip speed calculator" tab.? You can play with various diameters and engine RPM settings to see what might work for ya.
Joe
From a long time (see my sig) RV owner, the C/S prop allowing full power in acceleration and climb obviously helps, but I'll bet it was at least 74" diameter, too. Many of the F/P prop makers sell 68" props for RVs (and likely Tailwinds). That extra 6" of diameter makes a really big difference in acceleration, even with a F/P prop. I've played with various diameter F/P on my RVs I've owned over the years, and the most impressive was a Warnke 72" diameter on a 160 HP RV4. Great takeoff performance, and 170 kt (not mph) cruise.
?
On tire pressure, if the guys at Van's are recommending 25 psi, they're doing it to hide the shimmy issue. I've always run 50+ in mine; if I forget to air them up and they get down to 30 psi or so the plane feels like a '68 Pontiac station wagon on the ground; I hate it.
|
From a long time (see my sig) RV owner, the C/S prop allowing full power in acceleration and climb obviously helps, but I'll bet it was at least 74" diameter, too. Many of the F/P prop makers sell 68" props for RVs (and likely Tailwinds). That extra 6" of diameter makes a really big difference in acceleration, even with a F/P prop. I've played with various diameter F/P on my RVs I've owned over the years, and the most impressive was a Warnke 72" diameter on a 160 HP RV4. Great takeoff performance, and 170 kt (not mph) cruise.
?
On tire pressure, if the guys at Van's are recommending 25 psi, they're doing it to hide the shimmy issue. I've always run 50+ in mine; if I forget to air them up and they get down to 30 psi or so the plane feels like a '68 Pontiac station wagon on the ground; I hate it.
|
Re: Books Containing Steve Wittman
Brad -
Agree totally re: scanning all of Stanton's messages.
I have his notebook and I have saved at least 150 emails with juicy into from Jim, Keith, and others.
Group messages are like having experts sitting at your workbench.
Photos are pure gold.
Ben
|
Re: Books Containing Steve Wittman
Thanks Ben, I eagerly await "Officer Bill Gannon's", report on most everything we post. Lucky to at least have some actual source, that has a lot of first-hand knowledge. Friends of Steve are fading away before we get it all out of them, sadly. Brad List
|
Re: Books Containing Steve Wittman
Brad,? So as not to lean too heavily on TW14855 (Jim Stanton) personally, you may want to use his posts on this forum, and the posts of many others who knew Steve, as what as what essentially amounts to a primary resource. There have been many personal memories posted here about Steve by friends who knew him well. And I I would think that Jim, even as ready and willing as he is to contribute his knowledge and many recollections, would appreciate not having to repeat them in one massive memory dump.
BTW great idea!? I for one would like to read a comprehensive biography about Steve.
Dion
?
Bradley, To state the obvious, contact Tailwind14855. Ben Wilson ? ? I am looking for any scholarly papers, books, or articles, containing information about Steve Wittman, and the Tailwind. I need this for a paper I am writing for Liberty School of Aeronautics, pertaining to "Eras in Aviation". I was amazed to see that there doesn't seem to be much out there on these subjects. Please drop me a message about anything you know of that may help in this research. Thanks Brad List
|
Re: Books Containing Steve Wittman
Bradley, To state the obvious, contact Tailwind14855. Ben Wilson ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Bradley List via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 12:42 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [TailwindForum] Books Containing Steve Wittman? I am looking for any scholarly papers, books, or articles, containing information about Steve Wittman, and the Tailwind. I need this for a paper I am writing for Liberty School of Aeronautics, pertaining to "Eras in Aviation". I was amazed to see that there doesn't seem to be much out there on these subjects. Please drop me a message about anything you know of that may help in this research. Thanks Brad List
|
Books Containing Steve Wittman
Greetings group,
I am looking for any scholarly papers, books, or articles, containing information about Steve Wittman, and the Tailwind. I need this for a paper I am writing for Liberty School of Aeronautics, pertaining to "Eras in Aviation". I was amazed to see that there doesn't seem to be much out there on these subjects. Please drop me a message about anything you know of that may help in this research. Thanks Brad List
|
Did you ever tried lowering your tire pressure? Van recommends only 20 to 25lbs says it¡¯s the added drag that¡¯s needed, my RV6 never shimmy¡¯s in grass and only on hard surfaces if I¡¯m a little too fast. I also have the wood epoxied and fiberglass wrapped as dampers on the back side of the gear legs. Have to agree with Joe at 77 it¡¯s getting harder and harder to lift out of the RV. RV6 completed 2008 Buttercup in progress for my old age
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Apr 22, 2025, at 1:52?PM, Tailwind14855 via groups.io <Tailwind14855@...> wrote:
? RV shimmied once out of six flights. I had ongoing shimmy problems with my W10. Mostly went away after a tire change. Goodyear type II before and after. I have been running 50# tire pressure which seems to help.?
|
I just didn't expect the Hartzell to do that good with 160hp. I had one ride in the highly modified W8 that Dennis later owned, parallel valve 0 360 and Hartzell C/S. I wasn't that impressed with acceleration. Likewise the S1T. With a modified Sensenich fixed pitch on my relatively light S1S I could outrun the S1T in a drag race. I do agree that the S2S and S2B do very well with Hartzell prop.?
|
RV shimmied once out of six flights. I had ongoing shimmy problems with my W10. Mostly went away after a tire change. Goodyear type II before and after. I have been running 50# tire pressure which seems to help.?
|
Stanton, Did you have any shimmy issues, RV or TW?
|
Jim
It¡¯s the C/S prop. N316TW accelerates like a Pitts S2S. and would smoke an extra 300L. I never got tired of the T/O performance of my tailwind.
At the initial take of roll having a ?C/S is like having another 50% more (or more) power compared to FP - considering the FP low airspeed propeller efficiency
and low HP from low RPM
?
Jim R
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Tailwind14855 via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 10:08 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [TailwindForum] RV's
?
GPS cripple-no way. My first year with the W10? AZ to WI no nav equipment, chart and compass. last summer NY to AZ my GPS and IPAD were both inop most of the way.? I am still trying to understand why the RV accelerates so well with only
160 hp. I think it would be very close to the Pitts S1T with 200 hp and at least 200# less weight on takeoff. The climb would not be as good as the Pitts but still impressive.
|
GPS cripple-no way. My first year with the W10? AZ to WI no nav equipment, chart and compass. last summer NY to AZ my GPS and IPAD were both inop most of the way.? I am still trying to understand why the RV accelerates so well with only 160 hp. I think it would be very close to the Pitts S1T with 200 hp and at least 200# less weight on takeoff. The climb would not be as good as the Pitts but still impressive.
|
My one experience with right-seat in a RV-6 tri-gear was that getting in wasn't a big problem, gravity helps, but getting out was a task for a gymnast.? I couldn't stand up and I somehow had to get my feet on the seat first, in order to stand.? And I couldn't grab onto the windshield header for fear of distorting it.??
On Tue, Apr 22, 2025 at 10:56?AM Joe Norris via <joepilot13= [email protected]> wrote: I have a bunch of time in RV variants, and I can attest to the fact that they are fine airplanes.? BUT, i wouldn¡¯t swap my Tailwind for any of them.? One of the main reasons, which may surprise you, is ease of entry and exit. As we age, it becomes more and more difficult to climb out of a cockpit/canopy style airplane. Lifting one¡¯s self out of those bucket seats can be a chore, especially after a long flight.? With the Tailwind, you just step out. BOOM!? No hassle at all.
Another thing for me is the high-wing configuration of the Tailwind. I much prefer high wing over low wing, so that is another point in the Tailwind¡¯s favor in my book.
My particular Tailwind also appeals to me because it is powered by a Continental C-90.? My Super Cub is powered by a C-90 and my entire ¡°support system¡± is built around the C-90, so getting any airplane with a Lycoming engine would be like starting over from scratch for me.? I am gladly giving a some MPH in favor of fleet serviceability.
I find the general handling in the air to be quite similar between the RV and the Tailwind, and I prefer the manual flaps of the Tailwind over the RV¡¯s electric flaps, so yet another nod to the Tailwind.
Add to all this the history of the Tailwind, especially being based right here at Wittman Field, and the Tailwind is the sure winner for me.
Joe? Jim,
That is great.? ?Sounds like the builder did a really good job with baffling/cooling set up. Yes the RVs are nice airplanes and handle very nice.? I am always amazed had how slow they fly and also how fast they fly.? I wonder what his empty weight is???
?
My "Epic Adventure" friend flies his RV4 which is a very nice one BUT it seems that my Tailwind attracts way more ramp attention that his RV4 :)? ? In my book "any airplane is great".? ?
Keith
|
I have a bunch of time in RV variants, and I can attest to the fact that they are fine airplanes.? BUT, i wouldn¡¯t swap my Tailwind for any of them.? One of the main reasons, which may surprise you, is ease of entry and exit. As we age, it becomes more and more difficult to climb out of a cockpit/canopy style airplane. Lifting one¡¯s self out of those bucket seats can be a chore, especially after a long flight.? With the Tailwind, you just step out. BOOM!? No hassle at all.
Another thing for me is the high-wing configuration of the Tailwind. I much prefer high wing over low wing, so that is another point in the Tailwind¡¯s favor in my book.
My particular Tailwind also appeals to me because it is powered by a Continental C-90.? My Super Cub is powered by a C-90 and my entire ¡°support system¡± is built around the C-90, so getting any airplane with a Lycoming engine would be like starting over from scratch for me.? I am gladly giving a some MPH in favor of fleet serviceability.
I find the general handling in the air to be quite similar between the RV and the Tailwind, and I prefer the manual flaps of the Tailwind over the RV¡¯s electric flaps, so yet another nod to the Tailwind.
Add to all this the history of the Tailwind, especially being based right here at Wittman Field, and the Tailwind is the sure winner for me.
Joe?
Jim,
That is great.? ?Sounds like the builder did a really good job with baffling/cooling set up. Yes the RVs are nice airplanes and handle very nice.? I am always amazed had how slow they fly and also how fast they fly.? I wonder what his empty weight is???
?
My "Epic Adventure" friend flies his RV4 which is a very nice one BUT it seems that my Tailwind attracts way more ramp attention that his RV4 :)? ? In my book "any airplane is great".? ?
Keith
|
An RV is a spam can. A Tailwind is an aeroplane. Full stop.
And yes, I do have an RV-3 project.
Jim,
Just saw that plane on the Vans RV forum.? Nice looking and interesting engine air intake system.? ?It was great that you helped him do the first flight.
?
Keith
|
Jim,
Just saw that plane on the Vans RV forum.? Nice looking and interesting engine air intake system.? ?It was great that you helped him do the first flight.
?
Keith
|
Joe Norris
Ben Wilson
Dennis Flamini
Keith Klos