"Anti-Ground Loop" Axles

Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:11 pm

I was reading the last issue of Warbird Digest in school today andy was looking through the "It's A Different Birddog" article. It says the group this plane was in had incorporated "anti-ground loop" axles, could anybody explain how exactly those work? I know about tail-draggers and how prone they are to ground loops but I've never heard of such a thing.

Thanks,

tc

Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:22 pm

Probably has Goodyear x-wind gear on it. Basically the axles caster and allow the plane to touch down in a crab. It looks pretty strange if you see one taxiing at a wierd angle. They were used on the Cessna 195 to try and compete with the Bonnanza and it's tricycle gear. Most have been converted to straight axles and cleveland brakes (parts are hard to find and getting expensive) but some swear by it.

Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:28 pm

My 170 (like some Bird Dogs) had the Goodyear crosswind gear on it from the factory until I took them off a couple years ago. I'll post the drawing from my parts manual later tonight. Amazing all the parts that are in there to make the wheels "break over" when a side load was put on them! Made for some interesting long taxi patterns when trying to get to the end of the runway in a stong wind. Also on one of my trips a lineboy about came unglued when he saw one of my wheels "break" when I stood on one of the brakes! I got out and acted like IT WAS broken!

Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:08 am

I didn't realise they put 'em on 170's too. Seem like a bit of overkill, but hey. It seemd that the gear was as much a marketing ploy as anything to compete with the ease of flying the new tricycle gear planes coming out. One of the 195 'experts' claims that the only 195s extant that haven't been ground-looped are equiped with them.

Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:20 pm

Back when I was growing up. I rode with a friend of ours in his 195. He had the X-wing gear. pretty awkward taxing sideways I thought.

Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:43 pm

When I announced I was buying one, my mechanic said "if it has x-wind gear, don't bring it here." He recounted frustrating stories of trying to jockey one around the hangar by himself with the gear going all caddy-whumpus on him.

I don't like it personally - just ain't right.

Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:12 pm

If I could have found a better price on the brake parts for my crosswind gear I would have kept them. Also... if the brakes were alittle stronger too... My mechanic thought it was pretty cool as did I. There were a few times when they did their job and I think they kept me on the runway. All a matter of opinion.