Is landing gear necessary?

[abrown]

I've been flying mini's for a while and using the fairly indestructible 3 blade drone props, so belly landing in moderate grass is convenient. I'm stepping up to a standard size Simple Scout and wondering if I can continue belly landing, or will I be breaking props? The landing gear on moderate grass probably won't do much other than provide a protection from prop strikes.

 

[Whit Armstrong]

I've been flying mini's for a while and using the fairly indestructible 3 blade drone props, so belly landing in moderate grass is convenient. I'm stepping up to a standard size Simple Scout and wondering if I can continue belly landing, or will I be breaking props? The landing gear on moderate grass probably won't do much other than provide a protection from prop strikes.

I wouldn't recommend belly landing with the scout, because it has low prop clearance. A plane like the simple cub, has less chance of breaking a prop. A good alternative would be the scout on floats, as you don't need wheels, but it may not be what you're looking for.

 

[abrown]

Whit, Thanks for the quick response. Glad I asked before breaking a few props. I guess what I really need are "skids." Maybe I'll strip down the floats as I don't need them to be functional floats.

 

[Whit Armstrong]

Whit, Thanks for the quick response. Glad I asked before breaking a few props. I guess what I really need are "skids." Maybe I'll strip down the floats as I don't need them to be functional floats.

Nah, leave them full. Floats make a plane look way better. Besides, full floats are stronger than skids.

 

[Merv]

I've had good luck with belly landing the standard size FT planes. I turn the ESC break off and let the prop free wheal. I tend to use the 2 blade APC style props. I expect tp break a prop occasionally.

 

[sprzout]

I've had good luck with belly landing the standard size FT planes. I turn the ESC break off and let the prop free wheal. I tend to use the 2 blade APC style props. I expect tp break a prop occasionally.

Many of the bigger planes can be belly landed. I've been belly landing the P-38 and P-51 Master series at our field, albeit in the grass/weeds as opposed to the runway itself, but I've also been landing Versa Wings in pusher configuration on our runway with no real issues; most of the time the prop "pops" up out of the way.

Using good props will help save you from broken props as well; the HQProps that come with most of the FT power packs are cheap and will break easily, but stepping up to an APC or Master Airscrew, they tend to last a little longer (unless you come barreling in and clip the prop hard on the ground).

 

[Corsair714]

There's no reason to put landing gear on the scout. I've put a ton of flights through mine and only broke one prop because I completely nose dived it into the ground. You'll be fine without landing gear. Plus it flies better without the gear. Just get a good prop and you'll be good to go.

 

[abrown]

Thanks for all the advice! I have a couple of props. I'll give it a try without and see how it goes.

 

[Corsair714]

Thanks for all the advice! I have a couple of props. I'll give it a try without and see how it goes.

Good luck. Hope it goes well for you!

 

[The Hangar]

I've been flying mini's for a while and using the fairly indestructible 3 blade drone props, so belly landing in moderate grass is convenient. I'm stepping up to a standard size Simple Scout and wondering if I can continue belly landing, or will I be breaking props? The landing gear on moderate grass probably won't do much other than provide a protection from prop strikes.

I personally haven't had very good luck with belly landing lately. Some planes (like the p-38) haven't given me any issues, but others (like the spitfire) seem to either break the prop, firewall, or power pod with EVERY landing. It gets irritating! My guess is for the scout you'll be fine though.

 

[danskis]

If you can land in the tall grass go without a prop. Not using landing gear will teach when you need to flare the landing - otherwise you will break props. If opt to go without LG then take a few props with you to the field the first couple of times. OR make the LG removable.

 

[Hondo76251]

I prefer belly landing. I usually go for grass with planes that have low slung nacelles or power pods. Planes like the sea duck or guinea are usually fine anywhere.

 

[Hoomi]

I like landing gear, but a good part of that is that we have a dirt runway, and no grass anywhere around the flying field. Belly landings scrape up the underside of the plane, and it's not uncommon for me to end up with grit in the motors of the few belly-landers that I have. The Cobble is nice in that regard, as I have the motor inside the power pod, so it's not exposed to the dirt kicked up when the plane touches down.

 

[quorneng]

If you know you are going to belly land then practise and do a 'dead stick' carefully making use of the flare in the ground effect. Unless you are flying a 'brick' the prop (2 blade) is most likely to survive. If the plane flies slow enough for the prop not to rotate with the ESC brake on you can amuse yourself and just blip the throttle several times during the glide approach until you end up with the prop stopped horizontal.
Of course with an appropriate plane configuration and it has sufficient power you can belly land and belly take off as well.

 

[Piotrsko]

Snarky reply: if you catch it, you don't need gear.

 

[Merv]

Snarky reply: if you catch it, you don't need gear.

If your planning to catch it, it's best to use your hand, not your teeth.

 

[Piotrsko]

Oooohhh, never thought about catching it with my teeth. Hmmmmm

 

[sprzout]

Snarky reply: if you catch it, you don't need gear.

I'm leery AF at catching anything with a prop. I've already seen my share of prop strike related accidents, one of which nearly lost a hand due to severed tendons.

 

[MrJoshua1313]

I personally haven't had very good luck with belly landing lately. Some planes (like the p-38) haven't given me any issues, but others (like the spitfire) seem to either break the prop, firewall, or power pod with EVERY landing. It gets irritating! My guess is for the scout you'll be fine though.

 

[MrJoshua1313]

That is very interesting. I have flown and belly landed my ft spitfire at least 50-60 flights and have yet to break a prop. Although I also built a BF109 on the same plan and break props on it near constantly. Not sure why some do and some don't. Thinker........