Sender: "Marvin Kaye" <marv@lancaironline.net>
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2004 20:55:46 -0500
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From: Don Barnes <don@cellarideas.com>
Subject: Legacy on grass

Jim,

I have a lot of tailwheel experience and with landing on grass, dirt 
and unimproved fields. For me, I can't see taking my Legacy onto one. 
There just isn't a whole lot of clearance from the prop to the ground 
and even when I hold it off as long as I can in the flare (and lately I 
have been watching this) so I'm touching down at around 68 KIAS, that 
nose wheel can't be "flown down". It always slams down.

I'm probably the biggest Legacy nut out there and absolutely love my 
plane. Wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING, but it has its limitations. If 
there was one little rut or hole that I'd hit, I'm convinced the prop 
would hit the ground. The other thing to deal with is the braking. If 
left on its own it will roll on and on and on. I think with those 
little wheels, they could lock up and slide to easy if the grass was 
even moist from dew. 2000 lbs and 75 mph is a lot of inertia. I'm not 
saying it can't be done, just I don't see myself taking the risk to 
hurt my little toy. I've given up some usefulness for speed.

So, just one opinion,
Don