Baby Great Lakes
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Advice
BUILD IT ACCORDING TO THE PLANS
If you are building a Baby Lakes build it according to the plans. Don't make it an IFR airplane. It is not meant to be that. Build it light! That is the secret of a nice fun flying airplane. The original weighted 485 lbs empty.
GET CHECKED OUT PROPERLY BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO FLY YOUR BABY LAKES
To fly a Baby Great lakes remember to get checked out first in a taildragger, like a Luscumbe or Citabria. The Baby Lakes is quick and sinks pretty good with power off. The plane wants to fly on take off before it is ready because the wings are close to the ground. So you need to take this into account when flying it.
PROPER LANDING GEAR
Because the Baby Lakes is short coupled it is quick. So you may want to build it with a locked tailwheel (click to see picture). Also check the landing gear to make sure that they are set with a little toe out (2 degrees is nice), NOT toe in (like some cars are). Some planes get a reputation for being hard to land and take off, all because the landing gear alignment is not set correctly.
CHECK THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE
Your Baby Lakes should have proper weight and balance to fly correctly and safely. Click here to see a file and print out about it. If you are buying a Baby Lakes someone else built, DO NOT ASSUME that the weight and balance is correct with you in it. Calculate a weight and balance with you in it before you fly it and make sure it is correct.
Click here for Harvey Swack's Column Dec 2006
If you are building a Baby Lakes build it according to the plans. Don't make it an IFR airplane. It is not meant to be that. Build it light! That is the secret of a nice fun flying airplane. The original weighted 485 lbs empty.
GET CHECKED OUT PROPERLY BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO FLY YOUR BABY LAKES
To fly a Baby Great lakes remember to get checked out first in a taildragger, like a Luscumbe or Citabria. The Baby Lakes is quick and sinks pretty good with power off. The plane wants to fly on take off before it is ready because the wings are close to the ground. So you need to take this into account when flying it.
PROPER LANDING GEAR
Because the Baby Lakes is short coupled it is quick. So you may want to build it with a locked tailwheel (click to see picture). Also check the landing gear to make sure that they are set with a little toe out (2 degrees is nice), NOT toe in (like some cars are). Some planes get a reputation for being hard to land and take off, all because the landing gear alignment is not set correctly.
CHECK THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE
Your Baby Lakes should have proper weight and balance to fly correctly and safely. Click here to see a file and print out about it. If you are buying a Baby Lakes someone else built, DO NOT ASSUME that the weight and balance is correct with you in it. Calculate a weight and balance with you in it before you fly it and make sure it is correct.
Click here for Harvey Swack's Column Dec 2006