Tricycle gear conversion Q?

[jf ryan]

Can anyone offer any tips on weight distribution for the mains
and nose wheel when converting from conventional gear?

About all I know is the mains must be behind the CG, but how
far? Not enough and you'll have poor handling and too far will
place too much load on the nose.

Thanks in advance.

jr

[Bill Glover]

A normal rule of thumb is for the plane to just right itself if you push the tail down onto the ground and let go - the wheels only need to be slightly behind the CG. The problem with having them too far back is that the elevator doesn't have enough authority to 'rotate' the plane nose-up (for liftoff) until the speed is excessive ... causing the plane to leap into the air. Or in extreme cases it won't lift off at all!