At the raffle, we won the tail-pull handle.
What are your opinions on using this on a C-172? Does is serve a purpose on a lightweight nosewheel plane? Or is primarily for a taildragger?
Looking at their website though... I really like the four point harnesses! I might have to buy one someday...
BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
Thu Jul 10, 2014 11:31 pm
Fri Jul 11, 2014 6:20 am
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
idair wrote:At the raffle, we won the tail-pull handle.
What are your opinions on using this on a C-172? Does is serve a purpose on a lightweight nosewheel plane? Or is primarily for a taildragger?
Looking at their website though... I really like the four point harnesses! I might have to buy one someday...
Buy TWO of their harnesses. They saved my life. I wouldn't see much value to the tail pull handles on a 172. But, maybe? Are they approved on the 172?
But, get the harnesses. It only takes one oops to make them priceless.
MTV
Fri Jul 11, 2014 7:15 am
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
I second MTV's comments. In my experience, Jim at BAS was very helpful when I had to return/ exchange a new, uninstalled product. Worth a call to see if he might trade the handles toward a set of harnesses.
-DP
-DP
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Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:53 am
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
Idair,
You may ask Jim if you could apply the tail pull towards BAS harnesses, but it was my understanding that it was for the tail pull only. It seems their margins are slim on the shoulder harnesses due to the costs of their supplier. I wish you the best and thanks for supporting the raffle.
MM
You may ask Jim if you could apply the tail pull towards BAS harnesses, but it was my understanding that it was for the tail pull only. It seems their margins are slim on the shoulder harnesses due to the costs of their supplier. I wish you the best and thanks for supporting the raffle.
MM
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Fri Jul 11, 2014 4:43 pm
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
mountainmatt wrote:Idair,
You may ask Jim if you could apply the tail pull towards BAS harnesses, but it was my understanding that it was for the tail pull only. It seems their margins are slim on the shoulder harnesses due to the costs of their supplier. I wish you the best and thanks for supporting the raffle.
MM
Good point to try and ask. I don't expect them to say yes though. It is after all for a tail pull handle and not a gift cert
. Fri Jul 11, 2014 4:44 pm
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
mtv wrote:idair wrote:At the raffle, we won the tail-pull handle.
What are your opinions on using this on a C-172? Does is serve a purpose on a lightweight nosewheel plane? Or is primarily for a taildragger?
Looking at their website though... I really like the four point harnesses! I might have to buy one someday...
Buy TWO of their harnesses. They saved my life. I wouldn't see much value to the tail pull handles on a 172. But, maybe? Are they approved on the 172?
But, get the harnesses. It only takes one oops to make them priceless.
MTV
The STC does cover 172s.
Fri Jul 11, 2014 5:19 pm
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
Idair:
Sent you a PM.
Flynengr
Sent you a PM.
Flynengr
Fri Jul 11, 2014 5:35 pm
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
I dunno, have you ever tried to ground wrangle a Cessna trike in a tight spot? I've never felt good about pushing down on the horz stabilizer to unweight the nosewheel. In fact, I heard from a 170 owner once who reskinned their horz that the spars inside were tweaked pretty bad, possible from years of wrangling the stab.
I can't recall off the top of my head how far back on the tail the BAS handle is installed, but it might make that nose-unweighting maneuver a little safer on the airframe. Maybe?
I can't recall off the top of my head how far back on the tail the BAS handle is installed, but it might make that nose-unweighting maneuver a little safer on the airframe. Maybe?
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Sat Jul 12, 2014 6:19 am
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
Bas shoulder harnesses are the way to go. I've put a bunch in, they are easy install. I put them In my dad's 172. He absolutely loves them. He was taking his stock shoulder harness off to take pics(he does aerial photos for a living) now he says they are so great he can move all around and not have to mess with them. I personally like the harnesses that are separate from the lap belts.
Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:20 am
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
I will have to agree with Zane on this. I have had my 172 for many years and there are many times I wish I had some type of handle to move it around. The mention of tweaked horizontal is a valid point.
Just think of it this way, you have the handle, heck, you may as well convert your plane to a TW. Just contact EZ!!!
Just think of it this way, you have the handle, heck, you may as well convert your plane to a TW. Just contact EZ!!!
Sun Jul 13, 2014 1:24 pm
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
WWhunter wrote:I will have to agree with Zane on this. I have had my 172 for many years and there are many times I wish I had some type of handle to move it around. The mention of tweaked horizontal is a valid point.
Just think of it this way, you have the handle, heck, you may as well convert your plane to a TW. Just contact EZ!!!
And probably watch the $600/yr insurance go out the window
Sun Jul 13, 2014 1:34 pm
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
idair wrote:WWhunter wrote:I will have to agree with Zane on this. I have had my 172 for many years and there are many times I wish I had some type of handle to move it around. The mention of tweaked horizontal is a valid point.
Just think of it this way, you have the handle, heck, you may as well convert your plane to a TW. Just contact EZ!!!
I love the idea... but I'd probably watch the $6xx/yr insurance go out the window
Sun Jul 13, 2014 8:56 pm
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
I love the idea... but I'd probably watch the $6xx/yr insurance go out the window
I have a converted 172K. I can't get a better quote than $1300 ($45K value) and I've got loads of time in type with Instrument rating, multiengine, commercial. I hate insurance.
My plane has BAS pulls installed. These would benefit anyone who has to move a plane. As Zzzz pointed you, you can use it to push down the tail.
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Sun Jul 13, 2014 9:54 pm
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
IDAIR
I find I push the tail down and swing the plane around a lot on my 172. I push down on the vertical ridge down the back bone of the plane and it works good. I think the BAS handles would work even better for that. Just don't tell the tail dragger guys your doing it, they might get slightly nervous of your intentions.(hehe)
KenW
I find I push the tail down and swing the plane around a lot on my 172. I push down on the vertical ridge down the back bone of the plane and it works good. I think the BAS handles would work even better for that. Just don't tell the tail dragger guys your doing it, they might get slightly nervous of your intentions.(hehe)
KenW
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Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:12 pm
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
My guess is that the tail pull handle is a really good thing, whether trike or tailwheel. That "travel" sized lightweight aluminum nose towbar is a huge pain in the ass at all times. It would definitely be even worse trying to maneuver a 172 on rocky or sandy soil.
I've seen people sitting on the stabilizer of 172's, pushing down so hard they're creasing the leading edge, etc. Just horrible. The degreed engineers here can correct me as appropriate, but I'm pretty sure the tail of a 172 can hold the weight of at least two or three people structurally. But this is based on air loads spread out over the whole tail, not one 250 pound chimpanzee pushing down on one small spot.
I believe it is safe to say that Cessna did NOT design that tail with enough nose ribs to permit moving the airplane around by pushing down on the stabilizer leading edge.
As long as the tail pull handles are light weight enough, makes perfect sense to me to use them. It's probably good for another emergency tiedown too. If you are by yourself, it might be possible to hang your baggage or other heavy items from that tail pull, take half of the weight off the nosegear, then have a much easier time moving the airplane around?
That eye bolt under the fuselage at the very rear can rust through, break off, or (worst of all) crack that tail casting. If you crack that 60 year old aluminum tail casting, you've got a very big repair/replace job ahead of you. And if it is cracked significantly, your airplane is not airworthy from an FAR and insurance point of view. That's primary structure on which the fin and stabilizer are mounted.
I've seen people sitting on the stabilizer of 172's, pushing down so hard they're creasing the leading edge, etc. Just horrible. The degreed engineers here can correct me as appropriate, but I'm pretty sure the tail of a 172 can hold the weight of at least two or three people structurally. But this is based on air loads spread out over the whole tail, not one 250 pound chimpanzee pushing down on one small spot.
I believe it is safe to say that Cessna did NOT design that tail with enough nose ribs to permit moving the airplane around by pushing down on the stabilizer leading edge.
As long as the tail pull handles are light weight enough, makes perfect sense to me to use them. It's probably good for another emergency tiedown too. If you are by yourself, it might be possible to hang your baggage or other heavy items from that tail pull, take half of the weight off the nosegear, then have a much easier time moving the airplane around?
That eye bolt under the fuselage at the very rear can rust through, break off, or (worst of all) crack that tail casting. If you crack that 60 year old aluminum tail casting, you've got a very big repair/replace job ahead of you. And if it is cracked significantly, your airplane is not airworthy from an FAR and insurance point of view. That's primary structure on which the fin and stabilizer are mounted.
.
Sun Jul 20, 2014 3:31 pm
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
If you don't already have shoulder harnesses, the BAS for both front seats is the way to go--if you value your teeth, nose, forehead, etc., and those of your passenger. The tail pull is a good idea, but the shoulder harnesses are essential. Period.
Cary
Cary
"I have slipped the surly bonds of earth..., put out my hand and touched the face of God." J.G. Magee
Sun Jul 20, 2014 7:03 pm
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
Look, folks, you can push a 172 around a lot without damage to the horizontal stabilizer IF you just pay attention to where you put your hands, and apply reasonable forces.
The stab gets bent because people push without regard to structure
Tail pull handles on a 172 aren't a bad idea, but they'd be way down on my list of priorities.
MTV
The stab gets bent because people push without regard to structure
Tail pull handles on a 172 aren't a bad idea, but they'd be way down on my list of priorities.
MTV
Sun Jul 20, 2014 7:48 pm
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
When I got my shoulder harnesses for my 180 there were 2 different styles. Which I wasn't aware of at the time, or the advantages/disadvantages.
One style the shoulder strap is permanently attached to the lap belt. The other style the shoulder harness goes into the buckle and releases when you release the buckle. I had the style that was permanently attached to the lap belt. After I flipped, I released the buckle, I was still caught in there hangin upside down like a fish on a hook. It took some time and what seemed like a lot of wiglin to get out of the shoulder harness. Had there been a fire, it could have really been bad.
Won't make that mistake again. Get the style where the shoulder straps release, or have a sharp knife really handy(and everything is in a different place when you are suddenly upside down). And if ya wear a ball cap, take the button off the top of it, if it has one.
Gary
One style the shoulder strap is permanently attached to the lap belt. The other style the shoulder harness goes into the buckle and releases when you release the buckle. I had the style that was permanently attached to the lap belt. After I flipped, I released the buckle, I was still caught in there hangin upside down like a fish on a hook. It took some time and what seemed like a lot of wiglin to get out of the shoulder harness. Had there been a fire, it could have really been bad.
Won't make that mistake again. Get the style where the shoulder straps release, or have a sharp knife really handy(and everything is in a different place when you are suddenly upside down). And if ya wear a ball cap, take the button off the top of it, if it has one.
Gary
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Tue Jul 22, 2014 10:45 am
Re: BAS tail pull handle on a 172?
When I bought my BAS harnesses, I specifically ordered the ones in which the shoulder straps stay hooked to the buckles, which BAS calls "standard buckles". I felt that they would be more convenient than the ones which are separate, which BAS calls "utility buckles".
But in my recent SES experience, the airplane was equipped with the "utility buckles", and although they are a little inconvenient to buckle, they are much easier for "untethering", which is necessary in a float plane for docking and beaching. It only took me a few times to get pretty quick at buckling them. If I had to do it over again, I might very well opt for the "utility buckle" versions, considering Gary's comments. On the other hand, most of us prefer to land upright!
BAS also offers a "rotary buckle", which looks to be more convenient to put on than the "utility buckle", but at a $445 price increase--pretty hard to justify, in my book.
But whether you go for the "standard buckle" or the "utility buckle", shoulder harnesses beat plain lap belts by such a margin that there should be no discussion. They absolutely should be the first mod to a newly purchased older airplane.
Cary
But in my recent SES experience, the airplane was equipped with the "utility buckles", and although they are a little inconvenient to buckle, they are much easier for "untethering", which is necessary in a float plane for docking and beaching. It only took me a few times to get pretty quick at buckling them. If I had to do it over again, I might very well opt for the "utility buckle" versions, considering Gary's comments. On the other hand, most of us prefer to land upright!
BAS also offers a "rotary buckle", which looks to be more convenient to put on than the "utility buckle", but at a $445 price increase--pretty hard to justify, in my book.
But whether you go for the "standard buckle" or the "utility buckle", shoulder harnesses beat plain lap belts by such a margin that there should be no discussion. They absolutely should be the first mod to a newly purchased older airplane.
Cary
"I have slipped the surly bonds of earth..., put out my hand and touched the face of God." J.G. Magee
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