How long does your airplane need to clear the trees? Stinson STOL

Well, last time we went over how to take off short. Once you set up your plane and practice how much runway will you need? This is how the bush pilots I know figure out where they can land. STOL flying is really limited by takeoff distance, you can always land shorter than you can takeoff. In this video I go over what I do to keep current and figure out how short of a runway I'm willing to use. This is set up taking off over trees since that is what we do in the mid-west, out west, and so many other places we fly. I use the Stinson 108 and find out my distance.
00:00 Introduction
00:32 The story why
01:38 The questions asked
04:01 Normal short field
04:38 Tail High
05:25 Tail high extend the flaps
06:15 Tail low
07:49 The results
09:21 Comments on each style
11:01 The real answer to how much runway
12:07 The end

[@caseyhutson5392]

Great contribution to the Stinson community. It's good for newcomers to see solid info like this. Nice work!

[@GreatMichiganBushCo]

Thanks for the compliment! If new I'd take those distances as a best case situation. There was some wind helping and I've been working on techniques to make those distances for years. The video was mainly on how to figure out your own distances. The 800' to 75' is definitely a "best case" scenario.

[@factbaba9593]

I'm also very passionate about planes 😀

[@GreatMichiganBushCo]

you can reach me at [e-mail]

[@bradsexcalibur2639]

Thanks! Extremely well done and great information!

[@GreatMichiganBushCo]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was really fun to make in the end it took a lot of time on the pattern and that was a hoot, not to mention I learned something.

[@Bearhawk_Life]

Great Video

[@GreatMichiganBushCo]

Thanks!

[@flyingeden]

The Stinson and Franklin never disappoint 🫶

[@GreatMichiganBushCo]

Ha! Watch the engine out video, she's disappointed me in the past. Nothing quite like the sound though.

[@coppi60]

Nice video!!! Please consider more of these:) I hope you are enjoying being back in the air.

[@GreatMichiganBushCo]

It's awesome to be back in air! The next one will be on how to land short properly. Thanks for watching the videos

[@ClearedAsFiled]

Scooter, I have been watching all your videos and travels and I think you are a great (stick) tail wheel pilot....perhaps in a future video, you could share your experience getting a tail wheel endorsement and some of the practical lessons you have learned over time. Using a sight picture versus relying on instruments. ...2 wheel vs 3 wheel landings....refining stick and rudder skills doing dutch rolls....dealing with yaw...etc. Thanks again for all the great videos.

[@GreatMichiganBushCo]

Thanks for watching and great ideas! Dutch rolls 🤢🤮 I still get sick when teaching those things, no one is coordinated

[@brianmoffet]

By the book includes how they measured the takeoff distance (reading from the Operating Manual):
The quickest take-off is obtained when the flap control is place in the first notch. (item 36 page 26)
But, Item 37 says: take off distances were conducted under the following conditions: Wing Flaps Up
So, the operating manual leaves a hole about distances. I know I can take off in about 700 feet without trying when I use the take-off flaps setting. I fly a partially metalized 108-1 with a Franklin 165. It's a bit heavy.
Other than that, given the lack of information in the manual, learning about the airplane you fly by experimentation is the best bet. Especially since these planes are very old and have had changes in rigging etc.

[@GreatMichiganBushCo]

Off the ground is quickest with the flaps, but the additional drag really causes loss in rate of climb making a no flap takeoff shorter to the 50'.

[@brianmoffet]

For those paying attention, I run a 7654 prop, which is a cruise prop. 7652 is a climb prop for this aircraft/engine combo and would get a better climb.

[@scottlittfin5832]

This Stinson has vortex generators, so it may perform better than a stock Stinson?

[@GreatMichiganBushCo]

It performs noticeably better than it did before input the VG's on. Check out the video. I did performance checks before and after.

[@thomasm8699]

Nice job. Nice man.

[@GreatMichiganBushCo]

Thanks for watching the video and the compliment. This video was a lot of fun to make. 11 takeoffs and landings.

[@blainemacdonald6929]

I like long runways! But don't use much of them with my 230hp stinson but I'd rather have too much than not enough

[@GreatMichiganBushCo]

As you can see I use 250 ft with my Frankie 165 engine!

[@ionhunter]

A VERY empty B-17 once took off from Dalton Airport (3DA)

[@GreatMichiganBushCo]

That would have been a site to behold. I bet the tree is off the end. Were a little shorter back then

[@Nwwind22]

Going to try it in the mooney :0

[@GreatMichiganBushCo]

It would be good to know if you're flying in the hills at night.

[@michaeltrboyevich7854]

One question my friend . .....Do you always " zero " your trim tabs for a launch ?????

[@michaeltrboyevich7854]

Especially with any 6 cylinder engine over 200 horsepower ...
I myself , being instructed by my father , a WW2 Army Corps Flight Instructor , and like old Bob Hoover .. never used trim tabs .......Spoiled fellow pilots .....

[@GreatMichiganBushCo]

Absolutely. I set the trim for takeoff. An out of trim plane can be a handful and has killed many pilots.

[@danielandvictoriasmith936]

I am building a 425hp experimental that will be a 4 door 6-seat 108 with wings lengthened 2 ribs in the slot area for approximately 41 foot wingspan, slots extended 2 ribs towards the fuselage, wider aileron’s to match, bigger rudder, micro vortex generators and extended flap hinges with custom pockets where the flaps go up.

[@GreatMichiganBushCo]

That sounds like a beast. I with this plane had more flaps.