Taildraggers

[dave_091]

Hi guys,

I have a grand total of..... 1 hour flying taildraggers. I went up in a super decathlon for an intro aerobatics flight at YRO not too long ago and I really enjoyed the taildragger & aerobatics. I would like to further pursue both skills.

I have enough books on aerobatics to keep me busy for a while. So far my favorite aerobatics book is Fly for Fun by Bill Thomas.

So this leads me into my question. What book(s) would be recommended when learning to fly taildragger aircraft?

[frozen solid]

I recommend the aircraft logbook. As in filling it out when you're done practicing. You don't need no stinkin' "how-to" book. Get in and drive.

[timel]

I recommend the aircraft logbook. As in filling it out when you're done practicing. You don't need no stinkin' "how-to" book. Get in and drive.

+1. Flew 6 diff models and they all act different. Taildragger is what I like to fly.

[tractor driver]

I think you guys have a very valid point here. The majority of our fleet are tail draggers, C-185, DHC-2, DHC-3T, and AT802. All are quite different in response to input and technique. A blanket "standard" for flying them doesn't apply very well. Getting an Air Tractor to "speak" DeHavilland doesn't work. While fun reads, and driving the never ending debate of wheeling them on verses 3 point, the books will only give you a general idea. The best is to find an experienced pilot with his / her own internal library.
Hope you have some great experiences!


Cheers!

g

[iflyforpie]

You need a half hour's worth of ground instruction to go over the basics.... and a few hours of someone riding in the back to ensure you your aircraft doesn't depart the runway or bite its tail while you work on transferring that half hour of ground instruction to your hands and feet....

After that it is hours and hours of solo practice.... hopefully with as many landings and takeoffs in as little time as possible--both flight time and calendar time.

[Colonel Sanders]

It's possible to come to grief during a taildragger
takeoff, but you really have to work at it. With
the slipstream from the prop at full power, the
elevator and rudder are effective.

In the air, a taildragger flies no differently from
a nosedragger.

During landing is where sh1t goes south. Free
advice:

- if you don't like an approach, flare, landing or
rollout, FULL POWER and get out of there. Be
very picky about your approaches, even if you
are not so picky about your women. I know a
guy, he would do ten approaches in his S-1S
for every landing, until he got it "just right". As
you get more experience, you don't need to do
that any more.

- only touch down when the aircraft is aligned
with the direction of travel

- greaser landing is bullsh1t nonsense

- the quality of a tailwheel landing can be
objectively measured by the degrees of
yaw variation during the rollout. All else
is nonsense.

- don't buy into 3-pt vs wheel landing
religion bullsh1t. Do what works for you.
I will warn you that if your tailwheel is a
POS and shimmies, learn to do a wheel
landing, full forward stick on the rollout
and let the tailwheel down at taxi speed

- if you have a metal prop, you must be
cognizant of the gyroscopic precession
when you raise and lower the tail. Pitch
change slowly. When you raise the tail
on takeoff, it will want to go in the left
ditch so right rudder or differential power.
When you lower the tail on landing, it will
want to go into the right ditch - you need
a good left brake and maybe even a burst
of power if you brutally drop the tail

- most of the people that fly tailwheel well
are not really aware of the above - they
just do it without thinking about it, and will
think you are dense if you are unaware of
them.

Here is a master at work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnnubM47th4


How many degrees of yaw variation did you
observe during Skip's landing?

[timel]

Flew a citabria, champion... Recommand those when you start, easy and fun, super decat should be good too. Piper cub is more tricky, fly it from the back annoying at taxi.

Had the chance to fly Pa-25 and c-188, awsome stuff, hard gear, powerfull engine, low wings a bit different to use due to power, nose pitch on t-o, low wing effects, for crop dusting.

Flew 150 hrs of SM1019 for aerial survey, 337 hp turbine, soft gear, shitty tailwheel, no flow on the rudder while landing and going in BETA mod. Was pretty hectic. "Never use the reverse ever again experience". Never flying that thing ever again.


http://youtu.be/kxz254qvmK8




Missing it all now, guess when I will get old and rich I will buy one and fool around with it.
Flying tailwheel, definitly a great idea and good for handling.

[PilotDAR]

The "book" for flying taildragger will tell you (in addition to CS' wise advice) to keep it straight no matter what, and learn to listen to what the plane is telling you at every moment. Yes, different taildraggers are best flown different ways, and advice from knowledgeable on type is your best help to get it right.

Reading is nice, but it won't help you practice to keep your feet alive, and the ball in the middle, flying will.....

[cgzro]

one way to start learning to land a tail dragger while landing a nose dragger is to learn to set it down on the mains with the nose off the ground as long as possible and with perfect alignment at touch dow.
Always correct for the slightest crosswind with aileron into it and opposite rudder to stay straight.
Never accept anything except a perfectly straight touchdown with
no drift ( go around if its not) and you are on your way.

[Choppermech1986]

Fly it like a tricycle undercarriage aircraft and most importantly-

Make sure your seat pins are engaged before takeoff.
Make sure you keep the aircraft pointing straight down the runway.

The rest will come. Have fun with it!

[lownslow]

I read the relevant-looking chapters of a borrowed copy of this before I started my tailwheel training:
http://www.sportys.com/PilotShop/product/12142

My instructor was what you might call old school. He didn't give me any freebies and if I didn't come prepared and read up before a lesson he was more than happy to let me waste both our time. I learned more things in less time with that guy than I ever have or probably ever will with anyone else.

Anyways, point is the book gave me a good knowledge base to build on.

LnS.

[1000 HP]

My first airplane was a 7EC Champion with a 90HP Engine. I bought it and showed up for my check-ride but the guy was drunk. So we went for a ride. He mumbled something from the back, so I let him off before he threw up. I didn't crash so I guess it was a good check-out

[timel]

Champ Fkbe on skis too, loved it.

[trampbike]

I miss it too...

[Lotro]

FWIW I believe the de facto book on taildragger flying is "The Compleat Taildragger" - that spelling is correct.

As others have said, it doesn't beat lots and lots of practice. Make sure you split your wheel vs. three-point landings 50:50.

Have fun!

[PilotDAR]

Make sure you split your wheel vs. three-point landings 50:50.

Yes, this is second only to keeping it straight. For some taildragger types, either technique is fine, other types do have a preference. Once this is understood for the type, make sure you're doing one or the other, waffling in between will get you in trouble.

[Colonel Sanders]

Following is worth what you paid me for it:

www.pittspecials.com/articles/Tailwheel.htm
www.pittspecials.com/articles/Wheel_landings.htm
www.pittspecials.com/articles/AdverseYaw.htm
www.pittspecials.com/articles/Type.htm
www.pittspecials.com/articles/DifferentAircraft.htm
www.pittspecials.com/articles/Beech18.htm

I recently checked myself out in the DR-109 which
does an "interesting" landing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihn_DR-109

[dave_091]

Tons of great info! Thanks everyone.

[Tom H]

From a recreational flyers point of view

Since 1992 I have flown light aircraft (Cessna 120 and similar) and a light biplane when I can (5-20hrs per year), prior to that I was far more active and flew far more performance oriented stuff that was all tricycle.

When I went on to tail draggers back in 1992 I got about 2hrs of taildragger training from an exceptional instructor and he signed me off and cut me loose on the world.

I rarely have had a problem and when I have it has been due to exceptional winds (never ground looped or damaged an airplane but have gotten my pulse waaaaay up there a couple, three times.)

Rookie advise to a rookie
1) When the conditions are near ideal practice, practice, practice. I prefer 3 point for a bunch of reasons but also spend time practicing wheel landings.

2) I never ever try and salvage an approach, it's ether right or a go around.

3) As someone that doesn't fly as much as I would like I never knowingly put myself in adverse conditions or winds..l.but I practice for when I might have to deal with them.

4) Listen to those that have high time and demonstrated skills....you might not use all of it but they got those hours on taildragger by flying so they have experience to share.

BTW
I now have about 200hrs on light taildraggers and following the above has kept me outta trouble

My thoughts anyway

In my highly biased personal opinion

[Moose47]

G'day

Watch the quick video to see how its done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psP5G7aodj8

Cheers...Chris