Teckair Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Tail wheelers superior to nose wheel aircraft in almost every way, stronger, faster, lighter and here is why they are not as popular as nose wheel aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 yes, they can do those things. Of course you can have similar things happen to a tricycle if you land too fast. Worth a look for sure. nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffreywh Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 What a bunch of wooden legged, lead footed amateurs!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxy Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 thats actually a really interesting video to watch from the prospective of a nosewheel flyer, wanting to get a TW endo.....was a little trepidatious about the landings in them....now im a lot!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocket1172 Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Thats what makes a tailwheel take-off and landing, that little more special and skillful. All good fun. How many times did you yell out "Go around dude!!", while watching that video? It's a balancing act between aileron, rudder and braking, especially when x-wind is present. Two things I was taught when doing my endorsement, act quickly and comfortably, and stick that tail on the ground. When I was getting ready to be signed off, he told me the only thing I have to demonstrate on landing, was pull the stick into your guts!! The thing about Ag work, is that you have plenty, and I mean plenty, of practice landing with different conditions. The most landings I had to do in one day was 70! All of them where wheeler landings, which when you have airstrip length and x-wind, is the only way to go. Anyone who may be put off with that video, don't be. 1 tailwheel landing is worth 4 tricycle landings to your ego. (biased maybe, but) Rod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spin Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Beware the three pointer - when flying a nosewheel equipped aircraft! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocket1172 Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Ouch! Bit fast? Had a couple of opportunties to bail out and try again. ""If in doubt.....bail out...!!"" Anyway, I doubt he/she will do it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Tail wheelers superior to nose wheel aircraft in almost every way, stronger, faster, lighter and here is why they are not as popular as nose wheel aircraft. Nice vid, I nearly spun a TW around before, wakes you up! Managed to keep it, but it certainly showed me how easy it was to do with a bit of x-wind and tar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teckair Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 Beware the three pointer - when flying a nosewheel equipped aircraft! Quite correct nose wheelers are forgiving if you land on the main wheels first. Never land nose wheel first, which is not hard you just have to get the nose up a bit before the wheels touch. Once that bouncing starts you must do something about it, either go around or add power and set up another flare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ozzie Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Some aircraft were designed to be ground looped if needed. The P47 Thunderbolt with it's wide stance gear was one example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgmwa Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Downwind landing Saw a good example of a Stearman getting into trouble at the local airfield last weekend. For some reason he decided to land with about a 10kt tailwind. All fine initially, rolling along nicely on two wheels down the bitumen, but then he slowed to a point where the rudder lost effectiveness due to the tailwind, but he was apparently still rolling too fast to brake effectively without tipping up. Not a good situation! The wind took over and the plane careered elegantly off the runway into the sandy scrub and looped around in a wide circle. Pretty mild ground loop fortunately, and no damage done due to the big wheels and massively strong undercarriage. The 20 or so pilots standing around watching found it very entertaining. If it had been a Cessna 180 or some other more lightly built aircraft, the outcome might have been different. Good lesson - check the windsock! rgmwa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Koreelah Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Damned tailwinds! I have had two ground loops, both when taxying in gusty conditions. Finally figured out why hard rudder input made it worse- the deflected rudder picked up heaps of tailwind and carried the beast around in a big loop. Solution: use opposite rudder when tailwind is faster than airspeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ozzie Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 same effect with the elevator. use neutral or opposite input in stongish TWinds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denmit Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 And that my friends is why I'm a member of this forum. An interesting and entertaining initial post followed by equally entertaining and informative responses. Thank you all. Mitch:clap2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Student Pilot Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Tailwheel is just different, it used to be called "Conventional". Any aircraft can bite if not handled correctly. The rubbish carried on by some about how you have to be a Special" pilot is just that, rubbish. It's just another thing to learn in a constant non stop learning curve. I mean how hard can it be, they let girls do it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teckair Posted March 25, 2011 Author Share Posted March 25, 2011 Tailwheel is just different, it used to be called "Conventional". Any aircraft can bite if not handled correctly. The rubbish carried on by some about how you have to be a Special" pilot is just that, rubbish. It's just another thing to learn in a constant non stop learning curve. I mean how hard can it be, they let girls do it? Any girls care to comment on that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farri Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I have a mate with about 300 C185 hours, he was asking another guy with thousands of TW hours when he should feel comfortable,relaxed when about to land, the older guy says "never , the day you do the bastard will bight you That`s about correct! The landing is not over until the AC comes to a full stop!!! Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I mean how hard can it be, they let girls do it? I'll bite even if I'm not a girl :star: What us guys can do... stops about there..... girls, well they just keep going! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I think SP's comment is sexist. Women over the years have acquitted themselves pretty well. Look up "night witches" (Russians,) and there were women in England ferrying ALL types of service aircraft in varying conditions of serviceability, without previously flying the type. ( They had a book of flying tips/advice/ performance figures to go on.) Hurricanes, wellingtons, mustangs Spitfires, Lancasters etc. I guess they must have been easy to fly , too. Nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teckair Posted March 25, 2011 Author Share Posted March 25, 2011 I think SP's comment is sexist. Women over the years have acquitted themselves pretty well. Look up "night witches" (Russians,) and there were women in England ferrying ALL types of service aircraft in varying conditions of serviceability, without previously flying the type. ( They had a book of flying tips/advice/ performance figures to go on.)Hurricanes, wellingtons, mustangs Spitfires, Lancasters etc. I guess they must have been easy to fly , too. Nev Yeah all those aircraft sound real easy. Jean Batten, Amelia Earhart, and a number of others were women with more ability than most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Just in passing I notice that whenever tailwheel A/C are mentioned as being something different, requiring a lifttle extra skill to operate. some seem to get their feathers ruffled a bit. Well let me assure you that they ARE different, (as the pictures show). However they are not COMPULSORY. But...When I AM da KING..... Hmmm. Nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza 38 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I enjoyed that especially the DC 3 landing at the 9.45 mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 There's times when I wonder why you would risk the possibility of making a fool of yourself with one when there is another option, but mostly I don't want any other. You just have to put in the extra effort. More versatile in all conditions especially extreme ones, and it's not hard to break a nosewheel off, if you have one, and then you ARE in strife. I don't recommend down wind landings though. I think everyone should take up the opportunity if it presents itself, but make sure the instructor is capable of saving the day IF you get it out of shape. They are definately harder to find now., around the traps.. Putting them on their nose, Can't remember it happening when I was young, but seems to happen a bit now. The Tiger didn't have any brakes and the Auster almost didn't.. Nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ozzie Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 After work on a Friday we used to go to the aeroclub at Bankstown for dinner and a beer. In summer we used to watch the entertainment of pilots getting their taildragger endorsments in C180/5 and the Rebel Air DC3. Every now and then there would be a collective OOOhh from the tables. I have done one takeoff in the DC3 but no landings. Line it up straight and make sure the tail wheel is properly locked then carefully bring the power up evenly and slowly and like any aircraft don't force it do what it don't want to do. Funny bit of advice he gave was, if it starts to swing and if you keep over correcting the Waltz will turn into a Rumba and you wont be the one leading. I can't remember the pilots name but he told me he learnt to fly on the 'King's Shilling". ozzie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Student Pilot Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 In case yoo people missed it there was a that was supposed to indicate that wasn't serious suggestion. Yes there were/are some very good wimmin pilots, they usually make very good pilots, willing to listen and most don't seem to have the bravado that some blokes have trouble with. My statement that tailwheels are just another Aircraft, something different to learn I stand by. You don't have to be an "ACE" to fly one, it's just training. I'm sure it makes you a better pilot because of it but so does doing a NFR (or whatever they call it these days), different weather conditions, different aircraft, different strips and all the other things. As I said it's a constant learning curve, if you think you know it all it's time to give it away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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