Tail Dragging

gtpilot · June 18th, 2005, 12:24

Got my tailwheel endorsement today and here's what I learned. I don't have any business flying bymyself or teaching others in a tailwheel unless I do so daily.

Lots of fun though! Very humbling when you're trying wheel landings in a x-wind.

Grabo172 · June 18th, 2005, 13:22

[ QUOTE ]
Got my tailwheel endorsement today and here's what I learned. I don't have any business flying bymyself or teaching others in a tailwheel unless I do so daily.

Lots of fun though! Very humbling when you're trying wheel landings in a x-wind.

[/ QUOTE ]

I concur!

I need to get myself a tailwheel plane, so I can keep proficient. My 4.8 hours in a Champ in no way makes me a tailwheel instructor.

Fun Flying though!!!

NJA_Capt · June 18th, 2005, 13:57

[ QUOTE ]
...I don't have any business flying by myself or teaching others in a tailwheel unless I do so daily.

Very humbling...

[/ QUOTE ]
The mark of a good pilot is being able to assess your abilities. I was flying tailwheels for several years before I got my CFI, and before an endorsement was required. I think that helped me a great deal. Several of my private students went and bought tailwheel a/c and asked me to continue flying with them.

You are correct. A handfull of hours does not make you an experienced tailwheel pilot.

(ooops, just had a thought that this resembles some other threads we've had lately

)

taildragger173 · July 1st, 2005, 11:59

At UND, we have a lot of people who do the tailwheel course and then they think that they are the god of taildraggers. Sadly, every year, a UND student will drive out to Crookston MN and take their Champ up and nose it over. A lot of the tailwheel pilots here at UND, dont have very much practical tailwheel experience and arnt really qualified to teach.

I feel that if someone wants to be a tailwheel instructor, they need a minimum of 100 hours in tailwheel airplanes. At that point, you know the inner workings a little better. You can read the winds better and have more feel and finess. Also, your confidence level is up there a little more. Students pick up on your confidence. If you're not confident in the airplane, how can your student become confident? Anyways I'll get off of my soapbox now.

Josh · July 2nd, 2005, 03:03

100 hrs in itself is fairly meaningless. It matters what was done during that time. 20hrs of time, with 10 landings every hour (200 landings) is much better than 50 1hr each way out and back flights (100 landings).

aloft · July 4th, 2005, 15:57

[ QUOTE ]
20hrs of time, with 10 landings every hour (200 landings) is much better than 50 1hr each way out and back flights (100 landings).

[/ QUOTE ]

Is it? 50% of all accidents occur in the enroute phase. The dude with 200 landings may be able to land really well, but his enroute ADM processes will likely have atrophied somewhat.

Chris_Ford · July 5th, 2005, 02:09

ADM is pretty much the same in a taildragger vs. tricycle, at least enroute. I think the assumption is that the person has been found competant to fly a tricycle gear a/c.

Also, 50% of accidents in the enroute stage sounds artificially high. Can you source it please?

June 18th, 2005, 12:24	#1
gtpilot Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: GA Posts: 476	Tail Dragging Got my tailwheel endorsement today and here's what I learned. I don't have any business flying bymyself or teaching others in a tailwheel unless I do so daily. Lots of fun though! Very humbling when you're trying wheel landings in a x-wind.

June 18th, 2005, 13:22	#2
Grabo172 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Peterborough, NH Posts: 1,281	Re: Tail Dragging [ QUOTE ] Got my tailwheel endorsement today and here's what I learned. I don't have any business flying bymyself or teaching others in a tailwheel unless I do so daily. Lots of fun though! Very humbling when you're trying wheel landings in a x-wind. [/ QUOTE ] I concur! I need to get myself a tailwheel plane, so I can keep proficient. My 4.8 hours in a Champ in no way makes me a tailwheel instructor. Fun Flying though!!!

June 18th, 2005, 13:57	#3
NJA_Capt Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Low Earth Orbit Posts: 1,389	Re: Tail Dragging [ QUOTE ] ...I don't have any business flying by myself or teaching others in a tailwheel unless I do so daily. Very humbling... [/ QUOTE ] The mark of a good pilot is being able to assess your abilities. I was flying tailwheels for several years before I got my CFI, and before an endorsement was required. I think that helped me a great deal. Several of my private students went and bought tailwheel a/c and asked me to continue flying with them. You are correct. A handfull of hours does not make you an experienced tailwheel pilot. (ooops, just had a thought that this resembles some other threads we've had lately )

July 1st, 2005, 11:59	#4
taildragger173 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Siberia Posts: 410	Re: Tail Dragging At UND, we have a lot of people who do the tailwheel course and then they think that they are the god of taildraggers. Sadly, every year, a UND student will drive out to Crookston MN and take their Champ up and nose it over. A lot of the tailwheel pilots here at UND, dont have very much practical tailwheel experience and arnt really qualified to teach. I feel that if someone wants to be a tailwheel instructor, they need a minimum of 100 hours in tailwheel airplanes. At that point, you know the inner workings a little better. You can read the winds better and have more feel and finess. Also, your confidence level is up there a little more. Students pick up on your confidence. If you're not confident in the airplane, how can your student become confident? Anyways I'll get off of my soapbox now.

July 2nd, 2005, 03:03	#5
Josh Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, California Posts: 686	Re: Tail Dragging 100 hrs in itself is fairly meaningless. It matters what was done during that time. 20hrs of time, with 10 landings every hour (200 landings) is much better than 50 1hr each way out and back flights (100 landings).

July 4th, 2005, 15:57	#6
aloft Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Inside your OODA loop Posts: 7,018	Re: Tail Dragging [ QUOTE ] 20hrs of time, with 10 landings every hour (200 landings) is much better than 50 1hr each way out and back flights (100 landings). [/ QUOTE ] Is it? 50% of all accidents occur in the enroute phase. The dude with 200 landings may be able to land really well, but his enroute ADM processes will likely have atrophied somewhat.

July 5th, 2005, 02:09	#7
Chris_Ford Banned Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,329	Re: Tail Dragging ADM is pretty much the same in a taildragger vs. tricycle, at least enroute. I think the assumption is that the person has been found competant to fly a tricycle gear a/c. Also, 50% of accidents in the enroute stage sounds artificially high. Can you source it please?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode