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Tail draggin' ain't easy!

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I own a Cessna Aerobat that I converted to a Texas Taildragger and when I first started flying it after the conversion I was surprized at how squirrley the thing was on the runway...finally figured out the problem, there was toe out on the damn wheels...somehow we f.cked up doing the alignment during the conversion...

By the way its for sale...I want to put the money in a Cub...

Cat D.
 
mcj---glad to hear I might be seeing you. To get back to something that (IMHO) got blown outta context---the whole stick back idea. I teach that to taxi a Cub, Pawnee, Citabria, etc (ie all of the smaller TX aircraft I am familiar with) you ALWAYS have the stick back to keep the tail firmly on the ground in case of a sudden gust of wind, etc. This is simply to get people who have more experience in Cessnas, etc away from that line of thinking of "Which quadrant am I supposed to position the stick/yoke based on the winds?" Even with a tailwind during taxiing ops, I teach to have the stick back and keep the tail planted firmly. Now, takeoffs and landings are a different thing altogether. As was brought out, the differences between wheel and 3-point landings are many and arcane, and both have their times and places, but the stick position during landing and takeoff, landing rollout and takeoff roll are entirely different from normal taxi ops where the stick should be planted. As far as larger A/C with lockable tailwheel assemblies---I was taught in the Air Tractor to STILL usually taxi with the stick back, in essence locking the tailwheel, until I needed to make a turn, etc when I would move the stick forward just long enough to get the pin out and the tailwheel castoring, complete the maneuver and then "lock" the stick to the rear again. Maybe some would disagree, but I never had any problems taxiing in that manner and it made sense to me to keep the tail as firm to the ground as much as possible using the means that I had available, regardless of the airplane or the winds. I'm sure some might "flame on", but I stand by it, as least for my own use---I've thousands of hours in tailwheel at this point and the ONLY tailloop I've ever had resulted from a dropped pen by a student on a previous flight which jammed controls on rollout. That wasn't bad procedures, just a bad preflight and is a mistake I've never made again! To repeat what I said before and some others have as well---what you're consciously thinking about now becomes second nature once you have some muscle memory and more of a feel for the airplane and how it reacts to the situation. Don't be tight, fly your approach ALL THE WAY TO THE STOP and be happy that you're behind the controls of an airplane and not sitting in an office selling widgets for a living!
 
What the hell are widgets?? I am unemployed and sitting at home bored off my @ss:bawling: . I live on the side of a major highway so I can see it now, a big sign in my yard says - GET YOUR WIDGETS HERE only $.99
Right next to WILL FLY FOR FOOD:puke:

Anyway, thanks for the thoughtful response.
 
P.S. Hey AV, If I was taxiing an a/c with a locking mechanism that engaged when the stick was held full aft, could you explain to everyone what painstaking process it would be to unlock the wheel to make a 90 degree left turn at 5 M.P.H.??
Click to expand...


Aaah...push forward. Painstaking enough?
 
Quote:
P.S. Hey AV, If I was taxiing an a/c with a locking mechanism that engaged when the stick was held full aft, could you explain to everyone what painstaking process it would be to unlock the wheel to make a 90 degree left turn at 5 M.P.H.??


avbug said:
Aaah...push forward. Painstaking enough?
Click to expand...

AHH.....Well it's a good thing you pointed out what a disaster it would be to "keep the stick back" :rolleyes:
 
Here. A wheel landing.

http://www.reinman.net/GlastarLanding.wmv

As far as push/pull on with the stick on the ground, there are no ablsolutes in my opinion. I used to own an old airplane (C-140) that was prone to nosing over, so the procedure was to keep the tail pinned to the ground when you could. On the other hand, in a C-180 it's OK to brake considerably (within limits) with the tail not coming up.

Respectfully,

Lilah
 
AHH.....Well it's a good thing you pointed out what a disaster it would be to "keep the stick back" :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

That all depends, doesn't it? I've watched people lose control when they couldn't unlock the tailwheel, for one reason or another, including a frozen mindset that the stick had to be held back at all costs.

That you don't understand and are doling out advice based on generalities, is enough to smack you around a little. Don't do that any more, and you'll be fine.
 
AVBUG...The fact that you think I mean it for every single airplane at every single moment in time is enough to prove you aren't very smart.

Lighten up Francis. Are you one of the people we fly with that corrects everything that we say?? Like I said, you have good points but are also extremely annoying when you won't stop correcting people's omission of mundane details. It's tasteless.

Don't do it anymore...and you'll be fine.
 
Lilah said:
Here. A wheel landing.

http://www.reinman.net/GlastarLanding.wmv

As far as push/pull on with the stick on the ground, there are no ablsolutes in my opinion. I used to own an old airplane (C-140) that was prone to nosing over, so the procedure was to keep the tail pinned to the ground when you could. On the other hand, in a C-180 it's OK to brake considerably (within limits) with the tail not coming up.

Respectfully,

Lilah
Click to expand...

Awesome video, thanks a lot.
O.K. I think I have it! Wheel landing = unconditionally perfect greaser!?

off the subject:
Avbug and Traumahawk, you guys need to hang out. You'd probably get along just fine on the planet Cockupiter!!!

To be humble (regarding cockiness) I should say that I just got thrown out of a bar for arguing with the manager about THE MAN!!! They wouldn't except my I.D. because it expired a few days ago on my 30th B,day! Said the ALE would fine them $1000.

Wife says I should go apologize. I should apologize for bringing this up on a good discussion regarding tail wheels! S O R R Y !

Anyone want to hear about my B'day party?
 
luvz2fli said:
Ya I'll hear about your birthday since you don't respond to an email anymore haha. Bad thread for it but who cares since once again it turns into an argument festival.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

For real! Just having fun. Got kicked out of the bar so I gotta do something for fun. Hell, I started the thread! Check your email.

Anyway, I was out instructing and when I got home my wife and all her SUPER hottie friends were all dressed up in 60's flight attendant uniforms (short short skirts w/wing name tags) and they all yelled SURPRISE! Had a Twister game on the floor, and a cake w/ planes on it. I had pics taken with them (after they put me in a uniform) and then I took pics of them playing twister. And then, for my 30th B'day, we all played spin the bottle. Cheesy I know but plenty o'fun. And yes, it's not that great, there were plenty of guys around that joined in as well.

Sorry to be abnoxious, but I just had to. Crazy 30 yr old kids!

Now, back to tail wheel.
 
avbug said:
What would you like to know about tailwheels and conventional gear?
Click to expand...

Where in GA, SC, NC. or E. TN can I go fly with someone for free/cheap and practice wheel landings? My guy's gone for a month. Also, he just kind of let me have my way with his plane with minimal instruction. I need to find someone who communicates a little more.
 
mcjohn said:
:bawling: :bawling: :bawling: :puke:

Can we please talk about tail wheels or women? (sorry lilah, no disrespect)

p.s. - I really enjoy that video you provided! What airport is that?
Click to expand...

It's KBTF. There are a fair number of homebuilts there. Here's another clip. The camera is merely sitting on top of the panel (I was solo). The plane is a C-180.

http://www.reinman.net/WilsonBar.wmv

Respectfully,

Lilah
 
Lilah!!! For the love of god! Where the... how the....do you give tail wheel endorsements? You should up date your profile.

Seriously, where is that? Please don't tell me it's secret.

Hey, do you remember that video "Flying Blows My Mind"? from over in Europe somewhere where the pilot dives down over a road a make hard bank between some cars with techno playing? Your video kind of reminds me of that.

I caught up with the kid who flew/shot that. He's a young swedish guy named Lasse who frequents Palistine to volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement. Kid is absolutely friggin nuts. Got all shot up and stuff by the Israelis. Not kidding at all. Why am I bringing this up? I dunno, must be bedtime.
 
Last edited:
It's in the file name. Wilson Bar is on the Salmon River in Idaho. It's not really a difficult strip other than the fact you don't have the option to go around after you turn final. You can see the strip featured in many aircraft ads, including those from Aviat and Vans.

Here's another teaser. It's a buddy taking off from a strip that isn't really featured on most sectionals. It's plenty wide as long as you stay straight.

http://www.reinman.net/Ron%20C-180%20Takeoff.wmv

My profile? Civ. yup. Aircraft flown. both listed. Ratings. student pilot (still learning to fly, isn't everybody?) TT. a multiple of pi.

There's a chance I may start a TW, unusual attitude, basic aerobatics class sometime in the spring.

Respectfully,

Lilah

(btw, the screen name comes from a DH song, don't assume anything about gender)
 
I've seen the clip. There's a big difference IMHO between passing between two cars who don't chose to take that risk and having "fun" in a safe and legal fashion. There are plenty of spectacular views to be had without putting others at risk. Out west we are lucky to have many areas where we can fly without coming closer than 500' to a man-made object. Careless and wreckless is a little more subjective.

Respectfully,

Lilah

PS. good luck with your TW training, it will help you become a better pilot (but you already knew that ;)
 

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