Tailwheel Time

[urflyingme?!]

I need about 40 hrs. What do you guys think is the best way to gain some experience in a tailwheel.

If you're wondering why I need it, i want to do some banner towing and since I'm quite low time, I need the hours in a dragger.

Thanks, once again, for the info!

 

[User546]

Not to get this off subject, but what part of the country are you looking to be doing the banner towing at? Have you talked to anyone yet about a job, and if so what kind of experience or time are they requiring nowadays?

 

[OrcasC180]

Depends...

If you just want to get 40 hours of tailwheel time then move on, you should find a local FBO that has a citabria or something similar to rent and try to get a block discount. The FBO's insurance may require a substantial amount of the 40 hours to be dual if you've not got much tailwheel time already.

Another approach, if you want to keep flying tailwheels, would be to put up the money to buy a cheap, older tailwheel airplane (I guess except for Maule's, they're all older now) and fly the heck out of it. Something like:

Cessna 120 for sale

You'll need to find insurance, but that's not impossible even with zero tailwheel time. You'll probably pay $1000-$1500 with zero TW time for hull and liability coverage (just my W.A.G.). Add $1500/year for annual and fuel and oil at 5 gph and you're probably looking at $45/hour (assuming you fly it 100 hours/year). Find a partner that wants to fly it another 100/year and your cost goes down to $30/hour. You'll obviously have to run your own numbers.

In either case you best bet for not bending metal is to find an experienced tailwheel instructor (not an experienced tailwheel pilot that happens to instruct, but an instructor that is experienced teaching tailwheel transitions).

YMMV.

 

[aucfi]

Great sitefor taildragger info.

http://www.taildraggers.com/

 

[qmaster3]

Add $1500/year for annual and fuel

Try to get in good with an IA or AP, the AP buddy I have, has a few IA buddies. You know do the network thing, could save you some bucks, if for example one of the jugs needs to be replaces. IMHO.


Plus drinking beer and working on airplanes/cars with a bud. kicks ass.

 

[urflyingme?!]

I've been thinking about that(buying a small plane). Only prob is time frame, I'm trying to get a job for the summer season. I would definately love to go in on a smaller aircraft and share costs to build time and such, as well as have a blast (and maybe take a few lovely coeds up for, "scenic tours").

 

[JB74]

ERAU sport aviation club

I don't know where you are, but you should check these guys out.
http://www.db.erau.edu/campus/student/clubs/sportavi/tailwheel/index.html
I have yet to get over to Daytona and sign up, but it is a great deal (J-3 for $35/dry and a Pitts for $110).

You have to pay a $500 membership fee, but nothing after that.

 

[Goose Egg]

I'd love to buy a Citabria. Only problem is that I wouldn't want to sell it when I'm done.

-Goose

 

[crjdude]

Tailwheel time

40 hrs of tailwheel time to kill huh....

- get a DC-3 type.
- get some mountain training in say Idaho or Washington.
- get some tailwheel dual in something different. Do some shopping. Maybe find somebody that'll give dual in a Stearman or a Waco.

Just some fun suggestions to pass the 40 hrs.....

crjdude

 

[urflyingme?!]

DC-3 Type eh???
Sounds cool, keep em coming guys, I'm actually interested in the most outlandish of them all!

 

[urflyingme?!]

no way jose!
1400 /hr for a dc3 type

In the interest of actually getting out of debt, in my life, the dc-3 will have to wait!

 

[Goose Egg]

I'd probably go get checked out in a Super Decathalon and then go out solo and twist the heck out of that thing. You'd be real good by the end of 40 hours.

-Goose

 

[urflyingme?!]

Seems like we're on the same page here my friend...
You surf?

 

[Goose Egg]

Seems like we're on the same page here my friend...
You surf?

Well, I am to surfing what a student pilot is to aviation--not proficient, but that will soon change. I decided to fly the surf-related avatar to keep myself from wussin' out... well, that and I promised Daveman.

-Goose

 

[urflyingme?!]

haha,
ya me too!

know any good schools for flying dirty side up.

 

[falcon20driver]

Get the job than build the tailwheel time.

Don't know what banner company you're talking with, but when I was hired by http://www.aerialsign.com/ to fly banners I didn't have any tailwheel time before starting their banner training course and was hired after finishing the course, had something like 10 hours tailwheel time.

 

[brett]

Where are you located? I do tailwheel training in my Aeronca Champ, $78 hr. dual, wet in South Carolina. I could work out a block rate for you, but I can't imagine you needing 40 hours? They should be able to get you going with less than that.

- Brett

 

[urflyingme?!]

I'm in New Mex now, but will be in CA soon. It was a very preliminary statement, about the 40 hrs. I have resume in, and I'll be giving them a follow up call soon here, we'll see how it goes...
(ps, that sounds like a great rate, howver a bit far )

 

[54tw]

Avatar test to see how it looks.

Thanks,

 

[urflyingme?!]

Looks great in the tailwheel discussion!

 

[sbav8r]

Depending on where your going in CA, CP Aviation, in Santa Paula, has a good rate for Citabrias and Decathlons. Of course, the runway just got washed away in the recent rains. I have a good aerial photo of it in my e-mail if someone knows how to post it.

 

[urflyingme?!]

Was that the "celebrity" airport?

 

[54tw]

Thanks Urflyingme. Been wanting to make an avatar for a while now.

Here's a couple of Tail Wheel related web sites:

http://www.taildraggers.com/
http://supercub.org/

 

[aucfi]

Just curious, are you going to donate your services flying banners or are you planning on having your comm. by then? Couldnt help but notice PVT on your info.

au

 

[urflyingme?!]

I'll let it go because of what i think is a piper cowl in your avitaer. I'm pretty sure the fake temporary I made will pass muster. (JUST KIDING)
ps, Check my stats in 2 min

 

[54tw]

Below are a couple of book links on the subject of tail wheel flying.

Even with a good instructor you'll find The Compleat Tail dragger Pilot a good primer. It covers about all aspects of tail wheel flying and is highly recommended. Just as in other disciplines having a good mental understanding will steepen your learning curve.

I found it a handy reference for presenting the experience to others.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0963913700/002-7278739-1322420

The Rand Peck book Tailwheel Transition Training Manual just came out and I have no idea of it's content.

http://www.stickandrudderaviation.com/

A link to a banner supplier.

http://www.gasserbanners.com/

Here's an online glider tow pilot training manual developed by the Soaring Society Foundation and the Civil Air Patrol. It's outstanding!

http://www.soaringsafety.org/school/towpilot/index.htm

 

[urflyingme?!]

Thanks!
Another idea I had was XC ferry flights of a tailwheel aircraft. I would imagine that one coud get a lot of time in a very short span this way. Anybody ever do this?

 

[xjcaptain]

Not a bad idea, but who's going to chance giving a taildragger to somebody with very low time in type. I'm guessing the insurance company might have a say about that too. But you never know, you might get lucky.

 

[urflyingme?!]

Ya that's my Catch-22.... Maybe I'll just learn some Aerobatics!