Question Taking the Tailwheel Plunge

[Neal]

Wouldn't converting to a non-steerable tailwheel just be a tradeoff between possibly less shimmy but more directional control issues when sticking the tailwheel when landing in a crosswind?

No, I don't think so. I have no problem steering with my brakes if needed. I think as long as the plane is flyable it's flight controls that are doing the work, not a steerable tailwheel. I'm hoping I can increase caster angle a little more and find the point where this stops. I'm about 7 degrees positive now, need to fly it and test it and try one more quick change by simply removing some nitrogen on the top side. It's just unfortunate the time and energy I've put into this simply to have a larger tailwheel tire but I'm not giving up yet.

 

[Cubonaut875]

I would most definitely stick with the standard tailwheel again. Having been in both worlds, the baby bush wheel is more of a niche item. I do land in some pretty wet soft grass, with my PA 18 I started with a standard tailwheel, converted to the Baby Bushwhell for the very reason Neal mentioned, I did not want to rut my friends runways - to keep them as friends. But in going back to the standard on my FX3, I really haven't noticed it to be an issue. Standard tail wheel is definitely more pavement friendly.