UK SSEA tailwheel schools

[The Broon]

Hi, first post!

I'm doing my NPPL(M) at the moment, hoping to have it done by summer. Was wanting to do my SSEA rating quickly after but ideally wanted to do it on tailwheel straight up so i didn't need to do further differences training. I'm wanting to build up tailwheel hours hopefully on a super cub to then graduate onto something more exciting with twice as many wings...
Is this possible and anyone know a school in the UK that does this?

Cheers

[S-Works]

Where did you get seaplane from?

SSEA - Simple Single Engineed Aeroplane is the NPPL version of an SEP.... :ok:

[Genghis the Engineer]

I can't think of anything in Scotland, since unhappy ground accidents wrote off the two Prestwick Chipmunks.

Down south: West London Aero Club at White Waltham and Western Air at Thruxton are two that I would have time for - but there are certainly others. The Tiger Club is well regarded, although I've never used them myself.

If you specifically want a Super Cub, WLAC have a couple - but so do other people, and it's not the only tailwheel trainer out there.

G

[The Broon]

Thanks Genghis, I'll look into the ones down south. I'd half expected I'd have to travel down there. I work shifts so it would be fine if I could get it done within 4 or 5 days.

Main reason I was thinking super cub is due to the availability of one at my home airfield :)

[kaitakbowler]

Henlow, EGWE (Bedfordshire), used to have access to a J3 Cub for tailwheel training, and you will learn to hand prop it. Clacton EGSQ have a Super Cub ISTR. I know they are a good distance from you, but for yr info.

Good luck

PM

[mrmum]

I think Highland Aviation in Inverness have a Super Decathlon, their website only seems mention it for aerobatic TLs though, but if they do those, there's no reason why you couldn't do class rating training on it.
The course to add the SSEA class rating to an existing NPPL is entirely dual, so shouldn't be any different for insurance purposes than a TL.

[Genghis the Engineer]

Declaration of interest: I fly from there, but am not involved with the instructing side so get no benefit from this post.

I'd look seriously at White Waltham then. A couple of Super Cubs, three grass runways, loads of instructors, interesting biplanes to progress onto, and several towns within a few miles (nearest Maidenhead) which should have plenty of places to stay, eat, and spend an evening.

Not cheap, but they're obviously trying to market themselves as a "quality product", and have about the best clubhouse to sit around in I know in England.

G

[Maoraigh1]

There's also a Decathlon at Perth. A friend converting from a Tomahawk to tailwheel found the Decathlon a jump too much, and finally did it on a lower powered aircraft.

[dont overfil]

Maoraigh1 beat me to it. I suggest you look up Scotflight if you are interested.

There is a Super Cub at Perth group operated. I believe it is very good value and there has been training done on it.

If you PM Unusual Attitude of this forum he may be able to give you details. Alternatively Google Hart Attack.

No landing fees for based aircraft at Perth and there is also a low cost hotel on site.

There are some links at www.perthairport.eu (http://www.perthairport.eu)

D.O.

[dobbin1]

Cubair have a SuperCub at Redhill aerodrome, and we do plenty of tail dragger training in it. Surely there must be someone up North though.

[kevkdg]

advanced flight training at Sheburn in Elmett (Yorkshire) have (or at least had) a Chipmunk for tailwheel conversions.


Commercial Flight Training Advanced Flight Training Leeds Yorkshire (http://www.advancedflighttraining.co.uk/)

[Dan the weegie]

I had the pleasure of flying with Douglas Gilmour of Scotflight at Perth, good instructor and while a Decathlon can be too much for some, for most it would be fine after a bit of familiarisation, Perth is also a fab field to learn tailwheel at.

I'm not 100% sure that Highland Aviation is doing Tailwheel or not. They may do but worth a call to them.

Otherwise find a cub :), they're superb trainers and will teach also teach you some great attitude flying and control co-ordination skills that you didn't realise were important :).

[Zulu Alpha]

Clacton aero club run course on taildraggers. Tailwheel conversion ? cost of our Tailwheel conversion course (http://www.clactonaeroclub.co.uk/index.php?pageid=38)

[jaycee46]

Genghis the Engineer I can't think of anything in Scotland, since unhappy ground accidents wrote off the two Prestwick Chipmunks.


Not really relevant to this thread, but for information only, one of the Chippies is on the road to recovery in the hanger at the Flight Centre. No indication on timescale, but going in the right direction!

[Genghis the Engineer]

That is good to know, they're nice aeroplanes, and it's not good seeing the fleet reduced.

G

[deefer dog]

Clacton Aero Club are undoubtedly one of the most experienced tail-dragger training clubs in the UK and they have been doing it since the mid eighties in the PA-18. They wrote the manual, and then took it a step further with their "Farm Strip Special," and over the years they have taught more pilots in the art of tailwheel and strip flying than any other organisation.

One thing you will not get at Clacton is an instructor who is there for his or her own hour building benefit. If you are lucky enough to get booked in with Jo you will get the most experienced taildragger instructor/examiner in the UK.

I do NOT work at or have any interest in Clacton.

[The Broon]

Thanks for all your suggestions, I'm looking into a few of them :)
Since I wanted to combine the SSEA rating with tailwheel I didn't know if it was as simple as just going to a place that did tailwheel conversions as I would have to do a GST and NST (and a ground exam) along with it since I'd be coming from NPPL, so didn't know if it was quite as straightforward..

Perth in Scotland is my home airfield anyway so it was the supercub syndicate there i was looking at getting into :ok:

[Genghis the Engineer]

Have you asked the syndicate if they would be okay with you bringing an instructor in to do your tailwheel on the aeroplane, if you'd already bought a share?

Many syndicates would be okay with that, and may even have a favoured instructor on tap.

G

[The Broon]

Not in the group yet :/ I might enquire and see what they say. It is a good airfield to operate from- nice quiet airspace!
I gave white whaltham a call and they said it was something they could do but I'll look and see where Clacton is and see about the Highlands one :)

[Maoraigh1]

We've had new group members do their tailwheel convertion with an instructor on our Jodel. It can be done on an Annex2 aircraft for a part owner. At present one new group member is doing it with a Perth-based instructor, although the aircraft is Inverness based. There's a big advantage in doing it on the type you'll be flying