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Old 20th May 2020, 10:55
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Kemble Pitts
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 245
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Having learn't to fly on Tiger Moths I don't have first hand experience of going from nose-wheel to tailwheel; just the other way!

However, that won't stop me giving you an opinion. Ground handling is pretty much the only difference (obviously) between them and, as Megan says, they are all different. We can generalise and say that take-off and landing in a tailwheel aircraft requires more thought and more finesse than a nose-wheel aircraft. You can 'arrive' in a C172 and make it look not too bad. If you 'arrive' in most tailwheel aircraft, at best it will provide entertainment (to you and the locals), at worst break the aeroplane.

I'd encourage you to do a tailwheel convex, your judgement and handling skills will improve, as will your levels of satisfaction and enjoyment. Also it'll give you access to a lot of interesting aeroplanes, especially vintage types - if that is your 'bag'.

One point to keep in mind, on a windy day a tailwheel flight is not over until the hangar doors are shut.
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