Originally Posted by
psycho joe
It means you can fly a tailwheel. Tail draggers were made back when they didn't know any better.
Better than what? If you really want to learn excellent hand/foot coordination then go and learn to fly a helicopter. Or better still learn to fly a trike properly.
Any old Joe can fly a tricycle, psychotic or otherwise! Tail-draggers? Now there is a challenge.
There was a time when they were commonly known as ‘conventional’ undercarriage. You folk seem to think they are unconventional. Not so, just more demanding if you have only ever flown a tricycle.
Lets shoot down some myths. Back in the days when they were conventional very few folk got their butts into a tricycle unless it was an airliner and even some of those were ‘draggers.
It still took the same time to go solo – about six or seven hours. Students had more skill on the stick and rudder, therefore seemed to get it together a little better. Fields were all grass, you just took off right in front of the ramp – same with landing, you rolled out in front of the hangar and just backed her up to the door.
‘Draggers weren’t difficult to fly … no one knew any better!
Above fifty feet a dragger is no different to a trike.
Below fifty feet you don’t sit around fat, dumb and happy like a trike pilot.
The landing attitude (if you three point) is definitely stalled. Don’t even think about releasing back pressure on the stick until ten knots or so above stopped.
If you want to vary your skill, wheel her on! Now there is a buzz.
Crosswinds – yep, ‘dragger pilots shine in those conditions because their butts are gripping the seat (suction) and their feet are working along with everything else including brain.
Taxy a ‘dragger and you need to be weather smart, particularly on ice or with a full-castoring tail wheel. If wind is from the left and you want to go right don’t turn right. Turn left thru a three-quarter circle – much easier.
Sometimes ground loops (very slow ones) can help you maneuver backwards but I better not go there!