Taxying downwind in a tailwheel aircraft
On a recent rainy day in the clubhouse we ended up with a discussion on taxying.
If you are taxying, for arguments sake, a Piper SuperCub downwind on a smooth taxi way with a short grass surface and a surface wind of 20kt gusting 30kt, should you hold the stick back or should it be held in a neutral position.
One point raised in the discussion was that when trained on Tiger Moths in 1960's, the training (at UAS) was to always keep the stick back. The instructors argument was to teach students to keep the taxying speed under control at all times and the stick back.
Always taxy slowly and the tail will not lift, if the aircraft should hit a bump or a dip while the stick is held in a neutral position there is more chance of the tail lifting and same applies if taxying too quickly.
So if the stick is held back in all conditions on a smooth grass surface, is there less chance of the aircraft ending on its nose?
I was taught to move the stick into a neutral position when taxying downwind in a strong wind, but I am now thinking that holding the stick fully back would be better.
What is your view and why?