Lets examine directional control on landing using the two most common methods of landing.
First the wheel landing.
Directional control is more precise when correcting for drift due to higher airspeed at touch down resulting in faster control response.
Directional control during the roll out is more precise because the main wheels are on the runway and you can prevent yaw before tail wheel contact because you still have higher airflow past the rudder than you would have in the three point touch down.
Conversely when three pointing the airplane it can be subject to sideways drift just prior to touch down due to wind strength/ cross wind change at that moment, just when your airflow past the flight controls has passed the really effective stage because you are almost stalled.
The center of gravity is behind the main wheels in a tail wheel airplane or it would not sit on the tailwheel when stopped.
If it is drifting sideways at touch down it will immediately yaw when the wheels contact the surface...therefore the three point landing exposes you to yaw if drift is peresent at wheel contact.
The wheel landing is better due to better control response just prior to and at wheel contact.
So where am I wrong in my thinking?
Last edited by Chuck Ellsworth; 4th Oct 2015 at 18:03.