pre-learning for the Taildragger

[EGMC]

I am 23 from South East England. I am to begin training as an Air Traffic Controller in June with NATS.

I have a PPL with Night Qualification, I have flown the Piper Cherokee and C-152. I want to learn a to fly a Taildragger, but before I start spending £100 and hour:ooh: I thought it wise to read a 'how-to' book, that will give me a good foundation...and end up saving £ on air-time:p , as I am in NO rush.

so any Learning material/books that you recommend I study? definitive reading etc.

Many thanks,
Sam

[tacpot]

Well, the usual recommendations are "The Compleat Taildragger Pilot" by Harvey S. Plourde and "Stick and Rudder" by Wolfgang Langeweische.

I bought the Compleat Taildragger and found it was only so much use. The problem is you don't really learn what is involved in flying a taildragger, until you get in the aircraft with a good instructor.

Good luck.

tp

[FlyingForFun]

Agree with tacpot 100%. In fact, I think I said something very similar in my reply to your PM, which I wrote before I read this thread!

Not quite so sure of the usefulness of Langeweische specifically to tail-draggers. It is a must-read for just about any kind of flying - but although it almost entirely relates to tail-draggers (there's a small section on new-fangled tricycle-geared aircraft and why they are such a good idea!) the vast majority of it is just as relevant to a PA28 as a PA18, IMHO.

FFF
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[QNH 1013]

Make sure you research your tailwheel instructor thoroughly. There are instructors out there who expect to teach "tailwheel conversions" having just done a few hours on a tailwheel course themselves.

You need an instructor who regularly flies tailwheel aircraft and understands what is going on. Also one who can give you the proper briefings for the type you are flying.

Now let me agree with the others that "The Compleat Taildragger" is probably the best book on the subject (note the spelling of Complete). It costs about twenty pounds. A less expensive, but fun book, is "Taming the Taildragger" which should get you in the mood.

Good luck and enjoy learning the skills.

QNH 1013

[AerocatS2A]

Reading a book may be good for getting you into the right frame of mind, but nothing can teach you to use your feet other than sitting in the plane and having a go.

[Old Smokey]

Save your money on the book, and just approach the task with the preparedness to use your feet - LIBERALLY! Remember that the aircraft has virtually no directional stability, YOU are the directional stability via the rudder pedals. Be prepared to use the rudder in big chunks, and be prepared to rapidly change the rudder direction to full opposite at no notice. During taxy, be prepared to use FULL rudder if necessary, and if that's not enough, apply power to increase the rudder effectiveness.

If it's a semi-sissy aircraft that also has brakes, differential brake properly used can be most useful, as can assymetric power if a multi-engined aircraft.

Enjoy the transition from driver to PILOT!

Regards,

Old Smokey

[EGMC]

Thanks for the tips aviators:ok:

I will get the Compleat, but I can appreciate how motor skills will be the key learning for this task.

...looking forward to my taste of nostalgic flying... and taxying!

[Plumb Bob]

If your instructor wants to sometime loan the ”Compleat”, sit up and pay attention.
If he needs to loan it first, stop paying him.

And indeed, basically you learn and train the art in the saddle (or: on the spurs), but Mr. Plourde's book is by far the best I ever read on the subject. It helps enormously to understand why you need to do everything as instructed, and that others found out already what happens if you don't.

['Chuffer' Dandridge]

Learn to dance like a negro, (can I say that these days?, but you get my drift) and forget you ever had a training wheel. Other than that, enjoy it, 'cos it will be the best flying you ever do.......................:ok:

[Wombat35]

Agree with most of the comments.

As a tailwheel only instructor (most of the time anyway) Compleat is a great start. The other point that I recommend is get to know your aircraft on the ground so that you can focus on flying and most importantly pick the right type of aircraft to learn on. There are taildraggers and there are old aircraft without a nosewheel that are squirrely a real handful that have had the crap beaten out of them and more broken noses than an all black prop! :}

As an example try and fly with an instructor who owns the taildragger... you will have more fun and don't hurry the learning process, it all takes time, especially wheelers on the seal.

Cheers

Wombat

[Runaway Gun]

Sam,

I congratulate you for your positive nose up attitude regarding this next memorable phase of your flying training.

Whilst theory is no substitute for actual flying training, it certainly compliments it, and having a thorough understanding of the theory will definitely help you tame the beast.

Get reading buddy !!

Cheers, RG

[Rarely Dble Amber]

Nothing at all hard about it.
Use your feet to keep the nose straight, thats it. Taking off and landing use lots of little corrections instead of an occasional large correction.
Be smooth.. direct and purposeful, but always smooth.
Spend lots of time taxying around.
Touch and goes wont teach you much, its not about being airborne its about getting used to how they feel on the ground. Stop and goes are better.
Practice a few aborted takeoffs, going from full power at 70 knots back to idle with braking is when the aircraft will tend to want to swing its tail around. No big deal though, just use your feet to keep the nose straight:) :)

Have fun, most tail draggers are designed with the concept of flying for fun in mind.

[Runaway Gun]

But then, if it was THAT easy then there's be no more ground loops or nose overs. Thankfully I haven't lost one yet - but maybe I should do some more real tailwheel flying :)