Tailwheel PPL?
 

Hey PPRuNe' ers

Does anyone have any experience with Ace Aviation in Masterton, and/or doing their PPL on a tailwheel?

I'm looking to start my PPL but before jumping in headfirst, I would like to know of anyone with experience of the above.

I have looked at the Wgtn Aero Club and Kapiti (and the references to both on this site). However, there is not much information on either of them - and they dont fly tailwheel, and many people have advised that Wgtn Aero will cost more simply because its a very busy airport.

Friends have told me that a tailwheel PPL will make one a better pilot, as you have to learn better ground handling and landing skills. Any thoughts on this one (the guys advising me were RAF QFI's, so I figure they know something about the subject)?

Look forward to hearing any comments. Feel free to PM me.

Regards
Argo

Tin did all his training to PPL in tailwheels.
It made him good at ..er...flying tailwheels.
:p

And it was 3 pounds 6 shillings an hour :{

This little piggy did all Ab Initio in Citabrias, and some of the PPL navs too.

All things being equal learning from the outset in tailwheelers should make one a better pilot. Not having done so doesn't make anyone less capable - good instruction (which should be everyone's right) will teach all the good habits anyway.

I suppose the things that everyone should do, one HAS to do in a tailwheeler, even the docile ones like Cubs and Citabrias.

I wouldn't do it any other way ..... summer evenings, wheeler landings on 10 at Camden ..... aaahhhgg sigh.

I wanted to do mine in a Decathlon many years ago, alas it was only insured for RPPL (remember those days?) only.

If you have a good instructor from the start you should learn well, once you have the PPL hop into the tailwheel for an endorsement. I think the trick is learn at the school you are going to get the t/w endo with and let them know from the outset you will be doing the t/w.

I did my enzed ppl at Kapati and they were good, that was a long time back though.

Hey there Argo,


Kapiti Aeroclub has a Super Cub online. The Cub even has an integrated tape/radio in the comms. Brand new engine. I’m keen to do a rating on it in the future.

Cheers

Argo,

I did not, wish I had though.

Trick is finding an instructor with a useful level of experience.

You might be able to dust off tinpis for 3 pound 6........

Many thanks for all the replies. I didnt realise that Kapiti has a Super Cub. I'll look into this.

By the by, why do you wish you had done your PPL on a tailwheel?

Regards
Argo:ok:

I would reccomend Ace aviation. Not that I have much experience with them but I hear that Kerry Conner is very good and I will be doing some flying there over the next few days so I could fill you in after that..

Depends where you are going.

50 odd hours tail time would have meant not scaring the be-jesus out of myself, the instructor, the windsock etc starting an ag rating.

If you are looking to operate tail draggers after training, I would certainly recommend it.

I learned in Cubs and Tiger Moths.
If you can find a 90HP Cub over there and someone to train you go for it.
Tin would do it for 3pounds 6 shillings.
http://www.augk18.dsl.pipex.com/Smileys/money2.gif

anybody know of any tailwheel aircraft in the south island (NZ)available for conversion training? I think Timaru and South Otago have a Cub each, any others anybody know of?

any chipmunks out there?

cheers for any help...

the pheeel

Hey PPRuNe'ers

Many thanks for all your replies.

I'm going with Ace Aviation. Pretty damned impressed with them, having flown with them. They have a Cub and Tiger Moth in which to do PPL training, and Harvard which you eventually convert on post-PPL. As the school only does Tailwheel PPL's and works very closely with the owners of the Moth, Chippie and Harvard, it is a well worn path to converting onto one or all of these aircraft (if one is interested - which I am).

Fantastic.

Regards
Argo