Tiger Moth take-off technique questions
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I had to check myself out in a Moth to test fly it last year. I found that a gentle, normal raising of the tail worked perfectly well. I cannot think of any advantage to flying out of three point attitude, and I can think of some disadvantages.
I would agree that this is not a hard and fast rule, and is somewhat type dependent, but most types, particularly less powerful would be more comfortable lifting the tail off first. If you don't feel confident lifting the tail high, just lift it a bit, and let the plane find its own happy place - it will. I have generally observed that if the elevators will lift the tail off, the rudder will be effective enough to keep it straight at that same speed.
The one type which seemed most happy to fly off three points (indeed, the mains seemed to lift off first) was the Siai Marchetti 1019. It probably could be flown off the mains, other than by you got the tail up, it was already flying! it seemed that I was so focused on keeping it straight, that by the time I was settled into the takeoff, I was flying.
For my Teal, all runway operations are always with the tail as off as possible, to the point of use of full nose down control whenever possible [without nosing on].
I would agree that this is not a hard and fast rule, and is somewhat type dependent, but most types, particularly less powerful would be more comfortable lifting the tail off first. If you don't feel confident lifting the tail high, just lift it a bit, and let the plane find its own happy place - it will. I have generally observed that if the elevators will lift the tail off, the rudder will be effective enough to keep it straight at that same speed.
The one type which seemed most happy to fly off three points (indeed, the mains seemed to lift off first) was the Siai Marchetti 1019. It probably could be flown off the mains, other than by you got the tail up, it was already flying! it seemed that I was so focused on keeping it straight, that by the time I was settled into the takeoff, I was flying.
For my Teal, all runway operations are always with the tail as off as possible, to the point of use of full nose down control whenever possible [without nosing on].
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I only have 8.45 hours Moth time (2.45 solo) G-AEOI at Cambridge in 1982 so probably not that qualified to comment, from the higher time on type pilots here, but from memory, instructor said never to attempt 3 point.
