Which taildragger to learn in?
 

I would love to do some Tiger Moth flying next summer, so want to get some taildragging experience first. The guy I did my GFT with has offered me training in a Chipmunk or Kitfox, the 'advantage' of the former being that he's an aerobatics instructor too. :eek:

I'm in no real hurry, so what do you guys think about these aeroplanes? (;) Stik) Or would you recommend something completely different? :)

Of those two it's a no-braner, go for the Chipmunk.

Ian

Chippie every time. You would also be keeping it in the DeHaviland stable!:)

Chippie for sure.

Why not go to Cambridge (I think) and get some taildragger time on a Tiger Moth :D

Kitfox will be an order of magnitude cheaper, if that's important to you.

QDM

In addition to the Chippie.
If you find yourself in the USA between now and next year you could do worse than some time in a J3 Cub. It woud be less than 100 dollars per hour including the instructor.
Flying a J3 in Florida with no door is superb. Also supercubs in Arizona for about the same price.
Don't know how this new FAA thing will affect you.

Keep those feet moving.

CC

And the stick BACK, BACK, BACK!

;)

QDM

Aerbabe you babe!

Read this last night and rather than auto-respond, I cogitated overnight.

The Chipmunk is a delight to fly with beautifully harmonised controls and is a descendant (well almost) of the DH82A Tiger moth.

However they are probably quite expensive to rent, mind you - once you've mastered it in the circuit then you can go and do very gentle "Sunday morning aeros" and even some benign spins.

The Kitfox would probably work out a whole lot cheaper, though. I have only about 40 mins in an early variant some time ago but IIRC it is very prone to PIO or phugoids. Something techie to do with low speed/weight and quite a powerful elevator. I must confess that I did not really fall in love with it but as a device to show you what your feet are for on the ground and during the take-off roll and then roll out it might be sensible to start on this for an hour or two.

It might be financially sensible to do some time on both, with the idea that you'd actually finish off on the Chipmunk.

Other aeroplanes that are worth considering are Taylorcraft, Aeroncas and as stated the J3/L4 Cubs and some of the smaller Jodels. Being an impecunious stude rock-chick, it might even be worth casting your eyes further than just Coventry.

Of course, as previously discussed you are always welcome to have a go in my Pushpak to give you some idea what the whole thing is about!

I'd also recommend a look at Plourde's book, The Complete Taildragger but probably not until you're almost ready to do your conversion. I understand that Cubair at Redhill produce a good little tailwheel primer that a 'phone call and a bit of girlie charm might procure for you!

Cheers


Stik

The Kitfox is a PFA homebuilt so isn't legally useable for training anyway. The PFA usually recommend for anybody planning to fly a Kitfox that they train for it on a taildragger version of the Thruster.

Stick with the Chipmunk and save your instructor from breaking the law. It's also almost certainly the best trainer for a Tiger Moth.

G

Chippie, Cub and Moth
 

Aerbabe,

As others have said the Chipmunk is completely delightful, but tends to be quite expensive to hire - especially since the engine only lasts a maximum 1000 TBO on a public transport C of A. As you're close to Coventry you are also probably handy for Sywell, and could have a go in their 90-horse Super Cub. It is pleasant to fly, relatively inexpensive to hire, and the airfield has three grass runways so you can usually take off and land reasonably into wind.

And later you can have a go at their Moth or Pitts S2 for a further challenge.

Both the Super Cub and the Chipmunk are straightforward to fly and make for a fairly non-daunting introduction to taildraggers if you're accustomerd to the mainstream "modern" (i.e. 1950s technology) light aeroplane. The Tiger Moth, having no brakes at all, decidedly pre-war ailerons and a somewhat relaxed approach to yaw stability, has an altogether more old-fashioned feel, and is a much bigger step away from a tri-gear Cessna or Cherokee. I don't mean this as a criticism of the Tiggie - some people find these peculiarities endearing, others not to their taste.

Hope this helps... (edited for spelling)

Is there still a chippie for hire with an instructor at Shoreham?

cheers!
foggy.

I heard some rumours that the Condor might be back at Hinton and available for rent.

Nice to fly and probably a lot cheaper than a chippie.

But having said that you probably won't regret spending a few hours on a chippie - a real classic.

Aerbabe....... I am astonished. There is only one taildragger in the world that matters, and you have flown in it with me.!!
How fickle you are.!!

AerBabe,

Choose the Chipmunk. As others have said, if you stay within the DeHavilland family, the Tiger Moth will be more familiar when you get to it next year.

MLS-12D :)

P.S. You can't go wrong with a genuine Canadian design! :D

Foggy The last I heard the chippy is still available at Shoreham......
(If your thinking of coming down here, let us know and we'll meet up or something. I owe you a few pints remember... :D )

Did my taildragger training on Turweston's Citabria, didn't have problems at all despite being generally a bit rusty (me, that is, not the aircraft:D). It has a fairly level attitude so it makes life easier on the ground where all the fun happens.

I've also done about an hour on Hinton's Condor which is very much back in service. Again, very docile on the ground, and very nice in the air too

Try the Supercub at Panshangar.

Thanks for all saying the Chippie... it was my preferred option! I know there are all sorts of great places round the country to fly taildraggers from, but I can't travel yet, and can't afford much. The Chipmunk is based at Husbands Bosworth, and (to me) seems very cheap. Plus I know the guy, and we get on, which is very important to me (especially if he's going to be making me fly upside down :( )

Taildragger, of course if you want to let me fly yours for nothing I'd be more than happy ;)

Stik, when I can finally escape the lab (hopefully October) I'd love to come and fly with you. If you'll still have me of course :cool:

I think that i would start with the cheapest taildragger I could find and that would probably be a cub.

With the money saved you could then get checked out in the chipmunk as well.

Just for taildragger training the chipmunk is to expencive but when it comes to the aerobatics it is worth every penny and is probably a better trainer that high powered aircraft such at the Extra 300.

Best tailwheel to train in
 

Got to be an Auster !
Tame one of these and you will eat the rest.
Used to be available at Skegness, but I am not
up to date on this.:) :) :) :)