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  #1  
Old 06-21-2012, 07:16 PM
Paul Walter Paul Walter is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Horsham, Victoria, Australia
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Default Tail wheel night landings

Hi Group. I have been considering a night licence for some time. In Australia we have a different system to the US, here night rating is a seperate endorsement and is not obtained when you get your private licence.

I would never take off during the night but want it for the odd time i am late home and get caught out afetr last light.

I no longer have my 7a and now have a 6. I am wondering the differences with landing at night and indeed if it is any more complicated in a tail wheel. I sort of have it in the back of my mind that the landinding lights wont be of any use during the 3 point attitude upon landing but this is probably just me.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Paul
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  #2  
Old 06-21-2012, 07:22 PM
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n5lp n5lp is offline
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Paul,

Back in my pre-tailwheel days I thought that night landings or landings from an instrument approach would be harder in a tail-wheel aircraft. I haven't really found that to be the case.

How well the runway is lit would depend on your landing light(s) and the aiming of such. I have one light on the left side aimed for tailwheel attitude and it works fine.
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  #3  
Old 06-21-2012, 07:54 PM
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mannanj mannanj is offline
 
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Default Night

I have the left one aimed at the touchdown zone on approach, the right one is aimed for taxi in the tail down attitude. Of course the left one is aimed quite a bit high while on the ground.
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  #4  
Old 06-21-2012, 08:10 PM
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N941WR N941WR is offline
 
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Default

I have the left one aimed for taxiing with the tail down and the right one straight out for landing. This works well for me.

I found no difference between night and day landings, mine all stink!

Seriously, it all comes down to how much TW time you have and how good you are at landing. The exact same as a tricycle geared airplane.
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  #5  
Old 06-21-2012, 08:15 PM
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N546RV N546RV is offline
 
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Location: Brookshire, TX
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I have no tailwheel-specific experience, so I can't help there...but oddly enough, when I did the required night time for my private, my night landings were invariably squeakers...which is more than could be said for some of the day landings.

I still don't understand this, really...but in any case, good luck. Maybe you'll find it as anticlimactic as I did.
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  #6  
Old 06-21-2012, 08:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N546RV View Post
I have no tailwheel-specific experience, so I can't help there...but oddly enough, when I did the required night time for my private, my night landings were invariably squeakers...which is more than could be said for some of the day landings.
I still don't understand this, really...but in any case, good luck. Maybe you'll find it as anticlimactic as I did.
The reason that your night landings are more consistent is that at night you are always using the same references, the runway lights.

Daytime you unconsciously use many different references.

At least that's my theory. And it's worth just what you paid for it.
My night landings are always more consistent, and better.
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  #7  
Old 06-21-2012, 08:55 PM
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Dbro172 Dbro172 is offline
 
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Default Doesn't matter at night

No matter tricycle or taildragger.... At night, once you flare you'll sub consciously use your periferal vision to reference the runway edge lights, not look over the nose. I anticipate your night landings in a tail dragger will be "greasers". But, like you, I minimize that risk by only planning day flights.
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  #8  
Old 06-21-2012, 09:04 PM
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Toobuilder Toobuilder is offline
 
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I have found the runway edge lighting to be the most powerful aid in night landings. I've never found the aircraft landing lights to be of any particular use because I'm not looking at the runway surface. I've had "good" HID lights and "no" lights on my airplanes - I don't notice much of a difference. I'm of the opinion that little airplane lights are only good for taxi and anti-collision.
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  #9  
Old 06-21-2012, 10:05 PM
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RV7Guy RV7Guy is offline
 
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Location: Chandler, AZ
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Default Lots O' Light

I fly quite a bit at night. Up until a year ago I had Duckworks LE lights with the HID bulbs. They were inadequate at best.

Last year I put in the Aveo 6 in 1 lights in the tips. What a dramatic difference. I even flew a few patterns with the runway lights off and was amazed at the difference. They threw enough light to easily light up the center all the way to the edge. No lighting issues now!!

As far as the tail dragger, I see no real issues. I think the natural tendency is to come in a little hotter so focus on nailing your airspeed. And, for me, I tend to flare a little higher at night and have to hold the attitude a couple of seconds longer.

Take offs are take offs and there is no real difference between day and night.

Get your night ticket and enjoy it. Fun stuff.
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  #10  
Old 06-22-2012, 04:37 AM
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RV6airplanePilot RV6airplanePilot is offline
 
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Default Plus 1

Quote:
Originally Posted by Toobuilder View Post
I have found the runway edge lighting to be the most powerful aid in night landings. I've never found the aircraft landing lights to be of any particular use because I'm not looking at the runway surface. I've had "good" HID lights and "no" lights on my airplanes - I don't notice much of a difference. I'm of the opinion that little airplane lights are only good for taxi and anti-collision.
Agree strongly.

Also, night landings are often better because we give ourselves more distance to get it "on", which is usually a good thing. Many night landings have softer, smoother wind conditions.

Dale
RV6a
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