Help Stamp Out Nosewheels

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by jjhoneck

When I bought my 8A in 2013, the differential between nosewheel and tailwheel was almost $1000/year for insurance.

It's not insignificant.

I had about 300 hours TW time in five or six different makes & models when I made my first flight. My insurance was $100 more than the guy in the hangar next to me with a -7A who made his first flight a few months later.

Now there is no appreciable difference.

Besides, having your tailwheel endorsement allows you to take your biannual (now "flight") review in cool airplanes like the DHC-1, PT-17, etc., which I have done.

[DanH]

Originally Posted by curtis

So what does this say about our military and commercial airline pilots?

They fly what they're paid to fly?

[60av8tor]

Originally Posted by DanH

They fly what they're paid to fly?

Yup, plus we'd probably never be skilled enough to fly a beastly Vans TW

[jjhoneck]

Originally Posted by DaleB

Jay, did you have significant tailwheel time? When I asked about insurance I was told that the first year's premium would be fairly high, since I'd have very little TW time, but it would go down after I had some number of hours (50 or 100) in tail draggers.

I had zero tailwheel time. Thus, the difference in insurance.

I'm sure once you've proven to the bureaucrats that you can fly a tailwheel safely, the insurance price difference shrinks, but for most pilots it's a significant savings to buy the -A model.

Which isn't why I bought mine, actually. When I convinced my wife, Mary, (also a pilot) that we should look at tandem seat experimental planes, she commented that this was fine, but that she wanted tricycle gear. She felt that the transition to tailwheel AND tandem seating AND experimental was too much.

Since we both fly the plane, compromise was the order of the day. And they fly exactly the same, so it's not a big deal to me.

[N546RV]

Originally Posted by DaleB

Jay, did you have significant tailwheel time? When I asked about insurance I was told that the first year's premium would be fairly high, since I'd have very little TW time, but it would go down after I had some number of hours (50 or 100) in tail draggers.

And this is why I intend to log TW time whenever possible for the foreseeable future. I'm going on 15 hours now and I'd like to have as much experience as possible, both for financial and practical reasons. (and by practical I mean "don't bend the plane you just spent five years building")

[plehrke]

Originally Posted by N546RV

And this is why I intend to log TW time whenever possible for the foreseeable future. I'm going on 15 hours now and I'd like to have as much experience as possible, both for financial and practical reasons. (and by practical I mean "don't bend the plane you just spent five years building")

Good advise even for NW.

[DanH]

Originally Posted by 60av8tor

Yup, plus we'd probably never be skilled enough to fly a beastly Vans TW

....he says as he posts a picture of a tailwheel helicopter.

I would cheerfully take a turn with a nosewheel attached to anything in current fighter inventory. You could call me anything you want. Every day. Forever.

[DaleB]

Originally Posted by jjhoneck

I had zero tailwheel time. Thus, the difference in insurance.

I'm sure once you've proven to the bureaucrats that you can fly a tailwheel safely, the insurance price difference shrinks, but for most pilots it's a significant savings to buy the -A model.

Just askng. I wasn't trying to imply anything or criticize... bear in mind I have no TW endorsement, no TW training, have never taken off or landed a TW airplane, and am building a tail dragger. ::shrug::

I did know the insurance cost would probably be pretty brutal the first year.

[N546RV]

Originally Posted by DaleB

Just askng. I wasn't trying to imply anything or criticize... bear in mind I have no TW endorsement, no TW training, have never taken off or landed a TW airplane, and am building a tail dragger. ::shrug::

I did know the insurance cost would probably be pretty brutal the first year.

This was me a few months ago, but I decided to at least get started on TW training before I ordered my fuse kit and committed. I didn't think it would be an insurmountable challenge or anything, but it seemed prudent all the same.

The Citabria has been the most fun I've had flying in some time.

[JonJay]

Reminds me of the NW Antique Aircraft Association. This show drew as many as 300 antiques, many the only examples flying, and was one of the most popular antique fly ins in the country.
I showed up with my '42 Aeronca L3 and was delegated to the back line. "Antiques have round engines", I was told.
Last year, I think there where 15 airplanes in attendance, including my Champ (one a workmanship award, how ironic). I think there where three or four round engines. The directors are now begging for anyone to show, in anything.

A couple year ago they even asked our RV formation group, West Coast Ravens, to entertain. We did, and nobody appreciated it.

Lee Bottom could be headed down the road to obscurity. Stupid.....