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Tailwheel Training in N. California?

Craig23

Well Known Member
Hi Everyone,

I'm currently building the wings of my RV-8 (or 8A), and I'd like to make an informed decision before I decide which gear configuration to go with. I am trying to find somewhere near my home in Santa Rosa (60 miles north of S.F.) to get tailwheel training and an endorsement. I know a company in Petaluma has a Citabria, but it's down for quite a while following a prop strike.

Does anyone know of someone else in my area who does this training?

Thanks,
Craig Schwartz
N868RV reserved
 
Craig,

I started out with Attitude Aviation in Livermore. Good instruction in well kept Citabria aircraft but at a relatively higher cost then the others. I spent a significant amount of money there, logged a lot of hours but got no endorsement. Couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel so I switched.

Jim Kilborne @ KSAC Jet Center. Jim is a one plane operation. He flies a very well maintained Citabria. He's a former school teacher and really has a knack for getting the information across. He is patient and reliable and I think he may fly to your location for cost. I will PM his number if you want it. Jim prices were much lower than Attitude's.

Following the advise of so many here on VAF who have gone before me, I got on the schedule with Mike Seager out of Scappoose Oregon. In a three day period I logged just over 10 hours with Mike in his RV7. We flew twice each day. Mike has developed a really great training program and has an exceptional instructional style. The training I received from Mike was by far was the best I've ever received. Flying in and out of a short grass field in the mountains was one of the coolest things ever. Flying in Oregon is breath taking. I received a TW endorsement and got the transition training I needed to fly my 8.
 
San Carlos Flight Center

San Carlos Flight Center at SQL has three taildraggers:

A Super Decathlon

A Citabria Explorer

A Cessna 140

I did my tailwheel endorsement in the Super D. It was really, really fun. Near the end of my training I would take off, do a continuous turn from departure to downwind to keep it tight, pull to idle opposite the touchdown point, slip in in hard to touchdown and wheel land it before firewalling the throttle and doing it again. At one point I was logging a landing in less than 0.1 on the Hobbs. So much fun.
 
I have used Jim Kilbourn at Sacramento Tailwheel Aviation. 916-803-3284.
He comes here to Stockton to do tailwheel training in his Citabria for our customers. I'm sure he would come over to Santa Rosa or wherever.

Tell him Craig @ The Plane Exchange sent you :)
 
If you want to make the trek to San Jose... Try aerodynamic aviation

Ask for Zdravko ... He's a tail wheel expert... With plenty of planes for you to fly.
 
My understanding was that Jim Kilbourne is moving out of state. Down south somewhere. NorCal in Lincoln has a 2000 hr tail wheel instructor and solo rental after. Really good guy, great plane for learning (530 lb useful load) and inexpensive rate. He has most of his time in luscombes so he is ready for almost any tailwheel aircraft.
 
Citabria available at KSTS - try calling Sonoma Jet Center or North Coast Aviation??
 
Mike is definitely the way to go.

I would highly recommend him instead of the closer options. He taught me a lot more than in a day than I learnt in 10 with other instructors. Worth the travel cost in my opinion.
 
Look everyone... What was the last airliner with a tail wheel...last bomber, fighter...or even general aviation aircraft built with a tail wheel. They quit building them and used a nose gear configuation for a reason. I mean the whole aviation industry world wide did.

So, I realize there is a challenge argument or a slight speed argument...but the entire aviation industry world wide has made the decision what is the best configuation. I assure you Boeing is not stewing over whether the 797 will be a tailwheel configuration.
 
San Carlos Flight Center at SQL has three taildraggers:

A Super Decathlon

A Citabria Explorer

A Cessna 140

I did my tailwheel endorsement in the Super D. It was really, really fun. Near the end of my training I would take off, do a continuous turn from departure to downwind to keep it tight, pull to idle opposite the touchdown point, slip in in hard to touchdown and wheel land it before firewalling the throttle and doing it again. At one point I was logging a landing in less than 0.1 on the Hobbs. So much fun.

San Carlos Flight center no longer has a tailwheel program, unfortunately. The Super D and Explorer are no longer on the line and their main TW instructor moved away. I was a long time member and flier until this all came down last September.

West Valley Flying club and Advantage Aviation at KPAO have a good tailwheel fleet and good instructors.
 
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Tailwheel experience will just simply make you a better pilot. I have given tailwheel instruction for years and have been told by many tri-gear pilots that it has helped their tri-gear flying skills and specifically landing and x-wind skills. One of the main reasons that nose wheel pilots damage their airplanes on landings is because they don't always land on the main gear. They also don't keep the weight off the nose wheel during the touchdown and roll out phase of landing. I have been also told that their tail wheel instruction have helped them maintain a consistent approach speed. The proper approach speed is much more critical in tailwheel type aircraft. If you land a noise wheel airplane as you would land a tailwheel airplane you are much less likely to damage your noise wheel and with better directional control skills less likely to lose control on landing.
 
We probably shouldn't be flying propeller driven aircraft either since the airlines aren't using those...

Look everyone... What was the last airliner with a tail wheel...last bomber, fighter...or even general aviation aircraft built with a tail wheel. They quit building them and used a nose gear configuation for a reason. I mean the whole aviation industry world wide did.

So, I realize there is a challenge argument or a slight speed argument...but the entire aviation industry world wide has made the decision what is the best configuation. I assure you Boeing is not stewing over whether the 797 will be a tailwheel configuration.
 
Look everyone... What was the last airliner with a tail wheel...last bomber, fighter...or even general aviation aircraft built with a tail wheel. They quit building them and used a nose gear configuation for a reason. I mean the whole aviation industry world wide did.

So, I realize there is a challenge argument or a slight speed argument...but the entire aviation industry world wide has made the decision what is the best configuation. I assure you Boeing is not stewing over whether the 797 will be a tailwheel configuration.

How narrow minded! Nose draggers are great if you want to go from pavement to pavement, but once you get past that and start exploring, you quickly find that extra prop clearance and gear strength open up all kinds of options in the backcountry.

A cub would really suck with with a nosewheel, and if you think low and slow isn't part of GA, then you are seriously missing out.

Anyway, onto the OP's question:

NOT ALL TW INSTRUCTORS CREATED EQUAL. (sorry, not meaning to be rude, but it's important)

I got instruction from two different people, and I learned more in 2 hours from the second guy then I did the entire time I flew with the first.

Also, tailwheel isn't hard, but it does require you to fly the airplane well, not poorly then stop flying the second you hear the thud.

I was taught like this:

Use the rudder to keep the airplane completely parallel with the runway. Whatever happens, pitch up, down, whatever, do whatever you have to do to keep it parallel.

Use the aileron to keep the airplane in the center of the runway. If you drift, use the aileron, while keeping it parallel with the rudder.

Use the elevator to set the pitch, and the throttle for altitude until you get good at understanding what you need for tail high, low, or 3 point then mix/match.

So if you want a wheel landing (better for crosswinds) you are doing to use less elevator and a flatter pitch, but more throttle so you don't sink too fast.

If you have a serious cross wind, well, you will find that keeping the airplane straight with the rudder, and into the wind with the aileron will give you a one wheel then other wheel landing, just like you want.

It's not rocket science, but it does take some skill, and it's very rewarding.
 
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Look everyone... What was the last airliner with a tail wheel...last bomber, fighter...or even general aviation aircraft built with a tail wheel. They quit building them and used a nose gear configuation for a reason. I mean the whole aviation industry world wide did.

So, I realize there is a challenge argument or a slight speed argument...but the entire aviation industry world wide has made the decision what is the best configuation. I assure you Boeing is not stewing over whether the 797 will be a tailwheel configuration.

Look boyerwood, when was the last airliner that landed on a grass runway.

You can buy a lot of new or kit general aviation aircraft with a tailwheel:

http://mauleairinc.com/
http://cubcrafters.com/
https://justaircraft.com/
https://www.rans.com/
http://www.americanchampionaircraft.com/
http://www.burlac.com/aero_sedan.html
https://aviataircraft.com/husky-aircraft/
http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/
https://bearhawkaircraft.com/

AND

https://www.vansaircraft.com/
 
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