Taildragger book or video

[Captain_John]

Brad, I second the motion for Stick and Rudder!

It is old. It is dated. It is plain and simple flying!

I pick it up from time to time and always am glad I did!

It is just a really cool, old book!

...kinda like the Aeronca I fly from time to time is nostalgic!

CJ

[pierre smith]

Originally Posted by svanarts

Another good book is Taming the Taildragger. I included it when I sold my Champ for the next guy. It's as close to a flight manual as there is for the Champ. Good stuff in there for any tailwheel pilot.

Pierre,
That's not true as far as older airplanes go. He might get training in an older airplane and as has already been mentioned, you must use rudder when flying too. You have to lead the turn with rudder. When I first flew my Champ I couldn't get it squared away until I learned that most flight adjustments are made with the rudder. You just need it MORE when you're landing.

Scott, I have over 14,000 hours of all sorts of taildragger time (17,000 total), and currently fly a 680 HP Air Tractor with a PT-6 turbine, so I know all about rudder.

The guys that make a big to-do about rudder and taildraggers overdo it. I've helped guys by just talking to them and watch them taxi a single place TD and later solo it. Yeah, some of the landings ain't pretty but they manage. There are of course easier ways to learn, like some dual but let's not make taildragger flying an albatross.
Regards,

[Brad Gould]

I got my tailwheel signoff yesterday in the J-3. I haven't had so much fun in an airplane in many, many years!!!!

First, I thought it would take a long time to get the hang of it. You guys were right, I just used the rudder as I always have; inputs are just required more frequently. The instructor told me, though, that I was using the pedals too much, but that I didn't overcorrect, I just did this excessive rudder dance.

The wind was a little gusty and a little crossed at somewhere near 10 knots. We also had the effects on the wind from adjacent hills. I still don't feel confident enough to rent a Cub by myself (I was tense enough at the begining that the top of my left leg felt like it was about to cramp up during my first wheel landing on pavement), but it didn't seem to be a difficult skill (and my legs relaxed by the end: I think the tension was due to the hype). Other things in aviation were much harder to pick up. Lots and lots of fun though! I'm going to go back a few more times to get my comfort level up, and to have more fun.

I was also amazed at how it felt on grass fields (I did half of my landings on one). Maybe it's just the Cub, but I'm much more used to getting jostled around on grass and feeling nose wheels trying to vibrate wildly. Is this a matter of having the main gear up front, or of the Cub itself?

Also, ground turn radius is incredible with the tailwheel unlocked. It's also pretty impressive in the air, since the speeds are so slow.

Anyway, I'm a tailwheel convert. What a blast! I want more.

Brad

[jcoloccia]

Originally Posted by Brad Gould

I was also amazed at how it felt on grass fields (I did half of my landings on one). Maybe it's just the Cub, but I'm much more used to getting jostled around on grass and feeling nose wheels trying to vibrate wildly. Is this a matter of having the main gear up front, or of the Cub itself?

It's a little of both. TD do tend to be smoother on grass but it's also the Cub. The landing roll on grass for a Cub is somewhere in the neighboorhood of 2 or 3 inches

[Captain_John]

Brad, CONGRATS!!!

It is the most fun, isn't it!?!

CJ