Tailwheel training for Seniors

[waltb]

Hello, I have zero hours flying a tailwheel but many hundreds in nosewheel. I am north of 65. In yalls opinion what is a max age to start tailwheel training? Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving.

[rv8ch]

Originally Posted by waltb

Hello, I have zero hours flying a tailwheel but many hundreds in nosewheel. I am north of 65. In yalls opinion what is a max age to start tailwheel training? Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving.

Max age? I'd say about 119 - if you are older than that I recommend not trying to learn tailwheel.

[Capt]

It's amazing the amount of fear or concern when it comes to flying/handling a conventional u/c flying machine!
It's just another skill to learn/practice, no big deal at all.
When I bought my RV (conventional u/c) I'd had a total of 100 hrs T/W experience (7ECA, benign machine) I went for my very first fly in a 275HP Rocket with the owner, it was a pussycat but chewed too much gas. Next was an RV7, nah didn't like the squashy side by side, finally test flew the plane I bought, an RV8, one of the easiest planes I've ever flown in 40 years. Jumped in it and flew it home having never looked back -)
So don't be intimidated by a T/W plane, just get some good advice and enjoy a far better handling machine than one with the training wheel up front!

[mfleming]

It's not a bad question really. Age does have an effect on our reflexes and response times. But, I don't think one can say after a certain age one must not try to learn a new motor skill.

In my mind, the only way to know is, take some lessons. Be honest in your self evaluation and if the skills are coming to you...great, keep moving forward until the skills are were they need to be for your flying style.
The tail wheel skills needed for a RV-7 ARE NOT the same for a Pitts

[Robert Sailor]

Michael is correct...not all tailwheels are equal when it comes to the skills required to fly them safely.
I've done many tail wheel checkouts over the years on many different types. Real loosely in my opinion RV's are some of the easiest to master, right with them are Cubs and Citabrias.
Moving up a notch or two are older Piper Pacers and Luscombe 's they demand a higher level of skill. Nearing the upper ladder might be an early Pitts.
Long and short don't think for a moment that because you have lots of time in RV's that you'll be able to jump into a Pitts and safely operate it.because you won't, it's much more demanding.

Moving on to the age question..I've checked out many older folks on tailwheels and it's been my experience that it takes much longer, sometimes twice as much time to learn and the older pilot does not retain his skills anywhere near as well after periods of inactivity.. That being said there is absolutely no reason an older pilot can't learn to fly any tailwheel aircraft given enough time so add some fun to your life and learn some new skills....at the very least it will improve your stick and rudder skills and make you a better pilot.

[donaziza]

I don't know if this will help or not---but I "was" 65 when I was gonna get an RV 8. But first I needed tail wheel training. I got it in a RV 6, and the instructor insisted I make 3 point landings. Well I was having a heck of a time with that---just couldn't seem to do it. Then finally, I thought to myself, why don't I just mentally try and land the tailwheel first before the mains. Well, that worked perfectly as when the tailwheel hit the ground, the mains were only about an inch above (the ground). Then I hopped into my 8. There are a lot of posts here about landing an 8, but it seems most guys wheel land them, or wheel land, tail low. I've found that to be my case---always wheel land, and don't even try to 3 point anymore. ( I "believe" the 8 fuselage is a little longer than the 6, and thus why its harder to 3 point them.----Ok, I know I'm gonna get flack here from all the 8 drivers out there, but this is just me---I now have about 900 hours in my 8.

I'm now 77, and still flying. Hope this helps.

[Capt]

That's the way i land my 8, tail low mains first, gives full authority of the plane especially in gusty X-winds -) Also avoids undue impact damage on the rear bulkhead and tail assembly if you stuff up a 3 pointer.

[74-07]

Agree fully. Tail low wheel landing

[DeeCee 57]

hey Walt, faith is the driver here, not some stupid number
Go for it!

[David Paule]

Limber up your ankles on every approach. Wiggle your feet. Seriously.

Also, check the brakes on the approach. If one side is flat it's worth knowing. Maybe not do this in wet freezing weather, though.

Dave