Tailwheel Envy

[Jamie]

This isn't intended as flamebait, but just a serious inquiry.

How many -A model builders/flyers out there have developed 'tailwheel envy'? Serious answers, please. I'm looking for folks who are already flying.

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

I admit the number of nosewheel incidents has got me wondering whether I made the right decision on nosegear, but I don't have a tailwheel rating and, frankly, aviation people have made tailwheels sound like ProSealing fuel tanks, so I've never actually thought it was something I wanted to do.

I've thought about a constant speed prop. But I've never flown a plane with a constant speed prop. So, fixed pitch for me.

What I'm comfortable with is what I end up doing flying-wise 'cuz that's often hard enough for me, I'm not that interested in adding another level of complexity.

If there's more things that can go wrong, I'm guessing more things will (at least for me).

I don't want them to.

[CraigH@KRPH]

I'm currently shopping for my first RV, and my total flight time is split pretty evenly between nosewheel aircraft and tailwheel aircraft.

I've only got about a half hour logged in an RV, and it was a nosewheel model (RV-6A). However, I've pretty much limited my search to the tailwheel models. Just my newbie first impressions, but I found the nosewheel on the 6A to be somewhat of a liability. It seems awful weak, prone to shimmy, and prone to taxi damage on anything but the smoothest turf strips. It seemed to require many of the techniques required of a tailwheel aircraft anyways - constant backpressure on the stick and rudder steering.

Maybe it's just my unfamiliarity with the aircraft, but I was a whole lot more worried about damaging the nosewheel than I would have been worried about mishandling a tailwheel version.

[Mel]

I've got to put $.02 worth in here. I'm a tailwheel driver. Always have been and probably always will be. BUT...I hate to see RV nosewheels being blasted by what looks to me like "pilot error". Remember guys, nose wheels are for taxiing, not landing. I read one account where a person said that his shimmy stopped when he lifted the nosewheel and returned when he lowered it again. As my old instructor used to say, "If you can lift the nosewheel off the ground, why is it on the ground?" Amateur-built aircraft don't have to be idiot-proof like spam cans do. A C-150 nosewheel has to take student abuse. An RV nosewheel doesn't, so why add the extra weight. RV nosewheels are plenty strong if treated correctly.
Mel...DAR

[KiloWhiskey]

Paraphrasing the wife (since this is a family oriented site)
"Those real men may prefer taildraggers, but the ladies tend to prefer something substantial in front of the main gear. And a pilot who knows how to use it."

[Air UPSer]

Originally Posted by Mel

As my old instructor used to say, "If you can lift the nosewheel off the ground, why is it on the ground?"
Mel...DAR

Mel, maybe this isn?t as big a concern in a light GA a/c as it is in heavier transport a/c, but bear in mind if you hold the nose wheel off as long as possible, it will eventually come down. The point at which it comes down is the point at which the tail-plane is no longer generating enough lift to keep the nose wheel off the ground?the tail plane has essentially stalled. If you don?t employ proper technique, a stalled tail-plane will allow the nose wheel to drop to the runway rather abruptly. And since the tail-plane has already stalled, the pilot has no ability to lessen the impact. This can result in extensive damage to the nose gear and to the airframe, in a worst-case scenario.

I?m not saying you should put the nose wheel down as soon as the mains touch?I don?t do this myself?but you should plan to bring the nose wheel down while the elevator is still generating enough lift to positively command the nose to the runway in a controlled manner.

Brad

[Mel]

Of all the light general aviation aircraft that I have flown (and I have flown over 78 different models) I have never had the experience of the tailplane stalling abruptly letting the nosewheel drop. The closest thing I have run across is the Mooney where the main gear is so far aft that holding the nosewheel off is difficult at best. Heavier "transport" type aircrarft...different deal altogether. As a matter of fact the extreme being the Space Shuttle where the nose wheel MUST be lowered earlier because the mains will not support the total weight. (Told to me by Robert "Hoot" Gibson) Bottom line...On RVs there is no problem with holding the nosewheel off as long as possible.
Mel...DAR

[Air UPSer]

I can?t say I?ve ever flown the Space Shuttle, and I honestly haven?t done much GA flying in the last 10 years, but the airlines I?ve flown for prohibit keeping the nose wheel ?flying? for as long as possible for the reasons stated above.

bk

[Bob Martin]

I experiance the same thing when I hold the tail wheel off the runway in a wheel landing, if i don't "let" it down while I can, it will drop! but it doesn't take but one time to learn what causes it and not repeat it. well, maybe twice!
Bob Martin
RV-6

[BJohnson]

None of this helped that poor fellow whose nosewheel collapsed while taxing on a rough field, nor an emergency off airport landing situation.