Why can't I decide!!!

[aparchment]

Hey Chad:

It seems pretty clear from your message that you have an emotional attachment to the taildragger, so unless Brittne is strongly opposed, do what your heart tells you to do. Your 2 hours of tailwheel time shouldn't scare you away considering you are in a flying environment daily, probably have lots of opportunity to get the checkout and to practice.

I knew that I wanted a trike gear plane and a side-by-side, so the choice for me was clear -- 7A.

Hey, do you know when you are going up to Oshkosh? I am going Thursday through Sunday.

Antony

[cjensen]

Originally Posted by aparchment

Hey Chad:

Hey, do you know when you are going up to Oshkosh? I am going Thursday through Sunday.

Antony

Planning on being there Monday-Wed/Thurs. My dad has to shoot a wedding over the weekend of OSH, so we can't do our usual Wed-Sun. this year.

Thanks for all the replies so far everyone!! I *think* this is helping...

[Highflight]

I wonder if part of Chad's conundrum is that he's listening to everyone else's hearts.

Chad, it shouldn't mean diddleysquat what other people tell you. Just sit down and list what the most important advantage or disadvantage of either configuration is to YOU, and you should easily be able to decide and be happy with it.

Not to persuade you, but to offer a simple example, my decision for the -A model came about quickly because, for ME, there were two most important considerations. And they were visibility while taxiing, and my not having any taildragger time nor really caring about getting any.
Those are MY reasons but may very well be totally unimportant to you, so my giving those reasons in trying to convince you which way to go would be silly.

Pick it and do it and never look back.

[cjensen]

I need to give my buddy Jack Holland (JACKR here) a call for a motivator...again. He has one SWEET -7! Another ride would help...I think...

[JACKR]

GEE WIZ Chad, for crying out loud. Do you think I'm never going to let you fly my 7 again?? You did make a good landing in it, you'll be fine. I went to Pekin Sunday afternoon, rnwy 27, wind 188 18 gusting to 24, not a problem. I'll make sure you get some more time. Now get that nose dragger out of your head

[cjensen]

WOW! Ask, and ye shall receive!! Thanks Jack! Good timing on the response!

[Low Pass]

In my opinion (900-950 hrs RV flying, cfi, engineer) the RV nosewheel is a little too weak for the average pilot and for many marginal surfaces. Have seen several RV nosewheel mishaps, but never a tailwheel problem. Not the perfect comparison or a comment on nosewheel RV pilots, just an observation.

RV's are a very, very tame conventional gear airplane. One of the most controllable and predictable (on the ground) I've ever flown. The average RV quality pilot should have no problem with a little training beforehand. Ground visibility from my -8 is good. With just a little head tip I can see over the cowling fine. Not as good as a nosedragger, but good.

Last, they just look better! Hands down. The RV's are a really good looking plane with conventional gear.

2 cents

Bryan -8, 820 hrs
Houston

[hecilopter]

I got my tailwheel endorsement in a Citabria when I had about 150 hrs since private. I did it because it was FUN and something new to do with flying. I also did some aerobatic training (spins, loops & rolls) for something else new to do as well as the safety aspects of learning what to do in unusual attitudes. I rented it for about 25 hours more until they took it off line.

I wish they made a tri-tail-dragger (-7B?) with a retractable nosewheel/tailwheel. On calm to moderate windy days and when parked, I would definitely be in tailwheel mode. Looks cooler when on the ground (opinion)! It is also more fun to land, especially wheel landings, or three point, you have the option to pick and see how well you can do it. Kind of like a game!

However, on windier days I just feel more comfortable with the nose gear out front (no particular reason). In either airplane you have to USE THE RUDDER to stay on centerline. My game when I land my airplane is to see if I can put it exactly on centerline within 50 feet of where I thought I would touch, stay on centerline, and keep the nose off the ground until the speed bleeds away and forces it down. It makes it KIND of like a 3 point landing in a taildragger, but then I get to taxi and see where I'm going.

That is where it would be fun to have the "extend nosegear/retract tailwheel" switch for taxiing, and then "extend tailwheel/retract nosegear" to dismount and look cool!

In the end I built an "A" model because I use my plane more for travel and don't do touch and go's very often. Sometimes I wish I could "turn on" the tailwheel mode and have fun landing, but I'm happy with my decision (and my insurance premiums). I have enough buddies with the tailwheel that if I feel the urge, I can just go with them!

Good luck!

[N674P]

I go back and forth on this, too... I was leaning toward a -9, since I would be operating out of a grass strip (and they do look sooo much better!). Now I'm leaning toward a -9A, 'cause Van's says -9's are harder to keep on the ground when you land! -9's want to keep flying, since they're in the flying attitude, and wont stop as short as -9As will. Van's recommends a -9A even for grass strips.
This probably doesn't apply to you, since (I've heard) -9/9A's fly quite a bit differently than any of the others. And you're getting some practice in a -7, so you know what you're getting into! All I "know" is what I hear...

[b17fe]

Chad, I feel your pain
I'm in the same position right now and have been leaning "a" since I started.
Guess what !! I've decided Taildragger 8.
T\W time is limited but .. it's a challange I enjoy (and it's sooo much fun ).I also believe it makes you a better pilot.
Good luck!
Steve
81604
N184SM (res.)