Have any of you read this books? and what did you think of them?

Reuben

Read them both years ago. Thought stick and rudder was pretty good. Don't remember compete tail dagger, maybe an indication of what I thought of it ?

Stick and Rudder is a classic, and a good basic aerodynamic reference book. I found Plourde's Compleat Taildragger to be so basic as to be pretty useless. Most of the book is irrelevant drivel describing a whole bunch of very rare UK type tailwheel airplanes. Not much of relevance there for the new tailwheel pilot in my opinion.

MTV

Ditto on MTV. Also, Sparky Imeson's 'Taildragger Tactics' is a worthy read. It's available through MountainFlying.com. His daughter now runs the website.

Sparky's 'Mountain Flying Bible' also has helpful information that applies to conventional geared aircraft.

I have read both books. I did find Stick and Rudder to be a difficult read, but it does contain some useful infomation when you can focus on what you are actually reading. I have to agree, all of Sparky's books are well worth the time and money.

Stick & Rudder is simply one of the finest books on describing why airplanes fly and how to fly them.

Curious that it has become one of the Bibles of taildragger pilots, when Langewiesche ultimately concludes that taildraggers are outdated and essentially useless.

It is the first book I recommend to anyone wanting to become a pilot.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and has a Happy and Properous New Year.

Thanks for the info I 'll look at the other books And if you got any more info good bring it on!!

Reuben

Stick and Rudder is on the bedside table and get read some nights when the wife can't sleep I have to do something. Still interesting in places and always something to think about. I will agree that a trike is safer than a tailwheel. I do love to fly my C-120 and it is much more interesting and fun to use. The Compleat Taildragger is in the hanger looking for a new owner. Good read the first time through. Did help a C172 trained non rudder user to make some sense of the wonderful world of taildragger flying. I could be talked out of the book for a price. Remember that you can read the words but it doesn't mean the words did anything for the brain.

Stick and Rudder is a good "plain language" of what is going on with the aerodynamic forces on the airplane. The problem is - it is written in the plain language of 1944 when it was published. I think a teenager or twenty-something these days would be more confused by the explanations. If somebody were to take on the project translating Langwiesche into today's vernacular then it would a valuable text book.

Stick and rudder is great, interesting how he called the elevator a flipper.

"From the ground up" is a great read, covers everything from basic airmanship to turbines

NineThreeKilo wrote:Stick and rudder is great, interesting how he called the elevator a flipper.

"From the ground up" is a great read, covers everything from basic airmanship to turbines

Both are great books, though the "flipper" thing was a little different.

Langewiesche calls the elevator a different name to help the reader not to confuse that surface's true purpose.
It does not elevate the airplane. There is excellent description in the book.
I still like and use The Compleat Taildragger to help transition tri-gear minded pilots into taildraggers, mainly because it is simple to understand, describes the cg position effect, and the interaction of wheel steering and rudder, better than most.
Plourde is also very familiar with the Maule.

Reuben:

A good book I would recommend is Sparky Imeson's book, "Taildragger Tactics". Sparky had a way of reducing the difficult into the easy and teaching in a very understandable way.

Whether you get Stick and Rudder, I would recommend Taildragger Tactics. Great read and I guarantee there is info that you will want to carry around with you.

Regards, Larry