When I'm by my self I can do awesome wheel landings, when I have someone in the back seat, not so much.

GumpAir wrote:Thanks Born2flyAK...

Great story showing off the glamorous side of flying for a living in AK. Fun to remember back on while sitting here sipping coffee with the thermostat set at 70 F.

Gump

Thanks! I'm not certain any input I had so far on this taildragging subject was worthwhile to anyone, but I'm all out now. At the risk of ruining a perfectly ineffectual argument by injecting interesting photos, here's one you can frame on the wall if you don't already have one like it...

55wagon wrote:Haha. Ya, been there a time or two myself for one thing or another. Maybe there should be an alaskan bushskid Go back to the old days. Lol

Done that too!

With regard to the controversial question........I'd tell an experienced pilot with a tw endorsement asking this question " to land the damn airplane as you see fit", that's why you learn different ways to land, to consider your airframe/equipment, different xw-technique, soft field, rough field, blah, blah.....can't fit a square peg in a round hole in flying. That's why it's so fun! Put those pocket protectors and slide rules away boys...haha

boner wrote:...I'd tell an experienced pilot with a tw endorsement asking this question " to land the damn airplane as you see fit", that's why you learn different ways to land, to consider your airframe/equipment, different xw-technique, soft field, rough field, blah, blah.....can't fit a square peg in a round hole in flying. That's why it's so fun! Put those pocket protectors and slide rules away boys...haha

Well, to set the record straight, for those of us who actually did use slide rules - there never was such a thing as a tailwheel "endorsement".

Hey boner,
Great name there. I prob couldn't land my plane without my slide rule. Actually now I can just enter all the parameters on my Iwhatever device on short final and it will tell me which way I should land. I really don't think you should be chiming in here with your experience level by the way. I could teach you how to fly a tailwheel sometime if you'd like. No doubt.

55wagon wrote:Hey boner,
Great name there. I prob couldn't land my plane without my slide rule. Actually now I can just enter all the parameters on my Iwhatever device on short final and it will tell me which way I should land. I really don't think you should be chiming in here with your experience level by the way. I could teach you how to fly a tailwheel sometime if you'd like. No doubt.

He said basically the same thing you've been saying, that this is seat of the pants flying. Not sure why you disagree now?

Hoping to get my endorsement soon actually. 25 hrs dual and 2 wing tips...by golly I'll get her done someday

Hey 55wagonmaster, had so many close calls with this darn tw endorsement that I started wearing a helmet with sliding eye pro. My instructor hates it and makes major fun of me.....granted its a little tight in the cockpit of my c-152tw with both of us and my helmet. Can't be too safe anymore though. Thinking about more ppe, any tips?

I got the same helmet man! Your right, can't be to careful these days. Just put some skid plates on those tips and let her rip. you'll get it! As far as ppe, I'd suggest some Nomex gloves and a full flight suit with NASCAR type shoes along w that helmet. Maybe a cup to. Not trying to get a rise out of ya. Just know you couldn't be a seat of the pants flyer since you don't wear pants.

Hmmm. What we in the software industry call "scope creep".

Haha. That's pretty funny. Want to step it up. Just gotta get these 3-pointers down first, dang. I'm gonna talk to my instructor about a flight suit or something maybe. Thinking maybe landings would be easier with 29s bush wheels or something. Not even sure if I could put them on my little bird

Boner wrote:

"Thinking maybe landings would be easier with 29s bush wheels or something. Not even sure if I could put them on my little bird."



Hey Boner, don't worry, size isnt everything

However, 29s Bushwheels certainly provide more cushion for the hard pushin some rookies like myself generally experience

This sounds like the start of one of those airshow routines...

Interesting thread.

For me it totally depends on where I'm landing and the runway surface. I'm not too keen to do a wheeler landing onto a 10%+ up-sloping airstrip, especially if it's not smooth with undulations and bumps everywhere. Controlling the Porter on the mains isn't too bad but judging your attitude when everything around you is up-sloping is pretty tricky; it's really throws your perception out. Much safer to do a three pointer in my opinion. Provided you touchdown straight, the lockable tailwheel helps keeps things nice and straight for you (land not straight and it's some serious fun and games keeping it on the airstrip!).

Back at main base on the comfort of a long, flat, 737 sized runway, I enjoy pulling off nice wheeler landings and gently lowering the tail as the taxiway approaches

Time to get a new supply of popcorn.

Cary

Landed in Newport, Oregon in 30-40 kts, this winter. Wheel landing is paramount during gale conditions ! USCG helicopter told me it was gusting to 50kts at 1000' AGL. Before putting the tail down I make sure I am pointed into the wind! Good use of flight controls, power and brakes make aircraft possible to taxi.

Wheel landings are necessary in strong crosswinds and one can see better level on the mains. That does not mean we need to be going fast. In a strong wind we should be going so slow (ground speed) we need to worry about going backwards.

For normal landings, we need to slow the airplane down. Too fast is a bad habit that will take us to the middle of any forced landing site. Now that we are slow on short final, it depends on the airplane and conditions. If the tail wheel touches first, as with a power/pitch approach with a tailwind, hold it down. If the tail doesn't touch first, as with a power/pitch approach with a headwind, level the airplane when (or just before in some airplanes) it touches at a very slow rate of closure. If we are using the power off approach, good training for forced landings, the same applies when we finally get rid of all that gravity thrust. If we're bouncing a wheel landing on a spring leaf gear, we are touching down too fast. Whether wheel or three point, a short landing need be a "stall down."

I fly a 185. I prefer to wheel land majority of the time. Visibility is better I have great control especially in crosswind. I find my landing distance nearly the same as 3point. Conditions and my feeling dictate which technique to use.

If you read the article written by bill white on how to wheel land a cessna180/185 it is excellent and works well . Search 180/185 club website for it or check bill white insurance.