@albravo,

Thanks for the explanation. I thought I might be getting tweeted or something, whatever that means. No need to explain everything. That would take too long.

contact

contactflying wrote:@albravo,

Thanks for the explanation. I thought I might be getting tweeted or something, whatever that means. No need to explain everything. That would take too long.

contact

Ha contactflying!

I have two pieces of advice. 1) Don't just get the minimum training to get an endorsement...stick with your instructor (hope a good one) until you feel good in the plane. 2) Get some time in the back seat of that Citabria...you aren't really a tailwheel pilot until you have landed "blind" from the back seat.

Insist on sufficient wheel-landing instruction. In my experience that can sometimes be shortchanged due to time constraints and emphasis on other skills.
-DP

+1 for wheel landing practice.
Don't let anyone tell you that you should always three point.
Don't let anyone tell you that you should always wheel land.
Both are correct and both have places where they excel over the other.

As far as flying the tailwheel. It's a learned muscle memory. Study all the physics about center of gravity behind the wheels and blah blah blah. Good to know but DOING it takes time for your muscles to learn.
Everyone is different for this and the older you are - the more time it will take to learn.

Not sure if I saw this here or another site but it's very relevant to flying in general and specially tailwheel.
Muscle memory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFzDaBzBlL0

Ha, well I unfortunately have to report that it was pretty much a complete disaster!

Without any names involved, without literally any coaching prior:

1) I was asked my first landing to "land it" in a variable crosswind with low level wind sheer, and the tailwheel was flat! Literally blew out, but I amazed myself and kept it on the runway. Tailwheel tire was off the rim and wrapped around the fork by the time I got it shut down ha

Next....

2) The CFI landed three point in a 90degree gusting crosswind with substantial side component, botched a go around, dove through the left hand ditch and took out 4 taxi lights and a road cone!

I told them, I'm just not feeling the "mojo" at this point, and ended it right there.

If there are any K2 guys out there, sorry for the commotion in your workday and thanks for being so accomodating to other pilots in the pattern at PATK.

For clarity, the flight training business had been sold from Above Alaska Aviation between when I made the appointment months ago and when I met them , its now another company.

Well, as an old friend told me, "If you don't learn something every time you fly, you weren't paying attention ". Sounds you got your money's worth in how NOT to fly a tailwheel airplane. Good job firing them.

Good luck finding someone who will do a good job.

MTV

Go up to FAI and get ahold of Andy Bibber at Adventure Flight.

866-644-4072

He'll take good care of you, and you'll come away with a good understanding of, and proficiency with, your conventional gear.

Gump


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I feel bad, I meant to PM you. The outfit Above AK sold their flight training to previously lost their flight training certificate, and for good reason. (word on the street is) Above AK sold their certificate (To Artic's Air Academy) because they were also under investigation. Artic's Air "rebranded" into "Fly Around Alaska".

That absolutely sucks that you had a poor experience. Those guys have zero business in any faucet of the aviation industry. If he has any availability, give Don Lee a call and ask for Zach as an instructor. Also, give me a shout if you want to discuss the local tailwheel training outfits. 907-320-0028

edit: If you have not already, give the FSDO a call and give them a summary of your experience. I'm not into tattle-tailing, especially to the Feds, but these guys are doing a huge disservice to our industry.

edit 2: The websites back it up. Both Above AK and Arctic's sites ultimately redirect to "Fly Around AK"

http://articsairacademy.com/
http://www.abovealaska.com/

Ha, you know I'm not even angry about it.... no worries at all. It certainly will be a story I don't think I will soon forget!

I can only explain it as "The taxi of shame" when we taxied by the rows of Turbine Otters and 185s operating for K2 ha I couldn't help but laugh then and now still.

Honestly, I've never even approached leaving the runway any other way than the ENDS on takeoff until that day... after the dust settled on the taxiway, with a literal trail of marker light destruction behind us, I told the CFI (half joking half not) "THAT WAS AWESOME!"

He didn't have much to say about that

I've now cemented the opinion I've grown into that I'm only flying with the older experienced CFIs and no more young "gotta build hours" CFIs as was the case here.

MTV your entirely correct, I actually feel like I learned a bunch as silly as it sounds.

Tradecraft you are correct about the change who's running it, I found that out that day.

Anyway, I'm in Soldotna.. if anybody knows anyone that's interested in showing a young tricycle pilot the ropes in a tailwheel I'm all ears. Trying to get competent in flying a tailwheel so I don't ball up our Bearhawk! ha

I may end up just temporarily buying a 120/140 or similar to get transitioned in such is aviation eh?

By the way everybody, thanks for the responses! I'll keep looking around for an opportunity.