After having spent over 20 hours with an instructor at a local community college, without being able to get flight time with the instructor and up to 2 months between lessons, I have gotten tired of paying the Tuition along with the higher cost of plane rental and instructor fees, I still have not been able to get a taildragger endorsement, all of my flight time was in up to 15 knot x winds on both grass and concrete runways, I finally decided that they were more interested in my money than ever signing off the endorsement when the instructor fell asleep while I was flying, I am looking for an Instructor In northwest Iowa or south east Minnesota, Does anyone know of someone who can teach a student to fly a Taildragger?
I realize that just being a sport Pilot I may not be someones first choice of student, but you see these Ads for 5 hour Taildragger endorsements, I realize that you are at the discretion or mercy of the Instructor for wether or not you get an endorsement, but the last flight did it for me, I could take off in 90 degree gusting crosswinds and grease in the landings 10 out of 10 times on the centerline and still not please an Instructor, am I just to Impatient or is this the normal way to get an endorsement?

I feel your pain, just went through an entire summer and part of the fall driving to the airport to "look" at my plane. I soloed last Sat. after finally finding a guy that loves to fly and instruct. Where are you at time and ticket wise?

Trackwelder wrote:...I could take off in 90 degree gusting crosswinds and grease in the landings 10 out of 10 times on the centerline...

Wish I could grease my landings 10 out of 10 times on the centerline. I suppose it might help if where I landed had a centerline. As far as the grease part, anyone have an Crisco I can borrow?

Richard Castle (660-415-6998) and I did a Seminar/Clinic with 12 pilots at Iowa Falls last weekend. Rich got Kami Axtel, the local instructor, a tailwheel endorsement in three hours. She is young, had a little tailwheel time, and is flexible. Old guys take longer. After pitching the Seminar, I flew with several pilots who just wanted to get familiar with contact flying techniques. All this was at no cost to the pilots except our fuel to get there in a Cherokee, food, and motel. Rich normally gets $50 per hour in your airplane. I am pretty much, medically, all used up. I am loud and obnoxious; see some of the posts. Rich is a part time preacher and is as squeaky clean as Cory. However, he does teach all my techniques except the apparent brisk walk rate of closure approach.

Go down to Storm Lake airport and talk to Bart. He has the spray plane business there. I learned at Sheldon IA but the guy that taught me passed away. I think Lyle Vust still does tailwheel instructing there. Just remembered meeting a couple that farm just south of Laurens and have a grass strip. I think she had a 140 Cessna and he sprayed with an Eagle biplane. I bet they could help you.

Trackwelder welcome to BCP! I knew these guys would know of some folks. Hope it works out for you!

Trackwelder don't give up...... I know a few people over in the Mason City area as well and will check with some of them.

I will be turning 60 this coming April and with a future concern about the 3rd class medical I decided to buy a LSA taildragger. Never few one before, have about 4 hours in so far and what a blast. Lots to learn for me but I'll get it. Agree on the winds in NW Iowa and SW Mn. I think when you learn to fly here you can fly anywhere in the wind.........maybe thats why they are putting up all those blasted turbines

Contactflyer....are you and "Iowegian" ?

Bighorn,

I am a hillbilly from Lapland, where Missouri laps over into Arkansas. I flew in the Rockys over twenty years, mostly in Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado. All the guys at the Iowa Falls clinic were most interested in the angle across the runway technique I teach with extreme crosswinds. It requires a slow approach, whether with full flaps and the apparent brisk walk rate of closure approach or not. We had a strong crosswind, so were able to practice it.

Many years ago, there were times that I'd have preferred and indecent instructor . . . of the female persuasion, of course.

bumper