An Aviator S Field Guide To Tailwheel Flying

In "An Aviator's Field Guide to Tailwheel Flying," author Jason Blair shares his experience in a variety of tailwheel-equipped aircraft. This book describes major phases of flight and considerations that transitioning or tailwheel pilots may find useful as they look to increase their proficiency. The discussion goes beyond the physical flying skills into other tailwheel aspects, such as operational differences in makes and models and ages of aircraft. Pilots of aircraft such as Cessna 180s, Cubs, Champs, Maules or other aircraft of similar type and size will find this content helpful. This book is the author's result of years of instructing and taking notes previously passed on to his own students, now compiled and shared with the broader aviation community.

Describes and illustrates over four hundred different airplanes likely to be seen in North America, grouped in the categories of biplanes, agricultural planes, low-wing singles, amphibians, low-wing twins, high-wing twins, twin-boom and canard twins, four-engine props, business jets, jet airliners, military aircraft, recently retired military aircraft, and helicopters.

Readers will learn practical tips on making the decision, alternatives to buying, choosing the correct plane, cockpit options, price and negotiations, insurance, getting your new airplane home and much more.

In "An Aviator's Field Guide to Middle-Altitude Flying" author Jason Blair shares his experience in a variety of piston twin-engine aircraft regularly used to fly in middle-altitudes, typically between 10,000' MSL and 25,000' MSL. This book describes major phases of flight and considerations that pilots who operate aircraft capable of flight at these altitudes may find useful as they develop their skills and seek tips and methods possibly missed in their initial training. This is the author's result of years of instructing and taking notes previously passed on to his own students, now compiled and shared with the broader aviation community. The pilot owner/operator of aircraft capable of flying above 10,000 MSL, up to altitudes in Flight Level 20s, may have had limited training that addresses this type of operation -- beyond basic aircraft systems and performance training. For these pilots, Jason Blair's notes and suggestions help to expand technique more broadly into "middle-altitude" flight operation.

The original configuration of an airplane's landing gear was tail wheel. Only during World War II did the nose wheel become common as longer runways were required to take off with the heavy loads. After the war, the tricycle landing gear layout became standard, although the traditional arrangement has always been known as "conventional" gear.

This book deals with flying the conventional gear airplane in a safe and pleasurable manner. It covers every aspect of taildragger operation from aerodynamics maintenance and preflight, to normal operations, to operations in unusual or adverse conditions. Many photos and drawings show a pilots perspective from the cockpit of various maneuvers. As the author's experience is in back country and mountain flying, this is an excellent book for those whose taildragger operations will likely include bush type flying.

Readers will learn practical tips on joys and challenges of aircraft ownership, costs, making the most of aircraft ownership, insurance, storing and ground travel, maintenance, documentation, equipment, modifications, avionics, and selling an aircraft.