Taildragger Tactics

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.

Flying a Tailwheel Plane In the air all aeroplanes obey the same rules and fly in similar ways to each other, but on the ground tailwheel and nose wheel aeroplanes are quite different. It is not necessary for you to be an ace pilot to fly one of these tailwheel aeroplanes, all that is required is due care and attention: do not exceed your own limitations, or those of the aeroplane, read the manual, stay alert and keep flying the plane at ALL times: a flight is not finished until the aeroplane is either tied down or in the hangar.

When he earns his wings, Tom Fitzgerald learns that he will not be flying jets, but propeller driven Skyraiders. When he and his nemesis, Dean Claymore, report for duty in Miami, Florida they discover that the old taildragger can deliver tons ordnance; however it is unforgiving of inexperienced aviators. Fortunately Miami offers diversions, such as airline stewardesses, jai alai frontons, and all night cocktail lounges. When the squadron deploys to the Far East it deals with bizarre aircraft accidents, a humiliating encounter in a Manila bar, and a wacky operation to rescue US citizens from a civil war on Sumatra. Days before they are to return home, Tom and Dean disappear over the Philippines and are feared to be victims of communist guerillas. Crammed with nonstop aviation adventure, this saga will not let you go until the final page has been turned.

This book is a compilation of a half-century of flying experience in general aviation machines (sixteen thousand hours) and provides specific techniques and tips to enhance your knowledge of aviation and to improve your abilities and confidence as a pilot or student (and person). Coupling that flight background with decades of hands-on aircraft accident investigation involvement provides a completely fresh insight into being a pilot. The goal of this manual is to save lives! Small Aircraft Oper

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.

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.