Taildragger Checkout

Privileges

Tailwheel flying is more demanding than flying a tricycle gear airplane because the geometry of a tailwheel airplane's landing gear is less stable than that of a nosewheel airplane.

Sound scary? Sound too tough for a beginner? It isn't when you consider that hundreds of thousands of people learned to fly in Piper Cubs and Champs just like these. Learning to fly tailwheel is a lot like learning to drive a manual transmission: If you learn the manual first, it's simple to go to the automatic transmission later. Learn tailwheel first, and nose wheel airplanes are a piece of cake. It's no harder to learn from the beginning, and in the end you will be a better pilot. It also allows the pilot to fly nearly any aircraft with a conventional landing gear.

A Tailwheel conversion is an excellent way to do a biennial flight review or just brush up on your flying skills. Flight training time is not affected by the use of a tailwheel airplane. Conversions from nose wheel to tailwheel generall requires between five to ten hours. For current rates see our rates page.

Most schools don't teach tailwheel because the number of qualified tailwheel instructors has declined (even through the number of sport aviation and spray aircrafts taildraggers booms!). Taildraggers have also gathered an undeserved reputation over the years as difficult to fly, so many schools shy away from them. At Harv's Air Service, taildraggers are one of our specialties.

Harv's Air now has 4 taildraggers, including 2 Citabrias! This means NO mechanical or scheduling difficulties!

Prerequisites

The candidate must hold a Student Permit

Requirements

Must be proficient to fly the aircraft confidently and safely.

Duration

Training is at the student's pace and convenience. The course will take 2 days if full time and 2 weeks if part time (3 lessons a week).