Tricycle gear vs. tail dragger

[g_e_young]

Now here's something that everybody has an opinion on!!!

I'll just start this thread with my humble opinion...

I built and finished an RV-6 about 8 years ago. I sold it a year later because of time and money constraints. Now I'm building an RV8A. I built the -6 becuase I thought it looked a lot better than the 6A, and also because I wanted those extra 2 kts. Also, I thought I was an above average stick and rudder guy (or so my instructors and examiners had told me (to get a bigger tip???)) so transitioning to a tail dragger would be no big deal. I took 6 hours of transition in a Citabria (my first 300 hours were in Cessnas, Pipers and Mooneys) and I thought I was all set.

Well, I was wrong. I never got used to flying the tail dragger. Even though I could land it perfectly, I was always scared of the unexpected ground loop. Further, I almost taxi'd right into a parked plane one time. The bottom line is that whenever I flew my -6 I could never completely relax because I knew I was going to have to land it at the end of the flight. It just made flying less fun.

I think the bottom line for me was that feeling comfortable in a tail dragger when you've learnd in a tri-cycle gear plane was a much bigger transition than I ever expected. Also, I realized why almost all new planes in the last 50 years have been tricycle grear; it's really a superious system from a human factors perspective.

Well, I could go on and on, but that's my experience. It's tricycle gear for me from now on! I want to fly, not sweat the landings.

grant-

[Spike]

Interesting perspective grant. I have always thought that the tail dragger is such a pretty airplane compaired to tricycle geared planes. When it came down to it though I decided on the -A variant for 2 main reasons. The first is that I already know how to fly them an the second was that I percieve the risk to be lower (and presumably so does the insurance company.) Yeah, I love the conventional gear look but I cant see it anyway when flying. So, Ill happily fly my -A model and if I need a tail wheel fix, Ill go walk the row with a camera

-- Spike

[WhiskeyNovember]

I have 14.5 hours on my RV-8. I chose it because it of the looks and the nostalgia associated with tailwheels, IMO, and the added challenge. So far so good. It indeed is an added challenge, but the RV series has such honest manners, even I can do it with less than 300 total time under my belt.

[g_e_young]

Well said, WN. It's more than just a change, it's a challenge.

gy

[captain_john]

I am building a tailwheel -7 with about 50 Citabria hours under my belt. I like the nostalgia too! It takes a bit of ground handling to be comfortable with. I liken it to driving a forklift. The possible groundloop situation is there, but if you "fly it to the ropes" as we are taught this mitigates the risk.

Tailwheels for all!

CJ

[ScottD]

Nosewheel (9A)

I have about 5 hours in a Cub getting my endorsement and then 80 or so in a Kitfox. I have found out from the Kitfox (a relatives which I can fly whenever I want, the only thing I have to fly currently) that insurance companies don't really like them, plus one tailwheel plane in the hanger is enough.

I would rather give up the 2mph for better visibility and less concern on what the wind is at my destination when I go somewhere. I do think that having some tailwheel time definitely makes you more "better" at landing an airplane no matter which side the third wheel is on.

Scott DellAngelo
#90598 Fuselage

[hngrflyr]

I learned to fly in tailwheel airplanes during the 1950s. 95% of my time has been in tail draqggers. I've owned a Cessna 120 for 35 years and still do, but don't fly it much anymore. In March 2004, we purchased an RV-6, and have about 50 hours in it now. The RV-6 tailwheel steering is very positive and the rudder has good control authority. Overall, I would say my RV-6 is one of the easier tailwheel airplanes I've flown. It has more P-effect than I was used to at first. It only took one swervy takeoff to wake me up. I've landed it in a 22knot gusty crosswind at 45 degrees to the runway without difficulty. The biggest negative about my RV-6 is the poor visibility over the right side of the nose. I "S" taxi most of the time to keep track of what's ahead. I've flown most of the WWll trainers at least a little bit, and one quite a bit. With the big round engines up front, "s" taxiing is just what you do. I think tailwheel flying enforces good stick and rudders skills, and forces you not to get lazy.

hngrflyr

[Brian]

How do I answer this poll? I built/fly an RV8 and LOVE taildraggers. But, I'm now building an RV-10(A?)....trike gear...because there won't be a taildragger version. So, I have resigned myself to eventually shaving my legs and changing my name to "Nancy".

[spikescopilot]

How do I answer this poll? I built/fly an RV8 and LOVE taildraggers. But, I'm now building an RV-10(A?)....trike gear...because there won't be a taildragger version. So, I have resigned myself to eventually shaving my legs and changing my name to "Nancy".

Welcome to the board, Nancy! FYI, try "Intuition"... shaving stuff is right on the blade. Awesome time saver (and helps you avoid the razor burn as well).



(just kidding -- welcome to the board!)

[Guest]

Hi Guys,
I'm building an "eight" with a tailwheel to operate into lots of grass and dirt strips.

Tailwheel airplanes keep your prop out of the grit that erodes propellors. Having a tailwheel allows a little slower touchdowns with no worry about nosgear support systems on rough strips. Tailstrikes are OK on taildraggers!

I think tailwheel aircraft are much more fun to fly also. I learned to fly on a tailwheel aircraft back in 1960 and even though I have a bazillion hours on tricycle gear I still prefer the tailwheel.

Cheers, Pete

[l & d lewis]

I just ordered the 8/8A preview plans, hope they'll be here this weekend. I've been torn between the looks of the 8 and the handling of the 8A. I haven't seen any good pictures of the 8A, I don't particularly like the yellow one Van uses in his ad's. I have friends who've flown tail-wheels for a living for years, and one day during a momentary lapse they just jump up and bite them. I've seen ground loops on both takeoff and landing. (ask Chuch Yeager about his excursion last year) No doubt the trike is more forgiving, but I've learned a thing or two about flying from tail-wheels. (respect for one) Try a Supercub on an icy runway with heal brakes wearing snowboots sometime. I guess I still have a month or so before I order the EMP kit. In one of the other posts someone said keeping the better half happy is a must. The wife wants me to stick with the trike, and that's probably what I'll do. So call me Nancy if you must!

Great website................Larry

[N728E]

I've had my PPL for about 3 years, bought a square-tail 172 as a 13-hour student who hadn't even soloed yet, fly it almost every weekend, have put almost 600 hours on it in 3-1/2 years and after rides in a -7 and a -9A I like the ground visibility on the -A much better. The taildragger looks better, especially the -8 vs. the -8A but one factor that rarely gets press: the tri-gear can rotate for a shorter take-off roll and flare steeper for a shorter landing roll. Maybe it's just BS on paper but it makes sense to me. Oh yeah, and I'm building a -7A(fuselage).

"hawk"