carusoam Posted August 7, 2015 Report Posted August 7, 2015 What is the typical training a Mooney pilot would get to achieve the tailwheel endorsement? (Hours of ground instruction + Hours of flight instruction ) X individual factor Individual factor... Some people pick up training quicker than others.... Is this a one day thing? Or is it best done an hour per day over a few days...? NJ has a nice glider port with a piper cub... Best regards, -a-
Hank Posted August 7, 2015 Report Posted August 7, 2015 Most people that I've talked to have knocked it out in a weekend. Seems like most report 6-10 hours, but no idea about ground time. I'd imagine that would be pretty short, most related to the plane used--speeds, power setting, trim, etc. 1
Joe Zuffoletto Posted August 7, 2015 Report Posted August 7, 2015 What is the typical training a Mooney pilot would get to achieve the tailwheel endorsement? (Hours of ground instruction + Hours of flight instruction ) X individual factor Individual factor... Some people pick up training quicker than others.... Is this a one day thing? Or is it best done an hour per day over a few days...? NJ has a nice glider port with a piper cub... Best regards, -a- Anthony, I started with a structured program that packed 3 hours of ground instruction and 6 hours of flight instruction (all landings) into two days. Thought I had it nailed, but when I tried to land my RV-8 I nearly killed myself twice. So I added 10 more hours of flight instruction at my home airport over a period of 8 weeks and after that it finally clicked. I think the individual factor is for real. Joe 2
carusoam Posted August 7, 2015 Report Posted August 7, 2015 Ground school and flight training = endorsement... Enough experience to fly safely... That is a BIG factor. Thanks guys, -a-
Shadrach Posted August 7, 2015 Report Posted August 7, 2015 It took 10 hours over about 3 months. I still feel like a novice at wheel landings. Never came close to losing control of the yaw axis. My biggest challenge has been smoothly sticking wheel landings with the spring steel gear of the Decathlon. 2
GeorgePerry Posted August 8, 2015 Author Report Posted August 8, 2015 I did it in about 4.5 hours, but we flew nearly every day for a week. Short flights with multiple landings. Cram it in and learn fast! 1
BigTex Posted August 8, 2015 Report Posted August 8, 2015 It's very difficult to achieve proficiency in a tailwheel aircraft in less than 10 hrs. There's just too many aspects of flying tailwheel aircraft you can't experience without putting in the hours. Just getting proficient with wheel landing in a crosswind on a paved runway can take 5+ hours. There's a touch you have to develop to be able to arrest your decent and fly the plane on and apply forward stick at the exact right point to plant the plane on the runway. Some things can't be rushed. 2
MyNameIsNobody Posted August 8, 2015 Report Posted August 8, 2015 I had 13 hours in a Citabria and I was not there...Good for you that are competent in less...
Tom Posted August 8, 2015 Report Posted August 8, 2015 I have a new found respect for tailwheel aircraft and their pilots! Proud to be part of the club! Congrats on entering the club. This now affords you the right to enter another club...may you avoid membership into that club! 2
FlyDave Posted August 8, 2015 Report Posted August 8, 2015 The AeroTrek I bought is a very light plane at 650 lbs empty. Ours is a 2008 model which has a smaller v-stab and rudder than the 2012 (I think) and later models and this makes it less stable landing than the later models. My partner has ~150 hours in a J3 Cub and neither one of us is comfortable 3-pointing the AeroTrek. I manage my descent at around 65 MPH, flare a little and then push the stick forward and plant those mains on the ground. When I was getting tailwheel instruction I fell into a strange place between wheel landing and 3-point. I was doing neither and let me tell you, that ain't no fun (kind of like a bad acid trip....)! You've got to be very decisive about doing one or the other - there's no in between. 1
GeorgePerry Posted August 12, 2015 Author Report Posted August 12, 2015 My friends at the home office sent me this picture today to commemorate my tailwheel endorsement. It's pretty funny so I figured I'd share 1
N601RX Posted August 12, 2015 Report Posted August 12, 2015 You can conduct flight training in an experimental, just not for compensation or hire. My instructor didn't charge me anything as we are friends. I'm not sure if sharing a six pack at the hanger after the last flight was complete counts? http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFar.nsf/FARSBySectLookup/91.319 This changed several years ago to help with safety. With a letter of authorization you can now rent for the purpose instruction and provide instruction for hire in an experimental provided it is not primary training. There is a guy down in Fl renting his experimental AirCam for multi engine ratings. http://www.avweb.com/news/homeblts/182021-1.html
N231BN Posted August 12, 2015 Report Posted August 12, 2015 It took 10 hours over about 3 months. I still feel like a novice at wheel landings. Never came close to losing control of the yaw axis. My biggest challenge has been smoothly sticking wheel landings with the spring steel gear of the Decathlon. You need to ask your instructor to teach you three-point landings, that is the way Citabria/Decathlon's are supposed to be flown. Three-point off and on. Easier in a crosswind too, they just become a two-point(main and tailwheel).
ryoder Posted August 13, 2015 Report Posted August 13, 2015 If I own a ELSA I can pay an instructor to teach me in it right? I cannot put it in the line at the flight school though.
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