Who has flown a Cessna 150 tailwheel?

CFI A&P

CFI A&P

Exploring the world one toilet at a time.
I've started to teach someone in their C150TW and I have this question for those who have flown one:

It seems as if there is not much change between level and three point attitude, it easily lands tailwheel first and doesn't seem to get anywhere near stall during the three point.

Granted, the main gear length and tailwheel spring height could affect this from one airplane to airplane (including the variation from one modification to another), but this 150 is really nice other than it doesn't seem to fully stall when landing.

Anyone else had this experience?
 
How's the up-elevator rigging, are you getting full deflection?

What kind of main gear did they use? From what I remember, if the existing gear is used and repositioned, they tend to squat a little more in front. This could be keeping it from reaching critical AOA at the 3 point attitude while in ground effect.

The one I flew was an older straight tail that used the legs off a 140.
 
The one I flew handled and landed pretty much like a 140. The 140 is the same as you described though in that the 3 point attitude isn't a full stall attitude like some of the even older rag-wing tailwheels - pretty easy to touch tail first.
 
tlewis95 said:
The one I flew handled and landed pretty much like a 140. The 140 is the same as you described though in that the 3 point attitude isn't a full stall attitude like some of the even older rag-wing tailwheels - pretty easy to touch tail first.
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Every 140 I've flown has always landed tailwheel first in a 3-point. I believe that there is a gear extension for the 140 - wonder if they have on for the Texas Taildragger?
 
WacoFan said:
Every 140 I've flown has always landed tailwheel first in a 3-point. I believe that there is a gear extension for the 140 - wonder if they have on for the Texas Taildragger?
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I think there is an aftermarket kit (140 style) where the girly blocks will work. I don't think they will mount on newer gear legs. I flew a 120 with the blocks and it would full stall in the 3 point.
 
I've flown these. They where never designed to be a tail wheel airplane. When you move the pivot forward and add a tail wheel you drastically reduce the angle of attack you can achieve on take off or in a 3 pointer. Doing three point landings seems to almost always put the tail wheel on the ground first.

I've never been a fan of the conversion. The straight tail ones are ok, but the swept tail 150's make poor tail wheel airplanes, just my opinion.
 
I've been thinking about adding a 140 or Citabria for instruction here, but looked into doing a TW conversion on my 150. As 22L said, the gear legs seem to be the main factor in angle of attack, as long as they are long enough they supposedly work out fine. However, the STC's are all in defunct companies now and no conversions are possible anymore... at least that's what I came to understand.
 
th
th

Look at the legs difference...............
 
I have owned a 150 taildragger for almost 6 years now and have no had a problem with the tail wheel hitting first on 3 point landings. Wheel landings are really easy in this airplane as well, I wheel-land the airplane for almost every landing just my preference. It is a great airplane though I have taken her everywhere and she does great on dirt and gravel strips.
 
Ya know if you took the Navion which is a great airplane and moved the gear forward to make a tail wheel out of it you'd have an even better airplane.
 
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