mtsu_av8er
Well-Known Member
For all you weird pilots out there....how long did it take you to get your tailwheel endorsement?? What do you think is a reasonable amount of time to get one?
How Much Time For A Tailwheel Endorsement??
- Thread starter mtsu_av8er
- Start date
hammer
New Member
Ironic to see this question since I'm doing a tailwheel endorsement right now! I've had my first three tailwheel flights (2.6 hours so far) in the past week and the landings are starting to feel natural. The instructors I spoke with said it usually takes 4-6 hours to get the endorsement. I think I'll end up with five flights and between 4-5 hours. I'm not sure what your experience is, but for comparison, I'm Commercial ASEL and AMEL. A low hours pilot will probably take a little bit longer.
MTSU.....Check out the link below. It is a training diary for a fellow pilot that I have flown with on a mumber of occasions. He is also a JC member (Dazzler). I recruited him from another forum.
I jsut checked the link and his site appears down.Check back at a later date. He kept a good, descriptive diary of all of his training, Tailwheel included.
Training Diary
Training Diary
mtsu_av8er
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Gday, this must be a yank term, but bloody hell mate, what does ASEL and AMEL mean?
Sorry cobber, but im trying to get with ya lingo....fair dinkim!
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And you think you're confused with OUR terminology!!!
Gday, this must be a yank term, but bloody hell mate, what does ASEL and AMEL mean?
Sorry cobber, but im trying to get with ya lingo....fair dinkim!
[/ QUOTE ]
And you think you're confused with OUR terminology!!!
I'd say, more than you own skills, it depends on how the endorser wants you to do things.
They could sign you off in a few hours. Or 20 hours.
I think it depends on planes, and the trainer's standards.
I was flying everything pretty much around the 4 or 5 hour range to about as good as I do now. But, the place I train likes to hit wheel landings real well (which is fine with me, since they are fun
) and make sure you have some real x-wind practice as well. In addition, I was doing the work in two similar but different planes. A 1946 Aeronca Champ for a lot of it, and a 60s era Citabria for most of the other time. The school has a checkout requirement before you solo in their planes, which includes flying with the owner/cheif pilot (who is the son of a fairly famous aviator in these parts who passed on a few years ago). I did their required 3 supervised solos, couple in the Champ, one in the Citabria, then I was on my own. The first of those solos obviously came after the endorsement, and think it was around 12 or 13hrs. I think the place I went goes further than most that would just sign you off. They want you to be safe. Going through landings where they mess things up on purpose (you know, passenger in the back kicks the rudder as you are about to land) to see how you handle it. They also ask for a couple hours solo before you start taking passengers in their planes. They are a tailwheel only school, with the 172 they have going about 10hrs or so a month (while most of the tailwheel planes do that in a week, easy). www.ameliareid.com
Landing in a lot of wind isn't hard. The taxi of the runway is
Anyhow, getting the endorsement, and knowing the plane enough so you won't hurt yourself are two different things. The first, maybe 6 hours. The latter, at least twice that, and always flying 'em to keep current.
They could sign you off in a few hours. Or 20 hours.
I think it depends on planes, and the trainer's standards.
I was flying everything pretty much around the 4 or 5 hour range to about as good as I do now. But, the place I train likes to hit wheel landings real well (which is fine with me, since they are fun
Landing in a lot of wind isn't hard. The taxi of the runway is
Anyhow, getting the endorsement, and knowing the plane enough so you won't hurt yourself are two different things. The first, maybe 6 hours. The latter, at least twice that, and always flying 'em to keep current.
mtsu_av8er
Well-Known Member
Thanks alot, guys!! Honestly, I don't want to do alot of tailwheel flying....just something I'd like to try my hand at. I'd like the endrosement, but I'm not going to go out and pay for 10 hours of dual in a taildragger (you can get a multi-engine rating in less than 10 hours.....
). Thanks for the responses, though!!
sbe
Well-Known Member
I think I did my endorsement in around 8 hours. I did mine over a weekend when I was on vacation - down near Albuquerque, NM. I loved it. We also had a bit of an intro to mountain flying, and landed on a dirt/sand/gravel strip up in the mountains southwest of ABQ.
It was some challenging stuff! Just when I thought I had 'directional control' under control, I'd have a landing wherein I'd go careening from one side of the runway to the other. It'll make ya humble!!
Sarah
It was some challenging stuff! Just when I thought I had 'directional control' under control, I'd have a landing wherein I'd go careening from one side of the runway to the other. It'll make ya humble!!
Sarah
mtsu_av8er
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
We also had a bit of an intro to mountain flying, and landed on a dirt/sand/gravel strip up in the mountains southwest of ABQ.
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See, that's exactly what I'm afraid of.....
. I don't ever plan on landing on dirt, gravel, rough asphalt, or turf runways....but every tailwheel instructor wants to take me and fly for umpteen hours to make me "appreciate" paved runways (like I don't appreciate them already....). I don't know....maybe I should just do without the thing....give my money to somebody who wants it!!!
We also had a bit of an intro to mountain flying, and landed on a dirt/sand/gravel strip up in the mountains southwest of ABQ.
[/ QUOTE ]
See, that's exactly what I'm afraid of.....
donttouchanything
New Member
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I don't know....maybe I should just do without the thing....give my money to somebody who wants it!!!
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I'll PM you my address and expect payment in cash
I don't know....maybe I should just do without the thing....give my money to somebody who wants it!!!
[/ QUOTE ]
I'll PM you my address and expect payment in cash
sbe
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
See, that's exactly what I'm afraid of..... . I don't ever plan on landing on dirt, gravel, rough asphalt, or turf runways....but every tailwheel instructor wants to take me and fly for umpteen hours to make me "appreciate" paved runways
[/ QUOTE ]
Naw, Lloyd, we spent the whole weekend doing work at two different airports with 8000' x 100' runways. Towards the end, when things started clicking fairly regularly he was like "you're doing great! would you be interested in heading to a sand/gravel runway up in the mountains and trying your hand at that?"
Of course I wasn't going to say no! We don't get scenery like that here in Missouri! I was stoked!
My CFI was just a part time guy, owned the plane we flew, he at the time was a Lt. Col. in the USAF, stationed at Kirtland in ABQ. He flew C-130s. He retired from the service a couple months after I was down there.
I had a purpose in doing this, though...I am always flying with a friend of mine who flies two different taildraggers. It behooved me to get the endorsement.
BTW - I don't think it requires a tailwheel endorsement for me to be classified as a 'weird pilot'
Sarah
See, that's exactly what I'm afraid of..... . I don't ever plan on landing on dirt, gravel, rough asphalt, or turf runways....but every tailwheel instructor wants to take me and fly for umpteen hours to make me "appreciate" paved runways
[/ QUOTE ]
Naw, Lloyd, we spent the whole weekend doing work at two different airports with 8000' x 100' runways. Towards the end, when things started clicking fairly regularly he was like "you're doing great! would you be interested in heading to a sand/gravel runway up in the mountains and trying your hand at that?"
Of course I wasn't going to say no! We don't get scenery like that here in Missouri! I was stoked!
My CFI was just a part time guy, owned the plane we flew, he at the time was a Lt. Col. in the USAF, stationed at Kirtland in ABQ. He flew C-130s. He retired from the service a couple months after I was down there.
I had a purpose in doing this, though...I am always flying with a friend of mine who flies two different taildraggers. It behooved me to get the endorsement.
BTW - I don't think it requires a tailwheel endorsement for me to be classified as a 'weird pilot'
Sarah
gomntwins
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
See, that's exactly what I'm afraid of.....
. I don't ever plan on landing on dirt, gravel, rough asphalt, or turf runways....but every tailwheel instructor wants to take me and fly for umpteen hours to make me "appreciate" paved runways (like I don't appreciate them already....).
[/ QUOTE ]
I used to be in a similar mindset to you... I used to think that landing on anything other than a nice paved runway wasn't something that I was ever going to do, so why should I go up with an instructor who wants to do this with me? I ended up being talked into it, and am thankful that I did get the experience of landing on less than wonderful strips. I was alone on a cross-country flight and ended up having some minor engine problems. Instead of pressing on to the nearest paved airport, I elected to land at the nearest airport, which was grass. I know I could've put it down without any experience on grass... yet, at the same time, I wouldn't have felt too comfortable doing it. Worse case scenario, I would've elected to go on to the paved runway, and greater problems would've arisen along the way. I was really glad that day that someone had pushed me into landing on grass- it made me not think twice on my decision to land.
I say, get experience landing on all types of surfaces if you can (obviously, money is always a factor). Anything new (and safe) that you can experience in an airplane will make you a better overall pilot. Tailwheel flying included.
Just my opinion though,
Andrew
See, that's exactly what I'm afraid of.....
[/ QUOTE ]
I used to be in a similar mindset to you... I used to think that landing on anything other than a nice paved runway wasn't something that I was ever going to do, so why should I go up with an instructor who wants to do this with me? I ended up being talked into it, and am thankful that I did get the experience of landing on less than wonderful strips. I was alone on a cross-country flight and ended up having some minor engine problems. Instead of pressing on to the nearest paved airport, I elected to land at the nearest airport, which was grass. I know I could've put it down without any experience on grass... yet, at the same time, I wouldn't have felt too comfortable doing it. Worse case scenario, I would've elected to go on to the paved runway, and greater problems would've arisen along the way. I was really glad that day that someone had pushed me into landing on grass- it made me not think twice on my decision to land.
I say, get experience landing on all types of surfaces if you can (obviously, money is always a factor). Anything new (and safe) that you can experience in an airplane will make you a better overall pilot. Tailwheel flying included.
Just my opinion though,
Andrew
flyover
New Member
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You'll be amazed at how just a few hours in a tailwheel aircraft will sharpen your stick and rudder skills. Trust me ... until you've flown a tailwheel you do NOT use enough rudder in your everyday flying!
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I have a theory you could immediately tell whether someone has had tailwheel time when you give them their first V1 cut in a multi sim. Most nose wheel pilots just don't have the concept of pushing the rudder to the floor if you need to. They are used to applying some pressure with their toes.
You'll be amazed at how just a few hours in a tailwheel aircraft will sharpen your stick and rudder skills. Trust me ... until you've flown a tailwheel you do NOT use enough rudder in your everyday flying!
[/ QUOTE ]
I have a theory you could immediately tell whether someone has had tailwheel time when you give them their first V1 cut in a multi sim. Most nose wheel pilots just don't have the concept of pushing the rudder to the floor if you need to. They are used to applying some pressure with their toes.
flyover
New Member
[ QUOTE ]
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See, that's exactly what I'm afraid of.....
. I don't ever plan on landing on dirt, gravel, rough asphalt, or turf runways....
[/ QUOTE ]
One point about that. Some pilots have died because they get the idea they can only land on pavement. Cases in point: A DC-9 crash where the co-pilot over-ruled the captain and tried to land on a winding road instead of a clear open field after a double engine failure, several killed. VS a 737 with dual engine failure lands in a grassy area next to a levee and doesn't put a scratch on airplane or passenger. Flew it out of the same field later.
Likewise if you need to get down bacause of weather but won't consider grass or gravel strips, well, you get the idea. I've met some of the nicest people on dirt, gravel, and grass strips.
[ QUOTE ]
See, that's exactly what I'm afraid of.....
[/ QUOTE ]
One point about that. Some pilots have died because they get the idea they can only land on pavement. Cases in point: A DC-9 crash where the co-pilot over-ruled the captain and tried to land on a winding road instead of a clear open field after a double engine failure, several killed. VS a 737 with dual engine failure lands in a grassy area next to a levee and doesn't put a scratch on airplane or passenger. Flew it out of the same field later.
Likewise if you need to get down bacause of weather but won't consider grass or gravel strips, well, you get the idea. I've met some of the nicest people on dirt, gravel, and grass strips.
mtsu_av8er
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I used to be in a similar mindset to you... I used to think that landing on anything other than a nice paved runway wasn't something that I was ever going to do, so why should I go up with an instructor who wants to do this with me?
[/ QUOTE ]
I understand what you guys are all saying, and it's not that I don't wanna try something new. But I've done a bunch of grass strip flying....when I was working on my private, we did the soft field work at a grass airport. It was cool, but it didn't interest me very much. Every now and then, I'll grab an instructor and go do a couple of touch-and-go's at a grass airport. Still doesn't interest me very much.....maybe I'm crazy!!! I am the guy that gets bored with warbirds and gets bored when people start talking about Cubs...
I'd kinda like to do it just to do it...no other reason...lol. I'd like to get my ASES, too...but that doesn't interest me other than giving it a try and getting the certificate, either! I'd never want to do it outside of that (I don't even swim....EVER!!!!).
I'm still open to more input from everyone, though!!!
I used to be in a similar mindset to you... I used to think that landing on anything other than a nice paved runway wasn't something that I was ever going to do, so why should I go up with an instructor who wants to do this with me?
[/ QUOTE ]
I understand what you guys are all saying, and it's not that I don't wanna try something new. But I've done a bunch of grass strip flying....when I was working on my private, we did the soft field work at a grass airport. It was cool, but it didn't interest me very much. Every now and then, I'll grab an instructor and go do a couple of touch-and-go's at a grass airport. Still doesn't interest me very much.....maybe I'm crazy!!! I am the guy that gets bored with warbirds and gets bored when people start talking about Cubs...
I'd kinda like to do it just to do it...no other reason...lol. I'd like to get my ASES, too...but that doesn't interest me other than giving it a try and getting the certificate, either! I'd never want to do it outside of that (I don't even swim....EVER!!!!).
I'm still open to more input from everyone, though!!!
