Wheel Land a Tailwheel Airplane
Tailwheel airplanes can be difficult to land, especially if the pilot was trained in a tricycle gear airplane. When making a wheel landing the pilot touches down on the two main wheels first then lowers the tail wheel to the ground as the airplane slows. Good wheel landings can be difficult to master.
Contents
Steps
- Make your approach as you normally would in any airplane.
- As you cross the threshold reduce power to idle.
- Just before you begin your flare add 100 to 300 RPM of power. This gives you much better control of your descent rate.
- Carefully control your descent rate as you flare using additional power. Optimally this flare will feel very similar to a flare in a tricycle gear airplane.
- Do not level off and fly over the runway as you do in a tricycle gear airplane. Instead, slowly and consistently lower the main wheels to the runway.
- You will feel the main wheels touch down. At the instant this happens apply slight forward pressure on the yoke to lower the nose. Lowering the nose immediately reduces lift and puts the airplane's weight on the main wheels preventing you from bouncing back into the air. Be cautious to prevent going beyond 'level' as this can impact the propeller with the grass or pavement.
- Reduce power to idle or slightly above idle to 'kiss' the airplane onto the ground to prevent bounce
- Let the airplane roll on it's main wheels as it slows (slight forward stick may be helpful)
- After the airplane has slowed below flying speed lower the tail wheel to the runway and hold it there with full back pressure on the yoke.
- Look at an object far in the distance and use the rudder pedals to keep the airplane traveling straight down the runway.
Tips
- Remember, good landings follow good approaches. Work on making stable approaches.
- It's difficult to get the hang of managing the decent rate so carefully. If you are descending too fast just go around and try it again.
- If you do bounce back in to the air just gently lower the main wheels back to the runway and apply forward pressure when they touch the second time. It's common to touch then bounce a couple of inches into the air and stick it for good on the second touch.
- Try it on grass first. Once you master grass go humble yourself on a nice piece of pavement. Grass allows for slight skidding during misalignment
- Once you get some experience you'll be able to skip the step where you add power for the flare.
Warnings
- Do this with an experienced tail wheel flight instructor on board.
