On Sep 25, 8:05 am, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
Little Endian wrote in news:1190700037.145345.27050
@y42g2000hsy.googlegroups.com:

This weekend I began my tailwheel endorsement endeavor and had a
lesson in a shiny 160 hp Citabria. It was great fun but the stick and
rudder forces seemed pretty heavy compared to the C-150 I am used to.
The trim was in an unfamiliar position and I didn't get used to using
it enough on the first flight perhaps. However are there tailwheels
that are lighter to handle than the citabria?
The other issue I was wondering about: does the position of the CG
shift when the tail is raised? So is the tailwheel more stable while
taxing at a higher speed on the two front wheels? In other words, I am
wondering if a tailwheel taxing with the tail raised has a similar CG
position to a tricycle gear airplane.

Not really, and I'd be surprised if you could taxi a Citabria with the
tailwheel raised anyway. Easy in a cub, though.

The problem with the Citabria is it's a bit too easy for tailwheel
conversion. You'll get the basics, but if you try a cub afterwards you'll
find it significantly more difficult, wheras the other way around would be
a piece of cake. Citabria is a good airplane, but it's not the best
tailwheel trainer for that reason. However, it will certainly do in a
pinch!
The CG doesn't change significantly when the tail is raised, though, to
answer your question, and fast taxiing is something best left to someone
with a LOT of tailwhel time. Taxiing on the mains is something best left to
airshow pilots or guys that can afford to replace props as easily as they
would buy a cup of coffee.
Now ask me how I know this.

Bertie

It's not that hard at all. I've taxied down the runway on one main.
I've taught students that if they're having trouble waking their feet
up or can't seem to get the cross-control set up for a crosswind. I've
brought both the Citabria and 185 pretty much to a halt with the
brakes before setting the tail down. I've done tail-high/nose-low
braking, using a tiny bit of power for elevator authority, to get
weight on the mains and stop really short. You have to realize that
you are flying a taildragger ALL the time, not just when it's in the
air.
I invented a term years ago to describe the disease suffered by
trike pilots: Somnopedosis. Means "sleepy feet."

Dan