Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
"JGalban via AviationKB.com" u32749@uwe wrote in
news:7df719fa5e00f@uwe:

Ricky wrote:
My dad was responsible for the "Texas Taildragger" C-150, 152, 172
conversions and I think the Skycatcher would look GREAT with a
tailwheel.
I flew a club Texas Taildragger 150hp C-150 many moons ago. It was
loads
of fun, but without an increase in fuel capacity, it's range was
pretty limited.

Skycatcher looks fine, just needs a tailwheel.
I'm one of those folks that need a good reason for a tailwheel
(looks
don't quite cut it). If I were planning on flying a Skycatcher into
unimproved strips, I might go for it.

Well, two other good reasons are a decrease in weight and drag and improved
ground handling capability.


and no, I'm not kidding about the latter.


Bertie


Not in every case. The Zenith 601XL is a couple of knots slower in the
tail dragger configuration and about the same weight.

With a composite like the Skycatcher what it takes to beef up the tail
to handle the stress of being part of the landing gear might increase
overall weight. It's not like you are going to be able to weaken the
nose area for practical and fiscal reasons.