Taildragger Technique for Gliders

On Friday, December 28, 2018 at 11:51:25 AM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:
As a (retired) tow pilot, I have many, many takeoffs and
landings in tail draggers and the vast majority of my glider
operations are in tail wheel equipped gliders, as well.Â* To put it
bluntly, I see no comparison between the two except for those
gliders equipped with steerable tail wheels (mostly self
launchers), and in those, the distance between the main and tail
wheels is so great and the steering authority of the tail wheel so
small (and non castering) that there is no need (in my opinion) to
worry about it.


I agree 100% with Dan's comments. There is no comparison between the two, nothing about them is anywhere near a comparison. Keep the glider straight and wings level is my advice.
In nose or tail dragger gliders, my best advice is to get onto the
main wheel only as quickly as possible for directional control with
the rudder.Â* With either end of the glider dragging on the ground
there is not much directional control.



Best,

Dan




On 12/27/2018 5:43 PM, Papa3 wrote:



Is anyone aware of a glider textbook or manual which teaches the details of taildragger takeoffs and landings in gliders? I have lots of examples that I've used personally with students based on my power training a Champ and dozens of available texts oriented at the power taildragger training.

Looking back through RAS, I found a couple of old threads but not what I was looking for. I just want to re-use someone else's diagrams and text. Failing that, I'll end up formally writing up my own notes along with those from a couple of other club CFIGs.

Not necessarily looking for a new thread on "why learning in Schweizers sucks" or "how come Americans don't know how to land." But it's Winter in the northern hemisphere, so I can probably predict where this will end up.

Erik Mann (P3)





--

Dan, 5J

I agree too, no issue.
Then again : some people should just take up golf.
Tom