Which is the better teacher...taildragger or trike?

[flyingip]

As said many times above. If you can fly a taildragger, you can fly about anything.
Converting from taildragger to trike is a lot easier then trike to taildragger.

Now I wished there were N-Registered taildraggers available for rent in Belgium so I could fill my logbook with them

 

[SkippyBing]

As said many times above. If you can fly a taildragger, you can fly about anything.

I'd have thought it was - if you can take-off and land a taildragger you can take-off and land anything, between those two events the undercarriage layout is irrelevant.

 

[norab]

My vote is for taildraggers. learned in Cubs and T-crafts but to go a little off topic my instructor used to say the best thing was a float plane because you had all the runway you needed and it was never crosswind. He said once you had the mechanics down solidly than it was easier to learn to deal with crosswinds and runway lengths

 

[beana51]

Landing fields, grass and not hard runways,was a way to deal with X-Winds.like Water landings , mentioned,the touch down was into the wind!so to Take offs...Imperative with air craft carriers!....With STOL types ,great..for others ??? need a bigger field!..The WINDSOCK was key indicator then on land,Water?? the Waves!...It was No wind water ,that gave FITS..Flaring and to be not sure of Touch down spot.....so too was a Sectional chart,Rolled up, in hand of an instructor in tandem ,aft of you!!....WHACKINGS on yer Head ,got yer attention....After all that ,for any FAA Flight requirement demonstration,..Why the C-150 was the best!!...LAND-O-MATIC!....that's a joke son!!<label for="rb_iconid_20">

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[Kofschip]

I voted for the taildragger. Learned to fly on the Tiger Moth and then the T6 Harvard icon_lol.
My driving instructor had me light his smoke, while I was turning around the corner and shifting amongst bikes and pedestrians. Now that was hard work!!!

 

[beana51]

Interesting!...Time in a Tiger Moth!!!..Only Tiger Moth I flew was Bill Lyons,and I liked that plane...Can you tell us about that time in the Tiger moth Kofschip? And does the FS9 model bears any resemblance in handling at all to the real plane...Thanks Vin!!<label for="rb_iconid_19">

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[TeaSea]

I would defer back to Francois....sort of means what you mean by "better".

I can appreciate all the votes for a tail wheel configuration as a better learning platform, but I suspect the numbers simply don't support that idea.

Tricycle configurations prevail due to several important considerations that go beyond simply learning to operate an airplane.

Overall they are safer, which means less cost for insurance.

They are indeed easier platforms to learn on (And yes, I do agree with the stipulation that if you learn on a taildragger first, you will find transition to a tricycle arrangement easier -- but then again, if you kill yourself first you won't have to worry about transition).

There are more made, which tends makes them less expensive to purchase, and means that most pilots are trained on the platform they will actually operate.

Being the most prevalent platform also means they are generally cheaper to operate as parts and trained technicians are in greater supply. Not to say that any given taildragger will be less expensive, just that at the macro level that will not be the case.

Having said all that, if any pilot wants to go do initial training in a tailwheeled aircraft, I would encourage him to so. The important thing is doing the training and getting the license...period.

I myself am working on getting signed off on tailwheel certification...that's why I've become aware of some of the costs as I deal with my insurance company.

 

[pilottj]

the question I asked of 'better' is subjective as we all learn different ways. This is really about how we prefer to learn, and also how we prefer to teach. Which method do you use to teach your kids or friends things? Some of us prefer the 'lets be overwelmed at first and struggle, while learning alot' (stick shift) method, some prefer the 'take one step at a time and get the fundamentals down' method (automatic). Neither one is really better or worse, it depends on who you are.

Now I know many of you have been in the military, I would offer this comparison that the taildragger is kind of like the drill instructor. 'Your @#$$ coordination @#$% stinks!...I am going to @#$% ground loop on you for that!' It scares the hell out of you for fear of embarrasment or worse but it really forces you to focus. The trike is a bit friendlier, kind of like the very positive 'you can do it' teacher. 'Oh, you landed with a little bit of sideloading, don't worry, you are getting the hang of it!' It strenghtens your confidence and lets you build on it.

Both methods are going to produce great pilots, it all comes back to the individual...what works for you.

 

[tracyq144]

Coming from a somewhat different perspective (driving 18-wheelers), I would prefer the "manual" vs. the "automatic" way of learning. I'm not a pilot although I took my first lessons in a Champ, later in a 152.

It just seems to me that flying a small airplane is like shooting baskets in basketball. I would rather learn to shoot baskets within the standard, regular dimensions, rather that having a basket that was 2 feet larger in circumference, and two feet lower, just because it was "easier".

Maybe it is a "snob" thing, I don't know, I just like to think that I am doing things the hard way. (Or "more learning the basics" way.)

Although it's obvious that the real pilots on this forum who have never flown a taildragger are waaaaaay in advance of myself, who has taken lessons, but never obtained my PPL.