RCU Forums - View Single Post - HELP LEARNING TO TAKE OFF WITH TAILDRAGGER???
Old 05-17-2004 | 05:44 PM
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flycatch
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Default RE: HELP LEARNING TO TAKE OFF WITH TAILDRAGGER???

I'm not an ace pilot on the sticks but I have learned alot about tail draggers. Not all tail draggers are alike, some have short tail moments and others long. Landing gear placement and height are not the same. Other factors come into play and they all relate to the handling characteristics.
When you first attempt to takeoff stand behind the aircraft with it pointed into the prevailing wind direction. Have someone hold the plane and run it up to full throttle. Upon release and at full throttle the airplane should track straight ahead and when you feel sufficient airspeed is obtained gently feed in a small amount of elevator. Once airborne release some up elevator and allow the plane to increase in airspeed. Once this is done gently increase the up elevator and allow the aircraft to make a gradual climbout.
You have not attempted to use the rudder for takeoff and this is how it should be until you learn to use rudder commands. Since you don't no how to use rudder the only place to learn is in the air at a safe altitude. If you have a trainer type aircraft it should fly just fine on rudder and elevator commands.
I had the same problems you are experiencing and overcame them by becoming profficient in rudder management. Set your trainer up so that it fly straight and level at half or three quaters throttle. Your left hand will control the rudder and your right hand the elevator. Do not use the airlerons, unless absolutely necessary. Make all your turns shallow and regain lost altitude with the throttle rembering to throttle back once you have your desired training altitude. It took me at least two hours of flight time until I felt comfortable doing this. Since teaching myself the use of rudder I can now takeoff a taildragger under much improved authority.