It depends a lot on where you fly off. If it is grass then there will be drag and the tail will stick a bit. I fly mainly off a dirt/sand field and skids work fine. There is no need to get on to a certain speed or even use down elevator. It will swing about freely. However, its kinda noisy and irritating. GC is not an issue either. Done it on small EP planes too, they work fine. In my opinon ... just do the wheel.