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Old 12-29-2005 | 01:10 AM
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multiflyer
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From: simi valley, CA
Default RE: Tail Dragger landings

agexpert,

For a taildragger the main gear are ahead of the CG. Location is important. Too far forward and they ground loop and bounce/porpoise easily. Too far aft and they nose over easy. Not a small number of taildraggers have the mains excessively far forward. Since gear are ahead of CG, a firm touchdown causes the nose to rotate up. This can be prevented by slowing down and flaring out enough to get the tail wheel to hit the ground at the same time or sooner than the mains. This is the 3 point technique. The other technique is a wheel landing - basically landing faster on the mains first. The trick here is to touch down soft enough to avoid bouncing. A more positive wheel landing is made by reducing AOA right at touchdown. Right at or just slightly before touchdown, let off on the up elevator input being held for the landing flare. Simply returning elevator stick to center is usually just about right. After the plane slows down, pull full up again to get the tail wheel working.

Multiflyer