tail wheel-caster or steerable
 

I converted a trike to taildragger.
I have not yet flown the plane. But in just taxiing, with the tail wheel as a caster, there is not much control. Would it be better fixed or should I try to rig it to the rudder for control?
Laurence

RE: tail wheel-caster or steerable
 

your better off to make it steerable. the first time you try to land and the tail wheel castors, your in for some repairs. save yourself the trouble before you fly it.

RE: tail wheel-caster or steerable
 

definately better to have it steerable as jim said above, just rig it to the rudder its easy as can be!!!

RE: tail wheel-caster or steerable
 

steerable is best... if it's to much trouble then go fixed. I've never seen a caster set up that worked... I have seen a few crashes because of them;)


John

RE: tail wheel-caster or steerable
 

Hi!
I have had and still have many airplanes with fully castering tailwheel and theyare all very easy to take off and landing.
There could be a problem though and that is taixing with the wind coming from the rear.
Take of or landing is a piece of cake though...very easy as with all models.

Regards!
Jan K

RE: tail wheel-caster or steerable
 

Even if you make your tailwheel steerable, leave some caster in. Do not make the tailwheel without caster. If you do, you may be in for a nasty surprise when you rip the gears out of the servo. Caster is what keeps the wheel following the spindle, instead of trying to turn at will. This may sound overly simple, but you would be surprised at the number of people who do not know this principle.

Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1

RE: tail wheel-caster or steerable
 

I made a taildragger out of my Hobbico Superstar and glued the td wheel solid so it doesn't swivel. We have a grass runway and it works out just fine. With little blips on the throttle I can steer it anywhere I need to before takeoff and after landing. It just takes a little bit bigger area to turn it around.

Ronnie :)

RE: tail wheel-caster or steerable
 

I flew my cub for a day with a castoring tailwheel. Takeoff and landing was very easy, it's just during taxi that it get a bit tricky. It would track sraight during taxi it just that when doing a 180 on the ground you some times end up doing a 360.

Newkid