Should the wheel really need to be controlled, that is fastened to the rudder. Is there a reason it just can't be fixed or free-wheelin' ( within' reason). I'm just curious.

The only reason you would want to connect the tail wheel is if you want to steer your plane while it's on the ground. If you don't connect the wheel to the rudder you will only be able to steer the plane when there is enough air traveling over the rudder to move the tail of the plane. This usually doesn't take effect until the plane has picked up a little bit of speed.

A couple of times at the field I have had broken tail wheel/steering problems. Not to let this ruin a day I was still able to fly by using the rudder to steer while taking off and landing, but I had to carry the plane to the runway and back. No way to steer while taxing out.

You will definately want to connect the wheel to the rudder.

Depending on the plane, and the surface you fly off of, you can get by with out a stearable tail wheel. You can actually taxi that way too, but it takes more effort.

To turn a tail dragger that has a skid or fixed wheel, you often have to use bursts of throttle coupled with down elevator and lots of rudder. The prop blast hits the elevator and rudder, lifting the tail off the ground, and swings the tail around. Getting good at it so you can actually point the plane where you want takes time though.

Some planes are light enough on the tail (CG location vs main wheel location is what matters here), and have enough rudder in the prop blast that they actually do taxi around normally, even with out a stearing tail wheel. But these planes are also prone to flipping up on the nose if you hit a bump, since the CG has to be very close to right above the gear.

Your life will be much easier with a stearable wheel. It's usually worth doing.

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.

Any taildragger with a fixed skid (or wheel) especially on grass or dirt surface will be more directionaly stabile on a T/O run but ground taxi will generally be more troublesome for most of the reasons mentioned above. The answer to the second part of your question is a free swiveling tailwheel will be far more unstable on a T/o run than a steering type.

Since this is the beginners forum I suggest when a taildragger type trainer is used that a steering type tailwheel generally works out the best to accomplish your goal. That is learning how to handle the aircraft in all phases of operation.

John

If flying off grass, you might even be better off without the tail wheel, just a skid. Do make sure you have toe in on the main gear and that the main gear is not to far forward, right under the leading edge of the wing is a good starting point. You will soon find you can taxi as well without the tail wheel as you can with it. You will learn to use the elevator while taxiing, you can't just hold full up and get buy, you need to let the tail get light in the taxi turns and blow the tail around with the prop blast. Good practice in learning to use throttle and elevator as well as rudder during taxi.

I tried a free wheeling wheel once and the idea seemed good until the plane got spu around on the ground by a crosswind a skid or steerable wheel is much better then a free turning wheel.

Thanks to all for your responses. I was looking for the pro and cons, and ya'll delivered.