07-08-2018Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes
Maybe, but you have to mess up at least a little and correct to learn IMO. Tailwheel airplanes are inherently unstable on the ground, which *can* be good for learning. Tricycle airplanes are much more stable, yet they are nothing like a car with wheels at all the edges. Despite this, you'll see people taxiing both kinds of airplanes at speeds that blow your mind, and those people are just tempting fate for the one time something happens before they can react or their reaction causes the airplane to tip over due to the excessive speed. As speed increases (or the wind increases) the airplane starts "flying" more and more. At those speeds your directional control is the rudder, but your lateral control becomes the ailerons. Directional control just means where the nose is pointing, NOT where the aircraft is going (path). You can have all the directional control in the world and still slide into a parked airplane or object. At the higher speeds on the ground the aileron doesn't necessarily "skid" the aircraft the direction you want to go, but it does counter the centrifugal force in the turn, that would otherwise cause the aircraft to start skidding sideways or topple the aircraft as the turn is attempted. You'll learn or have learned about x-wind corrections on the runway during takeoff and landing. Apply this to any time you are moving at a high speed on the runway and not on centerline. Control and vigilance will usually be the result
Well I was actually able to get out last Friday, and it was great. I was a bit nervous after not flying for 2 weeks but the wind was at 8 knots but it was no where near close to down the runway so I got some great practice doing crosswind landings. No gusts or anything, just had some nice smooth practice dipping the wing/opp rudder and landing on the wind-side wheel.
Did 5-6 touch and goes and got me feeling confident.
