This is a great video to own...

http://www.amazon.com/Damian-DelGaizos- ... ag=btalk-20

The Boing-0-Matic feature can be halved in its strength by using wheel landings: Once mastered, you land on either the right or left main landing gear, depending on the wind. Carry the upwing wing low, correct for drift with opposite rudder, and voila! Taught to me long ago by an old cropduster that flew in the Spanish civil war.
The above requires good stick and rudder skills, and can be raised to an art form. One can, with enough practice, travel on either right and/or left main gear all the way down the runway on takeoff. That mastery will make your landings a no-brainer.
Now in the Pitts.... that's a whole different discussion.
Best,

Tom Navar

This is more butt-learning than book-learning. Might try carrying a little power and managing your descent rate. Or add a tad in the flare to ease it on until you get it sorted out. You'll take up a little more runway, but not too much...it is a 140, right? And maybe work a bit on grass until you get the muscle memory down. Asphalt is a bear.

Oh, and do it a couple thousand times until you get it figured out...

Before I started my Champ checkout, I found the Compleat Taildragger Pilot to be helpful, but after my 2nd lesson I found what my instructor taught me to be much more valuable.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned "STICK AND RUDDER", Wolfgang Langewiesche... Probably misspelled the author's name. It's maybe the quintessential book about flying those airplanes without the aerodynamic dumbing down we see today. When adverse yaw was something all airframes displayed, when every airplane could be spun. Books are fine, but a skilled (tailwheel) instructor will take a lot of the mystery out of takeoffs and landings.

Don't know where you're located, but I could help you if you're nearby the SFO Bay area. Spent a thousand hours teaching tailwheel, mostly Citabria and Great Lakes, and many others. PM me if I can help.
Doug

I did, ninth post.

Greg

All

Thanks for the great recommendations and practical tips.

I have ordered Stick and Rudder and the Compleat Taildragger. I hear what others are saying that this is "butt-learning" and not "book learning", however I know myself and it will be both for me.

Doug

I am located in Ponoka, Alberta Canada 974nm from KSFO, but thanks for the offer anyway

Hilgard

Read it with a hi-liter in hand, and sticky notes for pages.

There is no better book for truly understanding it.

Mine is well worn.

All

Thanks again for all the taildragger flying tips and book recommendations, I found both to be quite helpfull.

I have flown 30 hours on this plane in the last 2 months, most of it was done preparing for my Commercial license which I subsequently passed this week. Naturally the 140 was used for the ride. I found the plane to handle very well with benign spin characteristics and recovery. Once I noted the actual indicated stall speed the landings became a breeze at 1.3 Vs/Vso.

Hilgard

Nice looking plane. Do you have skis too?

Someone offered me a set for sale right after I bought the plane, but the wheels have to come of and I think it might be an issue dragging it in and out of the hangar.

On the other hand ski's do look like fun....especially now that I am done with the Commercial, you got me thinking Steve...

Hilgard

"boing-o-matic" ! I thought I had heard everything but that cracked me up!

I could have sworn my rv6 must have had "super boing-o-matic" when learning to land it.
Turned out most of the problem was going to fast.

You'll figure it out. It's just time in the saddle.

Cheers

Old master told me the golden rule about flying tail wheel airplanes.

"Now son, it's really very simple. Keep the little wheel behind the big ones!"

Don't stop flying it until it's tied down (or in the hangar).
Looks like you have a really nice 140A Patroller.
If you haven't already, join the International Cessna 120/140 Association-much good information and great folks.
You've got a great airplane; best wishes for many good times with it.
MM

When making a wheel landing, use full flaps. This will lower the plane's nose and the resulting level attitude will make the landing easier.