Tony,

No, previous instruction won't "screw the system".

Learning to fly a TW is concentrating on the basics of TW control: "live" feet and landing attitude. The rest is just flying skills shared in piloting both TW and tricycle gears.

So, whether you ever fly with me or not, here is what you need to do.

1. Find a TW airplane you can rent and taxi it for about two hours. I'm serious. Breaking this two hours into four or five session is best. Set up a driving course much like you would with a SCCA timed course. Taxi until rudder control and brake activation are second nature. Don't even think of leaving the ground.

2. Practice learning and establishing "landing attitude". I do this by having the student set up a landing approach, then coming up on a pre-determined power setting that allows the airplane to fly down the runway with a slight nose high attitude. If done properly, the wheels will skip the surface occasionally: that is the perfect speed and attitude. But! you don't pull power and you don't land, just fly in "landing attitude".

From there, it's easy and you can make real progress on "competency" of handling the TW in all situations.

Jgreen

John....agreed...

I have a check from the title company burning a hole in my pocket and developed a case of 'cheap taildragger disease'. Plane will have to live outside in southern MD, given the speed that the weather here eats vinyl siding, fence-posts and roofs, I don't see a fabric plane as an option. I also would like to have minimal IFR instrumentation so I can fly to my bonanza (12min flight vs 90min drive).

Anyone here have experience with a C150 Texas Taildragger? Opinions about them are all over the place. Compared with a 'real' taildragger they seem to be tail heavy. I have no real comparison, flew one maybe 8 years ago.

Straight tail vs. slant tail? Upgraded engines?

Anyone know of a nice one for sale?

I owned one years ago and got my PPL in it. This was the hot rod version with a 150hp O320 it was built out of a 150 Aerobat and was more fun than I can tell you. With the big engine there was no problem with it being tail heavy and it handled fine. Like any TW plane that has a narrow track and a long fuselage it can be a handful if you get complacent. It would cruise in the yellow all day long. Range was limited but who cares.

Florian,

Why don't you just look for a 120/140? You will have roughly the same amount of interior room and if you look for one with a metal wing you'll have no worries about rotten fabric. Plus you'll be flying a plane designed to be a tail dragger. A 120/140 will likely be cheaper than a converted 150 as well. You might end up with a lower powered engined but that's not a bad thing.

I've got about 10 hour in a 140 flown with a retired crop duster instructor. That was some of the most fun flying I've ever done, as well as useful. We flew lots of creeks and ditches at tree top height which will really sharpen up your foot work! Doing low speed, low altitude "crop duster" turns was a blast and really helps with airplane control.

The cabin is tight with two, especially if they are relatively big guys. But its so much fun you don't care!

I think converted 150's look weird too. But each to his own.

Did someone say IFR taildragger?
http://www.trade-a-plane.com/mobile/sea ... e=aircraft

Uh-oh. And nearby to boot.

I owned this 140 years ago. Also knew gentleman that restored it and watched with much interest as the project progressed. Nearly bought it back a couple of years ago when he lost his medical. If it's as good now as it was then, it is a cracker jack! So unless it has been abused, somebody is likely gonna get a good airplane.
MM

The radios are worth that!... (aren't they?)

The only thing I know about them is that they ugly . The slant tail in the tailwheel configuration just looks wrong.

Like others have said.........get a 120 or a 140. Maybe a 140A would be the plane for you?

Robert

The only thing I know about them is that they ugly . The slant tail in the tailwheel configuration just looks wrong.

Like others have said.........get a 120 or a 140. Maybe a 140A would be the plane for you?

Robert

Jay, is it possible to stall that 150 in the landing attitude? The legs look a little short, like a full stall landing would be tailwheel first.

You can make a three point full stall landing.

Yes I was able to consistently do good 3 pointers. I would be lying if I didn't fess up to more than a couple tail first landings as a student early on though.

I usually just did partial flap wheel landings, especially when it was windy.

Yes I was able to consistently do good 3 pointers. I would be lying if I didn't fess up to more than a couple tail first landings as a student early on though.

I usually just did partial flap wheel landings, especially when it was windy.