Every Pilot NEEDS to do this - Stick & Rudder Fundamentals

[@edwinbear7065]

Please tell Blake we said THANK YOU! I think most people are afraid to show trying something for the first time. But that makes others feel like they can't. "Everyone on the internet looks so confident!" That's because they're not showing their first time.

[@FlightChops]

Thanks so much for this feedback! I will definitely pass it along to Blake. It is a large part of the mission of this channel to share the vulnerability of learning new aspects of aviation... but it is typically me putting myself out there - So, it is very special when some one else is willing to do it; Thus, I too am appreciative that Blake was willing to be a part of this one and show his experience in a very raw way.

[@blake.crosby]

You're Welcome! ♥️Being vulnerable is hard enough, but doing it publicly is something I value a lot. Share my learnings with others so that they can either be inspired to try the same thing or at least learn something new from the comfort of their home. This is part of my philosophy in life. Feel free to follow me on instagram at @drunkwithjetlag if you want to see me in other situations for the first time :) After flying the citabria, I wanted to get one soooo badly. It was so much fun to fly and it made me feel more "connected" to the airplane. Before this flight I understood WHY I needed to use rudder when flying, but the citabria taught me HOW I needed to use it. 😊

[@so03]

Such an underrated comment.

[@aaronauclair]

Doing that loop must have been one of the most awesome moments of his life! He won’t ever forget that. Beautiful! Congratulations

[@MaShcode]

Steve, always the comedian, feeds his victims a hearty lunch before acro.

[@hoffmanaeronautics6192]

Ok, you’ve convinced me. After the instrument rating is done, I’ll do tailwheel. Promise!

[@FlightChops]

Awesome! That's the goal! So glad to have been a small part of your inspiration to get after tail wheel flying!

[@richarddarlington1139]

Finally, someone who knows how to describe the barrel roll properly. Thanks for including that, Steve. Looking forward...

[@EJWash57]

I love the spirit of the title of this video. The fundamentals of Stick and rudder *IS* what we do - no matter what aircraft we're in.

[@austonwheels]

I love the shot of them landing when Harv is in control and you can just see the stick action in Blake's lap. Awesome experience and inspires me to keep pushing for that tailwheel!

[@tomleonard5277]

I knew from before I started my lessons I would eventually go to tailwheel. I wanted to take off and land in the hay field on my property. I’ve watched your original training several times and love the info you provided. Even now I that I have my 170 I still enjoy looking back on them occasionally

[@FlightChops]

I really appreciate this feedback! Glad you found that content helpful. I am glad it is out there - still relevant despite not being new 4k video.

[@gregkrekelberg4632]

Man, this is an excellent video. Luke is a great instructor, and Blake is an excellent student/passenger. Honesty all the way. Really grateful for all. Great job Steve for hitting the experience.

[@deanmiles3505]

I was lucky enough to get a back seat ride in a two place A-4 (OA -4M )when I was in the Marines back in the 1980-84. I had a chance for a rocket and bombing run, and a simulated dogfight. A flight in an Extra is definitely a bucket list item. That was a fun ride along. Thank you, Take care, Be safe.

[@tds456]

"if you want, you can take control" - Recently started by PPL training and that brought back memories of an early lesson before I knew my limit, or figured out the scan. My instructor has talked about flying his cub like it a different experience beyond the trainers we are in. Watching this opened my eyes to what he means and I'll definitely be taking him up on the offer to get a tailwheel endorsement post training.

[@jessedn]

I so feel ya, Blake, on getting a bit queasy on the first aerobatic ride. Had a chance to spend a few days training in a Pitts S2 learning unusual attitudes and spins, and that does take some getting used to.

[@goatflieg]

I'm always very heartened by the knowledge that Bob Hoover, arguably the best pilot of all time, fought through airsickness during his initial training.

[@FlightChops]

Totally - and yeah, Bob Hoover's book is amazing in so many regards, but his stories about the tenacity and dedication it took to get over his air sickness is inspiring.

[@blake.crosby]

@@FlightChops Yeah! Keep at it an eventually your body will be like "pssshhhhtt.. 6Gs... lets keep going!!!!!"

[@flymike23]

Soloed in a clipped wing J3 Cub recently. Love tailwheel flying!

[@FlightChops]

I bet that thing did some great spins :)

[@richardgreen6857]

Just coming back to flying after 20+ years away...did time in a Cessna 170, Cessna 180 and Cessna 185...does tailwheel flying make you a better pilot? Hell yes! Approach, flare to land, touch-down and ground handling improve on every airplane after significant tailwheel time...

[@Payne2view]

Full marks to your friend for calling it quits when he did. That shows some maturity.

[@drewwatson4949]

really nice to see a new taildragger and aerobatic pilot! good job!

[@TheKevintegra19]

Great episode. I studied a lot of aviation Human Factors/issues in Psychology at UCLA. You should do a human factors episode covering airsickness, altitude sickness, and general fitness for pilots and passengers.

[@FlightChops]

This is a great idea! Thanks!

[@duodream]

I miss tailwheel flying. My flights in 2 Extras, a Citabria, and a Pitts S2 were SO much fun!

[@FlightChops]

Couldn't agree more! EDIT: Can you get back into it? Why have you stopped tail wheel flying?

[@duodream]

@@FlightChops I moved from Cali to Seattle, don't have a lot of rental options up here! I'm working towards building my own, but that'll be 3-5 years. Covid made things harder, too. It's been forever since I flew that Citabria video you commented on so long ago. :)

[@SVSky]

@@duodream Where are you? There are three clubs in the SF bay area that rent tailwheel.

[@duodream]

@@SVSky Seattle.

[@blake.crosby]

After flying the citabria, I wanted to get one soooo badly. It was so much fun to fly and it made me feel more "connected" to the airplane. Before this flight I understood WHY I needed to use rudder when flying, but the citabria taught me HOW I needed to use it. 😊

[@clearofcloud2038]

Good man Blake. My first few sorties were reeeeally short too because I felt ill. Stick at it, it is totally worth it.

[@blake.crosby]

Plan on heading back there later this summer to finish up my tailwheel training! Can't wait! :D

[@clearofcloud2038]

@@blake.crosby Nice one. I'm heading to do some more aeros at the end of this month. Tailwheel, man, its the way of the future !!

[@that_airfield_guy4731]

Tailwheel is great fun and it demands you give the plane full attention until the engine is shut down. As for aerobatics? Well, that's just next level goodness!

[@CollectiveFX]

So I applied the take-off technique to the Zlin Savage Cub in MSFS 2020 and it worked. What a time to be alive. Luke is also a great teacher and one hell of a pilot. Would be cool to see more videos on Blake's progress with tailwheel handling.

[@ronboe6325]

Way way back in the day we took up a 172 and and a Cherokee to watch the guys in the 172 do a "spin". 30+ years later I'm in a friends Citabra and she suggests a spin. I got to experience a real spin - holy moly! Had a lot of fun in that plane.

[@Pilotwisco]

This was great! Props to Blake for being a good sport and putting himself out there but also knowing his limit and not trying to be super macho. Would love to see him more on the channel. Perhaps some of his instrument flying progress, or any changes he makes to the new airplane.

[@blake.crosby]

Knowing and sticking to your limit is so important. I didn't care if I vomited "on camera". I just knew that if I was to do one more >1G maneuver, i'd be sick and not enjoy/care about the rest of the lesson/flight. Baby steps!

[@Pilotwisco]

@@blake.crosby Awesome! Best to have a good experience so you cab go back and do it again!

[@blake.crosby]

@@Pilotwisco 💯

[@trevorteigrob9382]

I remember doing my Flight Instructor training with Luke and doing those Dutch Rolls, some things will always stick with you. Good memories from Harvs Air

[@tomsmith3045]

Fantastic video!! He did much better than I did on his first tailwheel landing. Nice job. The instructor seemed spot on, and the editing and content was great. Agree that every pilot needs to try this, not that tailwheel is anything magical, but flying those airplanes makes you so much more aware of coordination and energy. You can't force a 3 point landing, you need to have your speed right. And if you don't use the rudder, you're probably not going to be able to turn at all. I'm not the brightest bulb in the set, so it took me a long time to get to the point where this stuff looked and felt right, but I'll always carry it with me. Re the brakes - my first instructors quote was "if you touch the brakes, I'll throw you out of the plane". Partly meaning that except for the run-up, you usually don't need any in something like a Citabria or Cub, and partly meaning that it's one of the easiest ways to hurt one. All in all, I think every pilot could use fifty or a hundred hours in a tailwheel.

[@birds_eye_view]

Just got my tailwheel endorsement in my own J3. And I can SO relate to his experience there. First takeoff rolls that weird feeling to push her over the nose. But it is so much more fun than tricycle. 😎👍❤️

[@adamriehl8166]

I agree. My three hours in a C120 for my tailwheel did more for my flying than fifty in a C150. Wheel landings in a Cessna 120 on asphalt is some of the most difficult flying I have done. Also my nose dragger landings are waaay better.

[@alianjohnson6035]

did my tailwheel endo couple of weeks ago in a legend cub - just great fun

[@theozzieflightsimmer1552]

i flew with Matt Hall twice in a MXS and i did an aerobatics course and was absolutely amazing.

[@S00PAMARIO]

I was re-living some fond memories from completing my PPL on the Citabria, thanks for sharing!!

[@vasanthsathyanarayanan2376]

proud to be a partof Harv's Air!!

[@SVSky]

Gosh how I love the Citabria. I can't imagine flying anything else for the pure joy than a light taildragger. Learning acro in a SuperDeca and did spins in my beloved N5054B. Your trick of stuffing the stick in the corner on wheel landings is something I still use.

[@parrotraiser6541]

100% with you! Proper tailwheel training gives a pilot so much more insight into the behaviour of any aircraft. Feeling the difference between grass and hard-surface behaviour is especially significant, but does need careful instruction. (We don't want to increase insurance costs by breaking things.)

[@goatflieg]

The timing of this release was perfect for me. Yesterday I got very good news... the Decathlon at DCT, in restoration for six years, finally flew yesterday. Very soon I'll be getting tailwheel recurrency at PTK in one of my favorite aircraft. So excited! Watched the "haircut" and aerobatic performances numerous times. And the ending brought back some wonderful memories of taking friends up in a Citabria, flying over to Half Moon Bay and introducing them to spins over the shoreline... the good old days. P.S. Fuselage painting begins tomorrow, humidity permitting.

[@FlightChops]

Glad you'll be getting recurrent!. And interesting that you're painting components... I'm curious to hear how that goes.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

Great video/camera production, as usual. Just some suggestions for Luke to standardize terminology (the more we can standardize, the better for students ;~D ): "Soak in the visual look of the attitude during taxi". How about using the term "sight picture". Roll on a point is not the same as a Dutch Roll. It's just "Roll on a point" . I was interested in Luke's instruction on foot placement on the rudder & toe brake. Hadn't seen that before. Great work!

[@Old_B52H_Gunner]

Great video, earned a sub! I genuinely almost cheered when Blake did his first loop. So many memories of when I was younger and not disabled and lived and breathed all things aviation.

[@FlightChops]

So glad to have been able to help inspire you to remember some of your great experiences

[@jimleffler7976]

That was awesome, I rode that loop with them, lot of fun.. beautiful day to do it also, looks like

[@davidwallace5738]

Great video. Thanks to all of ya'll!

[@Docinaplane]

I'm very glad I got my tailwheel rating. I was able to fly a Stearman, PT-19, Piper Cub, and Taylor Craft. The Taylor Craft was like flying a kite, except you are the kite! The transition from yoke to stick felt seamless to me. No question it made me a better pilot. I have a Cherokee Arrow 200.

[@billbrisson]

awesome episode! watching it from my camper behind the hangar at KK7. Luke and I made 2 more flights in my RV6 today, and although I'm no where near the skill set you and Luke have, I feel that I may actually be making progress. one of these days....

[@FlightChops]

That is awesome! You'll get there!

[@devingraves8044]

This was awesome to watch! I'm doing my first aerobatic lesson on Saturday, and I can't wait!

[@stevenranney6752]

Would love to get into tailwheel, but when you live in the BFE, there aren't many schools around that teach it! Love the channel, love the content. Great for new GA/recreational pilots like me.

[@nathank7989]

10:02 *Achievement Earned: Do A Loop* Very cool video!

[@MelanieMoxon]

Hey Steve, Learning to fly a tailwheel was an eye opening experience for me, even in the relatively docile Cessna 120. I'd been spoiled with the Slingsby T67M as the tailfin and rudder were huge you really didn't need to use it much at all. Blake did really well for first time in a TW. Mel

[@peteranderson037]

I finally had my first tailwheel lesson recently. I almost crashed it into a house (the plane is hangered at a fly-in community), so that was fun. To give myself a bit of an alibi on that, a bolt that holds the tailwheel leaf spring in place had worked its way loose during the high speed taxiing we had been doing up to that point. This didn't help the overcorections that my novice feet were applying to the rudder pedals. The heel brakes are basically impossible to reach from the rear seat in the Cub in an emergency and I barely remembered in time that even though the instructor had the plane at that point, I was still manning the brakes. Both the instructor and I checked on that bolt in particular during the pre-flight inspection as it working loose was a known issue with the flying club. It has been in the shop for the past month because of this issue so that has been my only tailwheel flight so far. The good news is that the incident didn't cause any actual damage to the Cub and a new tailwheel assembly has been installed, this time with a cotter pin and a castle nut on the leaf spring. Why didn't it have a cotter pin and castle nut there before? It was in the instructions for the kit, but such is life when you're flying an E-AB airplane that you didn't build yourself.

[@gveduccio]

Great timing as I am about to start tail wheel training too...I said just for fun and to make my fundamentals better despite having a commercial certification

[@FlightChops]

Very cool - report back how it goes

[@Dreamsofwings]

What an incredibly interesting video! Always fascinating to see this kind of flying.

[@johnmccorry2397]

Thanks for videos you have done the General Aviation World a great deal of good keep the videos coming Thanks

[@highnitro707]

Excellent video as always! I was looking for the key insight I give pilots that are transitioning to tail dragger from tricycle but didn't hear (maybe I missed it) The airplane doesn't know its a tail dragger, In the air it doesn't fly any different than any other tricycle gear airplane out there... You only have to compensate for the differences when the wheels touch the ground...

[@daniellamfers4118]

High marks for Blake! On the other hand, It's still fun to try to get your friends to toss their cookies. I guess I'm 64 going on 12.

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

Fabulous, fun, and informative...

[@FlightChops]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@so03]

Great video flight chops.

[@projekt6_official]

"Just a little too much... ...yeah, I know my limit." PERFECT! Absolutely nothing wrong with that!

[@WolfPilot]

Nahhh, Steve doesn't need a haircut.. Just a shave! @Flightchops I will support your tailwheel statement 100%. I have my t/w endorsement and it has made me into a better pilot. I push all student pilots to get t/w and spin training after they earn their private. Now I want to go book some decathlon time at Four Winds aviation at T31.

[@DrunkHog]

17:03 You cand see the canopy rim lifting up and daylight coming through.

[@gogilgau]

Great video Steve, Luke - Love it!

[@VictoryAviation]

The most fun I’ve ever had in a plane was in a Citabria. I hope to get back in one someday.

[@blake.crosby]

It was a blast. I never thought I'd so much fun in it!

[@theflyingchillipepper]

Just started tail wheel conversion, its so hard, so much harder than any of the videos on you tube would suggest!

[@FlightChops]

I’ve got a playlist that shares all my initial tail wheel training - please check it out - I think it illustrates an authentic experience of how hard it is.

[@mountainmikeoutdoors]

So much training to do. Gotta finish up CFI and then it's on to tail-wheel, CFII, Seaplane rating, and then MEI. Gotta offset the professional development with fun stuff.

[@FlightChops]

Honestly, I think it will enhance the professional endeavours.

[@ForFunFlyer]

Oh man, that was intense! 🤙🏻 Would love to give the Extra a try myself, someday...

[@oneskydog4401]

Most fun I ever had getting sick!

[@adjuaadama6623]

Brought back memories of my spin training a few years ago (I have to do that again, by the way). I actually nailed a perfect landing on my first taildragger flight, even surprised the instructor. The second time, however, I overthought it and it wasn't as nice for sure 🤣. But the instructor was right: the sight picture you need is the view you have while taxiing, and get used to gathering data from each side view in all phases.

[@speedomars]

You do not need to fly a tailwheel to get stick and rudder skills. Any light sport plane will challenge you beyond what any tailwheel plane will present. The lighter the aircraft the touchier the controls...the more the control surfaces are 'felt' and must be dealt with...esp landing them. Many experienced pilots, even in tailwheels will have trouble transitioning to the far more agile and touchy light sport planes.

[@violentfrog_]

Fun to watch videos around my home city

[@get_emld]

I was already planning starting my tailwheel this month :)

[@ChippyOutdoors]

Another fantastic video buddy 👍👍👍🤟

[@MrJ177]

I really liked the editing of this!

[@letoleroi9471]

Very cool!

[@brentdykgraaf184]

See the chops smash the like button... stearman....thatleteachcha

[@TheIndyspace]

Definitely, keep the skills viable..! 😁👍

[@FlightChops]

For sure. So many pilots don't realize the value of tail wheel flying.

[@turnbank3492]

All i have ever flowen is my champ on skis and floats when i rented a 172 to do spins and stall training i was terrible on the old tri gear.

[@tomsmith3045]

Don't feel bad, I learned tailwheel first, too, and it took a bit to transition to tricycle. They do land differently.

[@PureGlide]

Once you're feeling sick it's all over!

[@VideographerExperience]

Before watching this, I'll say my mother's father gave me the book Stick and Rudder, written perhaps a century ago, now? Everything still applies, the principles of flight are still the same. Exactly the same.

[@drewwatson4949]

Did my night rating in GIBB.

[@briant6333]

when pax start to feel sick I make them fly, they either feel better because they know what way they are going to go or become to terrified that they are in control to feel sick any longer

[@ericthomas8147]

The one acrobatic flight I took (a birthday present), I didn't last too long before airsickness took me. A few rolls, a hammerhead, a few loops, maybe a spin. After that, I was done.

[@kirbykapow1797]

If you fly gliders, stick and rudder fundamentals are a must!

[@richardbonander1507]

That was Awesome 🎉

[@Lee0076]

I need to get back in the Citabria

[@gtm624]

That whole aerobatic series was great I highly recommend all of them. Is getting nauseous doing aerobatic stuff something most pilots have to work past? Does it take time to not get sick? Or are some people just not cut out for it. I want to try some aerobatic training but I don’t want to be discouraged if I got sick.

[@ajd0408]

Amazing instructor.

[@suudlor]

I'm very interested in seeing spin manouever in the cub, would that be a possible b-roll footage in the future?

[@FlightChops]

I can do better and show a very solid (early video, complete with the original logo :) covering spin training in a Citabria, just like the one Blake is flying in this episode. Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZ-lo5yaedOjbcU

[@johnvansloun7443]

Another great video! Does anyone know the song that starts @ 18:16?

[@FlightChops]

Hey John, for the past few years, all the music I have used has been licensed from epidemic sound dot com. I have already taken this project offline into archives, but I can dig it up and look for the exact track name if you’re still interested.

[@johnvansloun7443]

FlightChops please do if it’s not too much trouble! I tried running it through some apps/websites but it didn’t come up with anything.

[@johnvansloun7443]

FlightChops Divergent by Ooyy 👌🏻

[@FlightChops]

Awesome there ya go - I hadn’t had time to look yet. How’d you manage to find it based on the sound alone on the epidemic sound website?

[@johnvansloun7443]

@@FlightChops My wife had a better/different app than I did.

[@GiuseppeSRedSky]

Very good!

[@sokalsophia4687]

Bad ass airplane and pilot.. love it.

[@StickandGlider]

From minivan to crotch rocket!

[@mckinleywilson6184]

I know how Blake feels, I threw up on my Intro flight! after asking the cfi to do stalls, he offered to do high bank turns, and while I was up for it, my stomach was not 😆

[@blake.crosby]

I feel you. It's not the inverted or unusual attitudes that makes me sick... It's the G forces that do. You can do 1g loops, etc... so stick to those first... then work your way up to higher G's slowly and your body will get used to it.

[@mckinleywilson6184]

@@blake.crosby thanks for the advice!

[@keithmaxon9510]

Is Blake the guy you used to rent the plane with and talked about the possible runway incursions super early in the FlightChops universe? Seems like I remember his name from LONG ago . .

[@FlightChops]

You're thinking of Mehran. I'd been friends with Blake over a decade ago, but didn't reconnect with him again until a couple years ago.

[@JasonWoodard]

Love Tailwheel

[@ronsfarm103]

Harvs Air awesome

[@ThresholdProductionsCanada]

A question for anyone who's been in a similar spot, or Steve, if you see this: I learned to fly on a desktop sim with a yoke, but once I started flying for real I've been flying Diamonds (with a stick obviously)... Do you think if one day I were to learn to fly a tailwheel (except for the differences in handling/procedure), I might have an easier time transitioning than someone who trained with a yoke? Or is it the same learning curve since there is so much new procedure anyway? Thanks!

[@tomsmith3045]

I did kind of the opposite, if it helps any. Learned in tailwheel/stick, and then transitioned to tricycle/yoke. The center of gravity and landing gear configuration differences were to me way more than the difference between stick and yoke. I can say the same thing for throttle. On the first plane, throttle was on the left, stick in front, so I'm flying with the stick in my right hand. Go to a PA-28, it's reversed. But that didn't cause any trouble, your brain figures that out quickly without thinking about it. Now, having the nose wheel vs tailwheel, and flaring for main touchdown rather than 3-point? That switch requires thought and practice.

[@FlightChops]

Yeah, I think a lot of the comes down to the individual... my primacy was stick right hand, “spoiler” left hand flying a 2-33 glider (I didn’t finish the full licence, but got a few hours solo). Shortly after learning to fly in the glider, I moved to yoke left hand, throttle right hand I a Cessna 150 for initial power training. It wasn’t into 10 years later that I was back to stick right hand throttle left hand, but it really clicked back to the primacy in the 2-33.

[@ThresholdProductionsCanada]

@@FlightChops @Tom Smith Right, thanks to you both. Should be very interesting once I get to try it! I’d be very interested to see how flying ‘right handed’ goes for me haha

[@leoarjuncrasto]

Amazing video steve! ❤️ Btw which Mic do you use for Voice over?

[@FlightChops]

Thanks! It's the RODE NT-USB

[@leoarjuncrasto]

@@FlightChops thanks❤️

[@lkm5462]

Did a hammerhead in a Huey with one passenger and his footlocker. He wasn’t strapped in Pulled out about 750 feet, exciting

[@FlightChops]

wut? haha. that's crazy

[@mudmarine1624]

had the opportunity to go up in that exact plane (C-GXRA) for my birthday last year, its a blast!!!1 (edit) at 12:32 behind the citabria you can see the first plane I ever got control of. (C-GZYI)

[@gordonkay6285]

Does anyone know the sunglasses blake is wearing?

[@SkyhawkSteve]

just wondering.... is there an official Flight Chops approved barf bag? ;)

[@FlightChops]

:)

[@blake.crosby]

@@FlightChops Coming soon to a Flight Chops store near you? Lol 🤣

[@tomeraltman7491]

a plane that helps with tail wheel and stick and rudder that has a control stick... so a glider?

[@FlightChops]

Absolutely! I first solo'd in a 2-33, and I think that primacy has stuck with me in everything I've flown since.

[@tomsmith3045]

:) I think gliders are great, but there's a lot to learn in an old tailwheel, too. For one, most old taildraggers glide like a toaster. So with a good instructor you learn where to scout for your emergency landing spot. Hint - down! For another, learning what 'right rudder' means when you're climbing out at Vx. But learning that stick and rudder stuff in general? Sure, gliders are great for that agree.

[@tomeraltman7491]

@@tomsmith3045 just saying all or most gliders are tailwheel :) and the landing has to be good because you only get one

[@tomsmith3045]

@@tomeraltman7491 Oh absolutely, it's great training. Learning to land without power is a critical skill, in my view.

[@Rickenbacker69]

@@tomeraltman7491 Yeah, but the spoilers are kinda easy mode. :) But it seems to me that every pilot should get at least some time in both a glider and something with a tailwheel. Sure teaches you how to manage your energy, and how to dance on the rudder pedals. That said, you might not want to stop flying them - I started with gliders, fly some taildragger motor gliders, and don't much care to try nose draggers at all. :D

[@dwighttaylor5107]

Fabulous

[@诏谕书]

that is very cool

[@flyifri]

If we are not part of the solution, than we part of the problem.!