How Long Does It Take To Get Your TailWheel Endorsement? Part 1

[@Gmoney_72]

What a great series! Bro, you can’t leave us for so long! Best flying content in the TUBE..

[@floatingmallows]

Big rudder inputs to stop the yaw, small inputs to correct the heading. Rushing to get back center causes over-control. Love the vids! Upbeat intro music, great footage, interesting commentary. A bright spot in my day. I’m blown away by the greaser wheelies your student pulled off, not sure I believe it’s his first flight in a cub ;)

[@alexandercoats]

Thank you so much for the comment, I agree completely with the rushing back to the centerline often causes over controls. And genuinely this was his first flight in the cub

[@rafaelserra107]

Finally!! I was really missing that. Greatest youtube creator man.

[@alexandercoats]

thanks dude! I'm editing part 2 as we speak

[@sergeyvyatkin]

I received my TW endorsement in April 2017 after 4.4 hours of training in the Piper J5A Cub that was built three months before Pear Harbor. After over 500 hours of accumulated time in the Antonov An-2, I have found the Piper Cub to be a more challenging airplane to fly than any other heavy tailwheel airplane.

[@alexandercoats]

Interesting, I’ve always felt that it was honest and a good starting platform but others were a bit harder for me. It may have been because I first flew the cub when I already had a lot of tailwheel experience. But I definitely believe you

[@sergeyvyatkin]

@@alexandercoats, correction: Piper J-5A Cub Cruiser, not just a Cub... lol I have found that the main factor between tailwheel aircraft is the wheelbase (distance between the main wheels). Of course, the location of the CG relative to the pivot point too. For example: the Messerschmitt Bf 109 has an extremely narrow wheelbase, and I have heard that the 109 is very difficult even for takeoff. I am not even talking about landing in a strong and gusty crosswind.

[@pnzrldr]

Awesome! I too got my endorsement in a J-5, have some Stearman time and own an RV-7. Trying to get into a T-6, so if you think the J-5 is tougher, I'm glad!

[@JamesWilliamson-w8y]

@@alexandercoats My gliding experience helped. When landing a Cub, Hold off, hold off , hold off until you stall about half an inch above the runway.

[@JamesWilliamson-w8y]

I did it the other way round. Got my UK A,B,C Certificates in gliders in 1963 courtesy of the Air Training Corps.. Got my PPL in 1968 in a PA18-95. Only in 1991 did I go near a nosewheel. I bought a Piper PA38 and leased it to a local flying school. Used it to practice nosewheel taxing as well. Took about 3 hours to reach competence.

[@alexandercoats]

This is interesting, you never hear people transitioning to tricycle gear. It’s cool that you were able to have this experience

[@Durandalski]

I’m excited for the series because tail wheel is my planned next training step. Flying is a hobby for me. I’m not super interested in traveling around in airplanes, I just love the feel of flying and tailwheel seems to be the way to savor it. My long-term goal is to build and fly a Pitts S1, so my hope is that I can get a Luscombe to enjoy my certificate and aquire the time and skill to fly the Pitts if I’m ever able to make that happen. We’ll see if finances ever allow me to do more than rent a plane every couple weeks. :)

[@alexandercoats]

I think you have the perfect plan! the best part about tailwheel airplanes is that they are often less expensive than the tricycle gear planes on the market today. Building and flying an S-1 is an incredible goal, I have a friend who did it and I am extremely jealous of his plane

[@iCantFly55]

Outstanding, makes me want to get my tailwheel all over again! Great content as always

[@alexandercoats]

Thanks Shane! I hope to see you at Borrego

[@SOCALFLYBOY]

Great video Alex...super informative. Helps me in the tailwheel training you're doing with me as well...love this!

[@gregpdx]

He’s back!! 😎👍 Great video. I got my ‘46 Cub a couple months ago and SUPER fun flying and learning. This video is exactly what people need when learning. Awesome. Good to see new stuff too!

[@jimmydulin928]

I start teaching dynamic proactive rudder movement in first taxi by having them first push rudder pedals dynamically and proactively to the stop. This encourages slow taxi and teaches that the amount is not as important as the constant and dynamic. Constant stays ahead of the airplane. Dynamic is smoother than reactive jabs. Babys waddle before they get fine motor control. Demanding finesse early delays learning. In order to allow dynamic proactive constant rudder movement on short final, flair, touchdown, roll out, and taxi, we cannot ride the controls closely. We need to use Wolfgang's stall down technique in order to, "arrive at ground level in three point attitude all slowed up and ready to squat." We want to be slow enough that after only a short roll, they can ground loop without catching a wing and busting the bungee on the inside gear. Getting slow enough to sink enough to bring dynamic throttle into control of glide angle and elevator to control airspeed without a big balloon when we further decelerate coming into high ground effect. As Wolfgang points out, we can then use the speed up of the apparent rate of closure with the spot to gauge the back pressure on the stick. We do the same every time we come into an intersection with our cars. We don't use the ground speed indicator (speedometer), we let us on the gas pedal to keep what appears to be a brisk walk. The Army calls this power/pitch deceleration to prevent speed up the apparent brisk walk rate of closure approach. Good job with a good student. It takes considerable time when riding the controls as students learn best and fastest by being the manipulator of the controls. It helped me, years ago, teaching in a 7AC Champ that rented for $3.00 per hour wet. It helped to have the student every day until solo. It helped that fabric went on fast and props were wooden in a week maybe rebuild. I am too old now and medically used up, but I started not having as much fun when pilots began wanting the airplane saved over learning to fly it. They sure don't learn fast that way and they have no idea what a ground loop is until they have one. And if fast when it finally happens, there goes an expensive airplane now days. Good looking Cub, by the way.

[@Repuestosgigante]

I taught myself to fly tail wheel in a kitfox , I had a little over 1200 hours of single engine at the time and understood the principles .. quite a few go arounds took me a good 25 hours in calm weather to feel confident and 200 + hours to be competent in all conditions

[@hobie1613]

I wish the tailwheel endorsement were a requirement for the private cert. I flew with a commercial multi rated student for the first time yesterday who came to me still struggling with crosswind landings. I asked the simple question of why are we supposed to land with the upwind main first with a crosswind. He didn’t know. I truly don’t understand how he managed to get through private, instrument, commercial, and multi without understanding basic crosswind technique. The current state of flight training is in a really bad place. Please keep making these videos so people understand how important training like this is!

[@alexandercoats]

I agree! everyone should have to get 3 hours to really understand how to use the rudder. and part 2 is on the way!

[@dragonstring1]

In regards to struggling with crosswind landings, I would bet that guy’s home airport has cross runways so the worst crosswind he can get is 45º. My home runway is a cross type, and after I was done with Private I was still quite weak on crosswinds. However, after private one of my airport’s two runways was NOTAMed closed for the rest of the year so there was a 50% chance of a direct crosswind on any given day. I got a LOT better at dealing with crosswinds for Instrument and Commercial after that!

[@jeepjeffy04]

Yes…why not make an arduous and overly expensive hobby even more inaccessible to people…that will be sure to grow the community.

[@tbone1212]

@@jeepjeffy04If that’s how you see this hobby ,you’re in the wrong hobby.😂

[@christopherbordenave6955]

Dude your stuff is always 🔥🔥🔥 Quite the tease for what it takes to do what you do, but it’s good to see what a real first flight looks like. I love teaching TW and glad to see other young guys flying these classic airplanes. 👏🏽💪🏽

[@OBEaviation]

Glad you’re back!!!

[@alexandercoats]

Thanks dude. It felt good to be back making videos. I still have a helmet for you. Text me

[@Sjr352]

Excellent!!! Great work and instruction….

[@BonanzaPilot]

I have a bit over 6000 hours, all in GA airplanes, 0 tailwheel time. I just bought a RV-6 and it took me all of 11 hours for me to get comfortable taking off and landing good enough to feel comfortable going on my own. It really is like learning to fly all over again!

[@alexandercoats]

See these are the stories I like to hear. I’m a big fan of the RV-6, I checked out a friend in one and it took him about the same amount of time.

[@cmhbaxter]

So good... we need MORE!

[@alexandercoats]

More coming tomorrow!

[@ClearedAsFiled]

You are a GREAT instuctor....😊 if I had a medical, I would want you for my CFI...

[@alexandercoats]

Thank you that means a lot! If you just want to get back in the air while you wait for your medical let me know

[@cybertuffguy71]

Great video!!!!!!! Thx for this

[@andresfleury8825]

Freaking awesome! What kind of intercom/radio setting so you have set up? So crisp and clear! My J3 comms are so much noisier…

[@alexandercoats]

It’s the Sigtronics Transcom III. But I edit the audio a bit to make it sound a bit better.

[@craigsanders6925]

Do you do any high speed taxi on one wheel? I've done a lot of that for my tailwheel training. Made the first crosswind landings relatively easy.

[@alexandercoats]

I avoid high speed taxi practice, I’m not saying it’s not beneficial, I just haven’t used that method

[@craigsanders6925]

@@alexandercoats I've been training with an old school instructor in a citabria, he also trains people from around the world in his Stearman. Tracking centerline straight on one wheel was an interesting experience. Now it seems normal.

[@bobf1174]

@@craigsanders6925 my citabria came from a flight school where it was used as an airplane to make the next step into a Stearman

[@bt8469]

If you want your tailwheel without paying a whole bunch for an instructor, practice in a 150. One wheel (both sides) and main wheel touch and goes without nose gear touching, and maximum effort soft field take off and landings.

[@alexandercoats]

While I agree that you can sharpen your skills in the 150, you can’t replicate the take off or the transition of setting the tail down after a wheel landing

[@bt8469]

@ Are you saying you can't get a TW endorsement in a 150?

[@bobf1174]

@@bt8469not a tail wheel aircraft

[@bt8469]

@@bobf1174 Lol, it wasn't a sincere question for two reasons, 1: My original comment clearly did not preclude the need to get time in an actual tailwheel and, 2: it was a trick question because the cessna 150 can actually be certified in a tailwheel configuration.

[@bobf1174]

@@bt8469 yes it can be converted into a tail wheel 150. But until then it’s a tricycle configuration

[@jhaedtler]

The other advantage of learning in a J-3 is the student is not able to see the instruments. they learn how to feel the plane!

[@alexandercoats]

Exactly! I couldn’t agree more

[@SocialVAL]

How does one start the process of getting the tail wheel with you guys?

[@alexandercoats]

Reach out to me on instagram and I can schedule you for a flight. @coatsalexander

[@eaglezxz3354]

Took me 10 hrs in my citabria gcbc after not flying for yrs and being lowtime 172.ppl

[@alexandercoats]

The citabria is no joke. The springing gear takes a while to get used to

[@bobf1174]

@@alexandercoats so true

[@marciacunningham5877]

Sorry, but what is a tail wheel endorsement? I soloed with 4 hours of duel training in a Piper Cub 60 years ago. My, how times have changed. Even after flying all the single engine Cessna models, I still loved the Piper Cub! Michael

[@alexandercoats]

It’s crazy how different it is now, it seems like only 10% of pilots can fly tailwheel these days

[@jamesbrummett9530]

@@alexandercoats Maybe a good comparison would be getting your automotive manual transmission stick shift endorsement, considering how many young people lack those driving skills)) And yes, I am unfortunately included in the 90% of pilots who only fly tri gears.

[@rodrigofiuza5965]

👏👏👏

[@WilliamMartinez-o8u]

Just say it ! ....how many hours training ?

[@alexandercoats]

Part 2 has been filmed and released tomorrow. Part 3 will be filmed tomorrow. I don’t think it’s going to take much longer