I learned to fly fixed wing in a '39 T-Craft. 3-point landings, once I was used to the t-dragger were easier then wheel landings. ut, oth were fun. Take offs were easy as you eased in the throttle, used your 'happy-feet', brought the tail up, then you were flying. My favorite thing to do were slips....nothing like it = TONS of FUN !!!
I like the way you put this vid together. Humour with great information. I am making a Hawker Hurricane coz most folk build Spits or Mustangs. I was scared to maiden it being used to tricycle stuff. Not so afraid of a tail dragger now due to your Presentation.
Great content as always sir. BTW, you say some really wise words at the end of the video, about the youth , the hobby and the future . Congratulations !
I agree. My first plane was a Corsair warbird. I figured, it's my money so why not start with cool. My second was 70mm edf f15. A few bumps ong the way but cut my time to learn way down.
Man...the gatekeeping stories we hear of in the hobby nowadays are unfortunate to say the least. Glad you talked the young viewer from the beginning of the video into flying a tailwheel and I hope the club they're a member of doesn't stop them from flying it. I went through a similar experience as a young kid in the hobby. Thanks for pushing getting youth into our hobby.
Regarding learning the rudder, if you have a go at helis you will start using the rudder on a plane without even realising you are doing, plenty of times people have commented on me using the rudder on planes a lot more than other pilots, and that's why.
100% agree. Thanks! I have always been a rudder pilot. But, when I got my T-Rex 600, wow does that teach you to use your left thumb ALL THEY TIME! :) Rock ON!
I fly nothing but Hangar 9 products in 1/5 and 1/4 scale models all tail draggers. One thing I noticed is they all have positive incidence in the horizontal stabilizer. This is done to get the tail up quickly to make rudder authority positive. This built in design sounds great however during landing re-trimming the elevator is necessary.
Great video going over your learning experiences and sharing how it taught you more about flying. You've got some beautiful airplanes. I especially liked your experience learning about downwind taxiing inputs. This is more crucial the larger the RC plane gets, but it definitely isn't a technique that's commonly taught in the RC world (and should be). Also, totally agree - centerline control is not taught in our hobby either, so being conscious of it and practicing it really helps with stick and rudder work. Food for thought: Techniques are just that - techniques - so it's definitely important that folks understand that there isn't only one right way to do something. It's all scenario based. For example: the techniques you are teaching here apply most directly and work best with larger RC aircraft. I would not suggest anyone try giving full down elevator when applying takeoff thrust with their park flyers. The tail generally rises naturally on most models, and you can ease in the required forward pressure (as needed) before she gets airborne (which is generally almost instantly with smaller 2:1 power to weight models). Raising the tail is not a *mandatory* technique for taking off a tailwheel. You can optionally takeoff with the tail low, safely, as well - both in RC and full scale. In full scale, keeping the tail low during a takeoff is the technique most commonly taught and used on soft fields (grass). Using this technique safely all comes down to knowledge of AOA and being considerate of back pressure once your plane gets airborne if the tail is low (allowing the plane to remain in ground effect if needed especially for heavier birds). It also works excellent for smaller RC tailwheel park flyers. In full scale, some planes don't have the power to weight to immediately bring the tail up. Therefore, with these birds, it's important to keep the tailwheel on the ground during the initial ground roll so you have full mechanical steering. In other words, avoid trying to use the rudder control surface exclusively for steering before there's enough air over it to give you ample aerodynamic steering. In the RC world, as you noted - we have GOBS of excess thrust, so ample aerodynamic steering can be there on larger models.
Thanks for the post. When I was taught tail wheel (Full Scale), my instructor taught to get the tail in the air. But you explanation also makes since. Rock ON!
@@RedDevilSquadron Intresting conversation, I fly T-6s, a Beaver, and a Beech Staggerwing, all have tail wheel locks, all you start your roll with full forward stick. Even my Super Cub I fly that way. But, everyone does have their way, which is good. :) Cheers!
@@rcpilotguy5890 Exactly - techniques are techniques. Ultimately, it's just important to know what each plane can get away with without it biting you (having flown Super Cubs for glider tows, you definitely can do it both ways). In other words, try it both ways under safe conditions to better know your airplane.
My 8 year old started on a valiant tail dragger a few months ago the only plane out of 7 that we have that’s not a tail dragger is his habu ss he flies on 6s now..
I learned how to fly on a tail dragger. These club guys are wound up way too tight. What a dumb thing to say. Just because they are morons and had trouble flying a tail dragger doesn’t mean anyone else is.
I learned to fly fixed wing in a '39 T-Craft. 3-point landings, once I was used to the t-dragger were easier then wheel landings. ut, oth were fun. Take offs were easy as you eased in the throttle, used your 'happy-feet', brought the tail up, then you were flying. My favorite thing to do were slips....nothing like it = TONS of FUN !!!
Thanks for sharing, I love people sharing their experiences. Rock ON!
I like the way you put this vid together. Humour with great information. I am making a Hawker Hurricane coz most folk build Spits or Mustangs. I was scared to maiden it being used to tricycle stuff. Not so afraid of a tail dragger now due to your Presentation.
Glad it was helpful! Have a great day!
Yah another Dag video thanks for posting🙂
Very happy you liked it! Thanks!!
Thanks for all of your advice is great as I, M still new to all this your vids are helping me a lot
Cool, ask questions if you ever have any! Rock ON!
Struggling to learn taildraggers. So helpful, thanks! 2 channel slope soarer here, bank and yank. Tail up, dancing on the rudder. This is hard.
Great content as always sir. BTW, you say some really wise words at the end of the video, about the youth , the hobby and the future . Congratulations !
I agree. My first plane was a Corsair warbird. I figured, it's my money so why not start with cool. My second was 70mm edf f15. A few bumps ong the way but cut my time to learn way down.
Man...the gatekeeping stories we hear of in the hobby nowadays are unfortunate to say the least. Glad you talked the young viewer from the beginning of the video into flying a tailwheel and I hope the club they're a member of doesn't stop them from flying it. I went through a similar experience as a young kid in the hobby. Thanks for pushing getting youth into our hobby.
Rock ON!!! Thanks for commenting! :)
Great 👍 Video
Thanks 👍
Haha nice, I learnt on a plane called the rainbow. A taildragger! I then converted that plane into a bush plane :)
Regarding learning the rudder, if you have a go at helis you will start using the rudder on a plane without even realising you are doing, plenty of times people have commented on me using the rudder on planes a lot more than other pilots, and that's why.
100% agree. Thanks! I have always been a rudder pilot. But, when I got my T-Rex 600, wow does that teach you to use your left thumb ALL THEY TIME! :) Rock ON!
My trainer said learn with a tail dragger, then other planes are easy. Worked for me.
2 yrs flying now, learned on tail dragger and haven't even flown a tri gear yet 😮
I know a lot of people this last 10 years that started on a tail dragger, back in the 80's and 90's no one started on a tail dragger.
I fly nothing but Hangar 9 products in 1/5 and 1/4 scale models all tail draggers. One thing I noticed is they all have positive incidence in the horizontal stabilizer. This is done to get the tail up quickly to make rudder authority positive. This built in design sounds great however during landing re-trimming the elevator is necessary.
Wow, I had no idea anyone would set the H-stab to a + incidence. Thanks for sharing. :) Rock ON!
Great video going over your learning experiences and sharing how it taught you more about flying. You've got some beautiful airplanes. I especially liked your experience learning about downwind taxiing inputs. This is more crucial the larger the RC plane gets, but it definitely isn't a technique that's commonly taught in the RC world (and should be). Also, totally agree - centerline control is not taught in our hobby either, so being conscious of it and practicing it really helps with stick and rudder work.
Food for thought:
Techniques are just that - techniques - so it's definitely important that folks understand that there isn't only one right way to do something. It's all scenario based.
For example: the techniques you are teaching here apply most directly and work best with larger RC aircraft. I would not suggest anyone try giving full down elevator when applying takeoff thrust with their park flyers. The tail generally rises naturally on most models, and you can ease in the required forward pressure (as needed) before she gets airborne (which is generally almost instantly with smaller 2:1 power to weight models).
Raising the tail is not a *mandatory* technique for taking off a tailwheel. You can optionally takeoff with the tail low, safely, as well - both in RC and full scale. In full scale, keeping the tail low during a takeoff is the technique most commonly taught and used on soft fields (grass). Using this technique safely all comes down to knowledge of AOA and being considerate of back pressure once your plane gets airborne if the tail is low (allowing the plane to remain in ground effect if needed especially for heavier birds). It also works excellent for smaller RC tailwheel park flyers. In full scale, some planes don't have the power to weight to immediately bring the tail up. Therefore, with these birds, it's important to keep the tailwheel on the ground during the initial ground roll so you have full mechanical steering. In other words, avoid trying to use the rudder control surface exclusively for steering before there's enough air over it to give you ample aerodynamic steering. In the RC world, as you noted - we have GOBS of excess thrust, so ample aerodynamic steering can be there on larger models.
Thanks for the post. When I was taught tail wheel (Full Scale), my instructor taught to get the tail in the air. But you explanation also makes since. Rock ON!
@@dagtheaviator No worries! I teach it both ways to my full-scale students and explain which scenarios each is best applied to. 👍
@@RedDevilSquadron Intresting conversation, I fly T-6s, a Beaver, and a Beech Staggerwing, all have tail wheel locks, all you start your roll with full forward stick. Even my Super Cub I fly that way. But, everyone does have their way, which is good. :) Cheers!
@@rcpilotguy5890 Exactly - techniques are techniques. Ultimately, it's just important to know what each plane can get away with without it biting you (having flown Super Cubs for glider tows, you definitely can do it both ways). In other words, try it both ways under safe conditions to better know your airplane.
I started with tail dragger
You are so very helpful!!!!!
I am super happy it helps!! Rock ON!
Great thumbnail. I'm building up a Ziroli DC-3 now!
Thanks!
My 8 year old started on a valiant tail dragger a few months ago the only plane out of 7 that we have that’s not a tail dragger is his habu ss he flies on 6s now..
Nice! Thanks for the post!
“Wait two years before you fly a taildragger” Sounds like another case of old farts giving their expert advise….
I totally agree. Crazy mean world.
I learned how to fly on a tail dragger. These club guys are wound up way too tight. What a dumb thing to say. Just because they are morons and had trouble flying a tail dragger doesn’t mean anyone else is.
Spot ON!