The article highlights the significant challenges faced by flight instructors teaching in tandem-seat tailwheel aircraft like the Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, primarily due to extremely limited forward visibility and poor access to instruments from the back seat.
This contrasts sharply with modern side-by-side instruction, underscoring the exceptional skill, instinct, and underappreciated difficulties of early flight instructors who operated in such demanding conditions, often with incomplete dual controls.
Despite the operational hardships, the author conveys a deep appreciation for classic tailwheel aircraft and the profound satisfaction instructors derive from introducing students to this unique and rewarding "true airplane" flying experience.
“You need to keep 80 miles an hour,” Kimberly admonishes me as we climb away from Rancho Murietta’s runway.
I lean way over to the left and strain to raise myself in the seat a bit to try and peer over her shoulder at the airspeed indicator. It’s no good. I’m just not tall enough.
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