Getting Reacquainted With Taildraggers Is Time Well Spent

After a long pause, the author resumes work on tailwheel technique.

Jonathan Welsh

Monday, September 05, 2022 at 04:52 AM ET

Verified

The 7ECA Citabria is a good tool for honing tailwheel technique. [Photo: Jonathan Welsh]

Key Takeaways:

The author undertook a tailwheel refresher flight in a Bellanca Citabria after years of skill decay, immediately facing challenges like difficult taxiing, managing crosswinds during takeoff, and adapting to heel brakes.
Despite the initial difficulties, the flight was enjoyable, reaffirming the appeal of flying small, simple aircraft and using basic pilotage, which ultimately boosted the author's overall piloting confidence.
The author strongly advocates for tailwheel training, believing that the increased demand for attention and precision in these aircraft naturally makes one a better pilot, but emphasizes the need for continuous practice to maintain these skills.

See a mistake? Contact us.

I learned how to fly in a Bellanca 7KCAB Citabria, so there is a special place in my heart for taildraggers. However, after a fellow flying club member wrecked that airplane, years passed, and my tailwheel skills faded to the point where I was essentially a beginner again.

My club found another Citabria a couple of years ago, but by then I was working on complex and high-performance endorsements, so it was easy to put tailwheel proficiency on the back burner. Last week, though, after spotting the green-and-white 7ECA in the back corner of the hangar, looking lonely, I finally asked my instructor for a tailwheel refresher.