Are Tricycle Gear Aircraft Easier to Fly Than Tailwheels?

Controlling trigear airplanes on the ground is much easier than for taildraggers.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, April 09, 2025 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Cessna's classic 170 was the basis for the tricycle-gear 172. [Courtesy: Hiller Aviation Brokerage & Consulting]

Key Takeaways:

Tricycle gear aircraft are significantly easier to control on the ground during takeoff and landing compared to tailwheel aircraft, which demand greater pilot proficiency and situational awareness to prevent ground loops.
This ease of ground handling makes tricycle gear aircraft more common for pilot training, more forgiving of technique, and often results in lower insurance costs for new pilots.
Despite their ground handling challenges, tailwheel aircraft are preferred for backcountry operations and unimproved runways due to their higher propeller clearance.

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Question: There are more tricycle gear aircraft at my airport than tailwheel equipped. Is that because tricycle gear aircraft are easier to fly?

Answer: To fly, no. But when it comes to controlling them on the ground during takeoff and landing, yes.

It’s analogous to driving a five-speed car on a hill. You have to know exactly when to let out the clutch and apply the accelerator to avoid rolling backward.