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

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

Key Takeaways:

The author, a former taildragger pilot, undertook a challenging but ultimately rewarding refresher flight in a Bellanca Citabria, overcoming initial difficulties with unfamiliar heel brakes and crosswind takeoffs after years of lapsed proficiency.
Despite initial struggles, the flight reaffirmed the joy of flying simple aircraft, boosted the author's overall pilot confidence, and made perceived annoyances like heel brakes seem manageable.
The article advocates for tailwheel training as a highly valuable step for all pilots, emphasizing that it demands greater attention and precision, thereby enhancing overall piloting skills, though proficiency requires regular maintenance.

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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.