Matthew
Touchdown! Greaser!
I have zero experience in tailwheels but had an interesting takeoff in a 172 this weekend. I'm wondering how tailwheel training would have helped.
I went out to visit family the other day, landed at their local airport and the rwy was covered with hard packed snow. Temps were low teens and the tower said braking action had been reported as fair, winds calm. Landing was no problem, an easy landing and just coast along to slow down. I did test the brakes and I found there was some grip.
Takeoff, however, was different. There was a 7kt wind about 40deg off the left side (about 4kt xwind). Just before I rotated, I could feel the plane weathervane. Because of the lack of traction on the snow, this is the first time I've felt that happen. I had aileron correction in for the slight crosswind, but I didn't have the rudder correction to prevent the tail from starting to swing. Since that was happening just as I was starting to lift, I didn't bother to panic, I just took off.
I guess my question is - is this the type of thing that tailwheel training would prepare someone for? I know the slick runway aggravated the situation, but that's the first time I've taken off from anything other than a clean concrete/ashpalt or dry grass runway.
I went out to visit family the other day, landed at their local airport and the rwy was covered with hard packed snow. Temps were low teens and the tower said braking action had been reported as fair, winds calm. Landing was no problem, an easy landing and just coast along to slow down. I did test the brakes and I found there was some grip.
Takeoff, however, was different. There was a 7kt wind about 40deg off the left side (about 4kt xwind). Just before I rotated, I could feel the plane weathervane. Because of the lack of traction on the snow, this is the first time I've felt that happen. I had aileron correction in for the slight crosswind, but I didn't have the rudder correction to prevent the tail from starting to swing. Since that was happening just as I was starting to lift, I didn't bother to panic, I just took off.
I guess my question is - is this the type of thing that tailwheel training would prepare someone for? I know the slick runway aggravated the situation, but that's the first time I've taken off from anything other than a clean concrete/ashpalt or dry grass runway.