Getting back to it.

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BrianW

New member
Joined
Jun 14, 2022
Messages
4
Location
Lake City, MI
After taking off 15 years from flying, I purchased an airpark home and hanger in Michigan, renewed my medical, and now looking to purchase an airplane. I'm thinking a Citabria/Decathlon because I want to learn to fly tailwheels and do some light aerobatics in addition to just having a fun plane to fly around in. I have about 350 hours back around 2003, all in C172/182 and a Piper Archer. Now that we live on a grass runway, I think a tailwheel plane would be a fun way to get back in the air.

--Brian
 
I saw Bob's reply, being new to taildraggers shouldn't dissuade you from a Citabria, a Champ, or any of the other classic taildraggers that people have learned in over the years. There's a saying, if the plane's straight, it'll go straight. Keep any of them straight, and they go straight.

IMHO, the two things that bite new taildragger pilots in the ass are unstable approaches and crosswinds. Push yourself to fly a stable, well planned approach and your landings will likely be uneventful. Respect your personal crosswind limits and you will also enjoy many, uneventful tailwheel landings.

Get too cocky though, slip to the last second while trying to salvage a poorly executed approach or get caught in winds that you aren't prepared for, and you might see the ass end of your plane come around the front to greet you.

Be well prepared, get good instruction, and respect your limits and you'll be fine.
 
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If you have not flown acro, I recommend getting a few demo flights. Sometimes the theory is more appealing than the reality.
 
BrianW said:
Why is that?
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Bob is our local Cub Curmudgon...😘
If it ain't a Cub it ain't a REAL taildragger...
Ditto if you're a pansy with TOE brakes...

I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum from Bartman;
I'm a "learn to use all the controls all the time until the prop stops turning..."
Long approach, short approach, slips, skids are all fine as long as you're relatively straight when you touch down.
That's where the "All the controls" thing comes in... we agree about crosswinds and personal limits but the Citibrthon series of aircraft are really fairly benign; I've seen them get so sideways on the runway you could read the N number from behind and still not groundloop...
JMPO
Chris
 
My Decathlon "skitters" across the runway in a strong crosswind. Most unsatisfying, but it handles it ok. Without getting too far into it, I think the Decathlon is the worst taildragger for initial training. Citabriae are ok.
 
If you are the instructor, the Cub is a great airplane for giving tailwheel instruction; you sit in the front and have the best view in the house of how your student is doing. Be that as it may, Citabrias, Champs, and other taildraggers have been reliable mounts for flight instruction since they were first built so why stop now?

@chris, what I was saying is that if you are learning, understand your limits and how important it is to be straight as you enter the flare. Learning to put a plane with no flaps sideways into the wind is super important but if an approach just ain't working, recognize that and go around. Holding a plane straight down the runway with the wind blowing you sideways is super important too but at the end of the day the longitudinal axis has to be aligned with centerline of the runway at touchdown.
 
I spoke with Brian today about my Citabria which is for sale. He's ready to have some fun and the house/hangar up in Michigan is just the beginning!
 
Joe said:
Airpark home and hanger, grass strip, Citabria ready to leap into the air at a moment's notice. I'm not sure these other guys even read your post. I am green with envy. Welcome Bryan
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Of course I read Brian's entire post...

I'm just trying not to hate him on his first day here...🙄

Chris
 
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I wish I lived in a hangar home!!! I have to drive 11/2 hours to see my plane 😞 XS24. Course I have a farm there. Georgetown, tx has a 7yr waiting period for a private hangar.
 
There is another hanger house for sale on the field here, it seems like an amazing deal. I've only been up here in Michigan a month, but the weather can't be beat so far. Not planning on staying in winter :).

Just google this address 1040 S Taxiway Foxtrot, Lake City, MI 49651
 
The Citabria was my first tailwheel A/C since college, 28,000+ hrs later, all nosewheel aircraft, no problem with the tailwheel so far. Tailwheel checkout in Alpena, MI was interesting, to say the least. I was scared [email protected] 10hrs. It was alot different than what I was used to... A tailwheel A/C is fun, and challenging to fly well. I'm still working on my X-wind ldgs., never used to worry about 'em in the Boeing..
 
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BrianW said:
There is another hanger house for sale on the field here, it seems like an amazing deal. I've only been up here in Michigan a month, but the weather can't be beat so far. Not planning on staying in winter :).

Just google this address 1040 S Taxiway Foxtrot, Lake City, MI 49651
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That's a beautiful location Brian, enjoy it in good health! :TU:
 
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