"MikeM" wrote in message
...
Maule Driver wrote:

I'm curious, what's the thinking/experience behind wheelies?
Squirrelly?
Prone to nose over? ??

Tall gear, narrow gear, springy bungees, short coupled
(dist from mains to tail-wheel), high CG, short wings,
fuel load inboard (low rotation moment of inertia),
relatively big rudder area (crosswinds). It takes a
good 30 hours in a Pacer to get "happy feet". Wheel
landings should not be attempted until good tail
wheel skills are firmly ingrained.

No real reason for doing wheelies anyway, except for proving
manliness (and possibly night landings, so the landing light
shines down the runway).

Mine has agressively drooped wingtips, and lands so
slow that in heavy cross winds the best strategy is to land the
tailwheel first, followed by the upwind main, finally followed
by the downwind main. The steerability of the tail wheel
helps keep the tail from weathervaning.

Not too different from the Maule in some respects. Maule may be a little
more stable in winds and stuff. No reason to ever 2 point I've ever found
except if landing with a flat tailwheel. No matter what the wind, 2 point
with the downwind wheel down last of course. Tail wheel first is good way
to ensure no bounce but I never do that anymore. Weathervanes like an SOB
in high winds.

Thanks!