On Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at 7:08:07 PM UTC-4, wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc90l-hxaXo

After watching the video I can't help but wonder how they got approval for that tailwheel on an L-23.

That's a fair question that I will try to answer to the best of my recollection. Miami Gliders purchased two Blanik L23's from an operator in Australia. The Australian operator did the removal of the swiveling tailwheel which I believe is not so robust and the source of some maintenance problems. I think that it took the Miami Glider owners at the time at least 6 months to get the modification approved by the local FSDO after the gliders arrived. This was in about 2004. We find ground handling is slightly more difficult as we need to turn the glider in sharp turns manually but towing to and from the tiedowns there is no real difference. The modification might be less desirable on pavement where the rear tire cannot easily slide on grass or where you have to do a lot of tight turns to maneuver the glider. Tom Mackie 747 and Balloon Pilot in Asheville, NC was one of the owners at the time if you need more info.