Taildragger Technique for Gliders

Is anyone aware of a glider textbook or manual which teaches the details of taildragger takeoffs and landings in gliders? I have lots of examples that I've used personally with students based on my power training a Champ and dozens of available texts oriented at the power taildragger training.

Looking back through RAS, I found a couple of old threads but not what I was looking for. I just want to re-use someone else's diagrams and text. Failing that, I'll end up formally writing up my own notes along with those from a couple of other club CFIGs.

Not necessarily looking for a new thread on "why learning in Schweizers sucks" or "how come Americans don't know how to land." But it's Winter in the northern hemisphere, so I can probably predict where this will end up.

Erik Mann (P3)

On Thursday, December 27, 2018 at 6:43:22 PM UTC-6, Papa3 wrote:
Is anyone aware of a glider textbook or manual which teaches the details of taildragger takeoffs and landings in gliders? I have lots of examples that I've used personally with students based on my power training a Champ and dozens of available texts oriented at the power taildragger training.

Looking back through RAS, I found a couple of old threads but not what I was looking for. I just want to re-use someone else's diagrams and text. Failing that, I'll end up formally writing up my own notes along with those from a couple of other club CFIGs.

Not necessarily looking for a new thread on "why learning in Schweizers sucks" or "how come Americans don't know how to land." But it's Winter in the northern hemisphere, so I can probably predict where this will end up.

Erik Mann (P3)

Wolfgang Langewiesche had it all figured out in the late 30's of the last century. His book "Stick and Rudder" is unsurpassed in clarity and insights. All you ever wanted to how on how to control a glider or airplane.
Herb, J7

On Thu, 27 Dec 2018 17:13:16 -0800, herbkilian wrote:

Wolfgang Langewiesche had it all figured out in the late 30's of the
last century. His book "Stick and Rudder" is unsurpassed in clarity and
insights. All you ever wanted to how on how to control a glider or
airplane.
Herb, J7

+1

--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie dot org

On Thursday, December 27, 2018 at 4:43:22 PM UTC-8, Papa3 wrote:
Is anyone aware of a glider textbook or manual which teaches the details of taildragger takeoffs and landings in gliders? I have lots of examples that I've used personally with students based on my power training a Champ and dozens of available texts oriented at the power taildragger training.

Looking back through RAS, I found a couple of old threads but not what I was looking for. I just want to re-use someone else's diagrams and text. Failing that, I'll end up formally writing up my own notes along with those from a couple of other club CFIGs.

Not necessarily looking for a new thread on "why learning in Schweizers sucks" or "how come Americans don't know how to land." But it's Winter in the northern hemisphere, so I can probably predict where this will end up.

Erik Mann (P3)

Not much different than an airplane; two point touchdown in a glider as in a full stall landing in an airplane in calm conditions and medium to high energy mainwheel touchdown/approach in a glider as in a wheel landing in an airplane.

On Thursday, December 27, 2018 at 5:48:53 PM UTC-8, 6PK wrote:
On Thursday, December 27, 2018 at 4:43:22 PM UTC-8, Papa3 wrote:
Is anyone aware of a glider textbook or manual which teaches the details of taildragger takeoffs and landings in gliders? I have lots of examples that I've used personally with students based on my power training a Champ and dozens of available texts oriented at the power taildragger training.

Looking back through RAS, I found a couple of old threads but not what I was looking for. I just want to re-use someone else's diagrams and text. Failing that, I'll end up formally writing up my own notes along with those from a couple of other club CFIGs.

Not necessarily looking for a new thread on "why learning in Schweizers sucks" or "how come Americans don't know how to land." But it's Winter in the northern hemisphere, so I can probably predict where this will end up..

Erik Mann (P3)

Not much different than an airplane; two point touchdown in a glider as in a full stall landing in an airplane in calm conditions and medium to high energy mainwheel touchdown/approach in a glider as in a wheel landing in an airplane.

To correct,I should have;"and medium to high energy mainwheel touchdown/approach in a glider as in a wheel landing in an airplane"- in windy/gusty conditions.

On Thursday, December 27, 2018 at 8:53:56 PM UTC-5, 6PK wrote:
On Thursday, December 27, 2018 at 5:48:53 PM UTC-8, 6PK wrote:
On Thursday, December 27, 2018 at 4:43:22 PM UTC-8, Papa3 wrote:
Is anyone aware of a glider textbook or manual which teaches the details of taildragger takeoffs and landings in gliders? I have lots of examples that I've used personally with students based on my power training a Champ and dozens of available texts oriented at the power taildragger training.

Looking back through RAS, I found a couple of old threads but not what I was looking for. I just want to re-use someone else's diagrams and text. Failing that, I'll end up formally writing up my own notes along with those from a couple of other club CFIGs.

Not necessarily looking for a new thread on "why learning in Schweizers sucks" or "how come Americans don't know how to land." But it's Winter in the northern hemisphere, so I can probably predict where this will end up.
Oh boy...here comes all the arguments "for" and "against" the various techniques! I already have 4 disagreements with the last two posts! LOL...but not in the mood for arguing...so you guys have at it!

To Erik's point...lots of training stuff on the "net" for soaring...but nobody seems to go into the concept of taildragger gliders specifically, as they do in airplanes...hence the so many bad landings we seem to see.

Cookie







Not much different than an airplane; two point touchdown in a glider as in a full stall landing in an airplane in calm conditions and medium to high energy mainwheel touchdown/approach in a glider as in a wheel landing in an airplane.

To correct,I should have;"and medium to high energy mainwheel touchdown/approach in a glider as in a wheel landing in an airplane"- in windy/gusty conditions.

So, Cookie, please be so kind as to educate us on your taildragger techniques (in gliders, of course).

66

Before Cookie starts, Ill add one, I thought, very insightful lesson I had from a instructor I had when learning tail wheel in a J3 cub. I already had 5k hours in sailplanes at this point and he said: "realize that you have to change from normal control to cross control once on the ground, just like you already do in your sailplane!" That was the ahaaa, moment for me. I had already been doing it in my Ventus now just make it happen in the cub, 140 and now the 170B hardest part is using a yoke instead of a stick Flame shields on!

CH

I will be shocked if there is too much difference of opinion at least on this subject....

On Friday, December 28, 2018 at 9:33:48 AM UTC-7, 6PK wrote:
I will be shocked if there is too much difference of opinion at least on this subject....

I had to land my RS-15 on its main wheel and continue to "fly" it on the ground, while still on its main, until I used the effective wheel brake to slow and stop. As soon as the tail wheel would touch the ground there would be very little aileron control. Landing that sailplane in a conventional two point landing would cause a wing drop soon after touchdown resulting in a trip off the edge of the runway. Reworking the flap/aileron mixing cam helped but did not solve the problem. Other RS-15's had the same behavior. My Mini Nimbus was fine with two point landings as well as main wheel landings.

Mike