I have been listening to this instructor over this series and he is brilliant. Has a good balance of letting you make mistakes and pulling you up when needed. He also doesn't come across as know it all even though he sounds like he does indeed know it all and he doesn't get excited/impatient when you make errors, even if you do them more than once :0)
I absolutely love these videos. As a ~100 hr pilot working to get checked out on many planes I appreciate seeing the realistic learning process. Thanks for being in the minority of RUclipsrs that's willing to share your mistakes so we can all learn together. Keep it up!
Please can you post Dennis in some kind of shipping container to my home address? He's such an awesome teacher! Never gets flustered or harsh, even when he's being critical its still laid back. Exactly whats needed really
Amazing video! Your use of the split-screen was incredibly effective in showing everything that was going on. I've never flown a tail-dragger, but now have a good appreciation for what it takes. Thanks!
I hear what you're saying about peoples' time and the viewership analytics but you must also take into account that most of the people watching this are pilots or have a strong interest in aviation, and I'll bet ya a ten bucks they'll watch pretty much whatever you throw at 'em! Just sayin'... :) You really have a gift for doing this sort of thing. It all flows so well and the combination of avid pilot/aviation freak and pro videographer/editor is probably pretty damn rare. This is hands down the best insight into taildraggers that I've seen on the Tube. Keep it up. Oh and don't quit making these because I'll cry... Which is not something a man Michael Jordan's size should be doing.
cencalmatt Thanks man! I really appreciate this comment; this is the sort of thing that keeps me going when i am running out of steam editing these videos late at night. I'm saving this comment on my "keeper comments" list, that I'm using for sponsorship pitches - which is going really well...
cencalmatt a side note - you owe me $10 :P I just checked the analytics on this one, and after 2000+ views the numbers don't lie It's a solid video, that has great content and moves fast, but it still lost about 70% of the viewers after 10 mins... But at least the 30% that stuck around are hard core :) - that's why I thank them at the end :P email me at flightchops at gmail dot com, and I'll send you a screen shot of the audience retention curve.
***** Man I never understand that. Why people will put in 10 minutes or so and not then not finish a great video. I'll email you because I'd love to see that and how it all works as I would like to get into different kinds of video making myself.
Growing up dad always flew tail draggers. I asked him how he could "steer" the airplane. He said you have to predict where the tail was going to go before it got there. My gosh, he was so good at it. Never an issue with ground looping. I did not appreciate how good he flew until I was an adult. Never an issue with the engine, always logged his flight. Aircraft sang and flew like a bird.
Binge watched everything available, then started going back thru it all.i am really enjoying the tail dragger stuff, that and your ability to humble your self are enetertaining... I love this stuff, the editing and cinematography have come along way in such a short amount of time.
I am getting back into the taildragger flying (J3c-65) and checking out RUclips taildragger vids. In spite of having about 40 hours in taildraggers from many years ago, I did 90 degrees of a ground loop last week. I felt the weight shift heavily onto the right main, but not enough to lift the left wheel. I think I did what you describe as locking up. Also, I was also wearing my fattest sneakers, which is no help on rudders from the rear seat of a Cub. The foot clearance is so narrow. Unfortunately, I called it quits for the day at that point, which gave me "redemption" dreams all week. The next flight (last week) was punch and jab on the rudders and what a difference! I find your freedom to share your mistakes to be a major benefit to the viewer. So, thanks. Looking forward to the next flight.
David Jones Awesome! I'm happy to share. I googled your plane - that looks like bags of fun! Please report back to me about how the process of learning to fly it goes!
Thanks for sharing! I really liked this format: 4 videos at once is great. It gives us the chance to basically what the video 4 times and still see something new!
Philippe Deslauriers Yeah - I got a lot of great review out of the time I spent editing this one, so I hope people that want to really learn from it will watch more than once.
Soloed in a citabria today thanks in no small part to these videos. Really helped with my mental rehersal and putting the crosswind wheelies together. Onto the tow pilot endorsement next if all goes to plan. Great channel and a great series. Looking forward to the future flight chops.
This is awesome.... im an ultralight pilot and watch all your videos. I also fly with gopros too ... its AN AWESOME learning tool... my instructor and I use it for post-flight debriefing over coffee and sandwiches .... keep the footage coming.
Excellent video excellent editing I love the multishot view. Hello I'm a low hours private pilot and I absolutely love the analysis you make from your videos congratulations keep on the good work. Greetings from MMTC
Todd Steenburgh Thanks - I appreciate that - I do respect people's time, so I try to keep the edits tight and entertaining even if they run a little longer...
Hey there just love your video. I am currently doing my taildragger endorsement on a Citabria 7ECA. I used to flight instruct and now I fly a bigger jet however doing this training open up a new perspective of flying for me! I am glad to see that I am not the only one struggling to do these wheel landings perfectly ;)
Good job! Very entertaining, thanks for sharing it. As I was watching your video my feet were punching and jabbing those pedals along with you. I love flying tail draggers, and never get tired of watching videos like this when I'm on the ground.
KonradT4 Cool - yeah - reviewing my footage is a huge part of my "arm chair flying" routine, so I am happy to share the videos so that others can benefit from the experience as well.
Wow! Another amazing video! I love the multiple camera angles, love the commentary, love the content and love the how the video is done. Well done! Great job!
Love your videos! I just started my tail wheel training in a 7AC Champ. I have about two hours and loving it. Much different than my C150 = )You have an excellent instructor! I wish I lived closer...LOL.
This is an awesome video. Showing the tail, the rudder pedals simultaneously. Love it. I did a gusty crosswind with a quartering tailwind yesterday in my Citabria and was duly humbled. In hindsight, I should have reversed the pattern, even though all the traffic was landing in the quartering, gusty tailwind.
Tammie Searles Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for sharing your story. Agreed that sometimes the best call is to go against the grain and be the one to decide to change "the active" - as long as you can fit into the traffic safely, of course :) The flip side is that you may inspire others to stop conforming, and switch to the more into wind runway... For all you know, the first pilot to have chosen the tail wind may have done so for a specific reason to test themselves or something, and then others just blindly followed along assuming it was "the active"...
Awesome video as always my friend! The editing, the commentary, all of it was spot on! Looking forward to the next one. Keep on keeping your flight chops sharp :)
Very instructive video - thank you for showing us how to learn these techniques. I appreciated how your instructor kept such a calm, encouraging voice throughout the whole video.
Excellent video. I am currently training for my sport pilot license and a tail-wheel endorsemen, in the venerable Aeronca Champ. I can say you did an excellent job covering what is important about wheel landings. You just gotta love the tail-draggers. They are alive from the moment they start rolling until they are parked, and every one has a mind of its own. Never a dull moment. Flying them is more like riding a horse than driving a car. You can give them direction, and effective direction really matters, but they still won't necessarily do what you want.
I'm not a pilot, but I find your videos to be very informative. I watch the bulk of what you put-out, and I can't say I've ever been bored or disinterested. I totally understand that your videos are for instructional purposes, yet the breadth of knowledge and professional experience that you are able to present during your training excursions is remarkable. You do the aviation community a service in presenting your videos as thoughtfully as you do. Keep-up the good work.
Yeah this is top ten taildragger landing vids on YT for sure. Well done. There was no grass where I learned so it was a real adventure from the start in the 140.
recently stumbled on your videos, had to watch them all. Fantastic job! was humbled by FKO last summer on my intro to taildraggers, luckily i had Dennis with me. Look forward to many more videos
Bill Cameron Very cool! Small world. I feel very lucky to be able to fly with Dennis - he is a rare gem of an instructor and a great guy all around! Maybe we can fly FKO together some time? I'd love to compare notes.
Great videos. Love your work. I Particularly like the foot cam in these ones!! brilliant. I am imminently starting a tailwheel conversion and feel like I already know a fair bit of what to expect! Excellent jobs
I know This is an old video now but I enjoy watching your films and especially with how humble you are in regards to admitting mistakes. Keep up the awesome films! You may not be a certified instructor but the “reality” of your videos help us low hour pilots to learn just a little bit more about aviation, techniques, and airplanes in general
Great video! This reminds me of my tailwheel training 43 years ago. When I had about 30 hours in Cessna 150's working on my private I bought a really nice Cessna 140 and the transition from tricycle to tailwheel was humbling to say the least. I had soloed in 6.7 hours and it took 3.2 hours to solo a tailwheel. The Cessna 140 is not the easiest plane to wheel land because of the spring gear and in the beginning I found myself flying again after touching the ground...haha! I later bought a Citabria and found it easy to land and one of the most fun airplanes I've ever flown!. The Luscombe has to be the most difficult tailwheel airplanes I have experience with because of its narrow stance but like anything else, once you get it you got it so go have some fun!
Currently learning in a touring motor glider. I am going to get a tail wheel endorsement in the future and that tip on touching with one wheel first in to the wind is great especially as I could also see the rudder work
This video is great! I'm having a lot of difficulty with steering my Cessna 170 right now but there are things in this video I'm definitely going to try out! Thank you!
40 some years ago when I was learning how to land a plane I had trouble getting it in my head to steer with the petals and and not the “ steering wheel “ I FINELY! Started to pump the petals , that was the brake through.
When I was training for a tail-wheel endorsement, the first time I ever got in trouble with a side-loaded landing, my instructor didn't even touch the controls as I was fighting to keep the plane from spinning out! I was fighting for my life as I gradually ran off the grass strip weaving between the runway markers to prevent from hitting the horizontal stabilizer on them. Whew, that got my heart rate and my respect for tail-wheels up... IP said that if he helped me get out of it, then I would've never learned how to get out of it myself, he was proud of me. Luckily, we were at his grass strip with no other traffic, or the results could've been different XD
Awesome video and great shoes. I'm also training in a tail wheel flyer, 1946 Luscombe. I need more work with cross wind and wheel landings. Fly safe and keep those videos coming. Thanks.....
A tail dragger is more like dancing with the airplane then controlling it :) I did my primary in a luscombe 8a. . . and make any tricycle landing easy! Keep up the great work! Stay loose / Have FUN!! :)
I used to semi high speed Taxi my Cessna 120 on the mains down the taxiway. Never had a problem doing 3 pointers or wheel landings. I never had any tail wheel instruction. Right after I got my license, I saw a 120 for sale in Arkansas and my friend flew me out there. I did a flight around the field (had to roll up my jacket and put it behind me so I could reach the pedals) and the instructor guy they found, said I was a natural. So, I bought it and flew it back to Fl Solo, with no problems. Never came close to ever having a ground loop. I didn't know I had to have a tail wheel endorsement at the time. Never understood why some people have trouble with tail wheel planes. Got it after we got back to to Fl though as soon as I found out I was supposed to have one. Loved that little plane. Sold it and got a Cherokee 140.
Great Videos ! Surprised instructor doesn't ding you about the ball position...especially on take off it's way off to the right. Coordinated flight is your friend in any airplane.
Transitioning the crab to the sideslip on round out has been very tricky for me - and I'm so darn jumpy on the pedals; think I'm gonna consider "stuffing the stick to the corner it belongs, and focus on the feet" Thanks Dennis. Off to your flightChops Patreon page for more pointers.
+Isaac Esikhaty - Thanks Isaac :) And for sure - transition to the slip last minute is tricky, and some others have suggested starting the slip sooner on final to get more stabilized. So definitely talk to your instructor about the best practice for you in your plane.
I like that. Shoulder roll, keep loose. My instructor, sadly passed away now, was always big on a deep breath, wiggle and stretch on downwind as part of the process for landing.
I like the foot work and the foot camera is a nice view! All of my training has been in tricycle geared aircraft but I have been told I have excellent footwork and if I have flown a tail dragger before. A current buddy who is a CFI though hates my footwork. I don't think he has flown in a tail dragger before. Even if I am in a tricycle gear I would rather have great foot work and be safe instead of getting lazy. I am hoping to get my tail endorsement in the future.
Had a wind shift last week in the pattern which got some side load on rollout. "keep the feet moving" and stay loose from this video in my head helped a lot.
Thank you so much for posting this. Takes me back to my time in a Citabria. Pushing that stick forward at touchdown goes against your reflexes of wanting to pull back. Loved it!! Best pilot I've ever known was my "instructor" and did a snap roll on final at 300' just to show me how responsive the Citabria was. He was that crazy, but that good.
Very good instructional video as the 4 angles provide a sense of what is going on. Also better to learn from watching 'Bad' technique then perfect. Having a camera on the main gear and perhaps a single camera out the front and on the aircraft centerline might improve the perspective.
You mentioned in a prior younwere looking for “Shoes”in particular Merrels. Try a pair of Converse Chucks. I think you’ll find what you’re looking looking for. Love you videos
I love the Super Cub, have around 4000 hours in them, mostly towing gliders. The Super Cub will do something that no other such airplane will do. I call it a slam dunk let down. Pull power back to 1600 rpm, bank to 90 degrees to the left, full top rudder and the stick back in your gut and you will be coming down 2000 a minute at about 60mph without over cooling the engine. Jim
Jim Foreman THAT is awesome! I started with soaring way back when I started, and I remember seeing the tow pilot at my glider club do something similar with a Citabria .... But that sounds like a hoot - I hope to be towing next summer!
thanks for your video and putting the energy into making them. I know it takes a lot of effort. I am a wanna be bush pilot but lack of funds keep getting in my way. such as life. I always learn from your vids.
Dima Volodin cool thanks - yeah, I thought it would be interesting to try at least, but the "pedal cam" exceeded my expectations as far as how well it worked for detailed review and analysis.
Just reviewing this episode again now that I'm back working on my tailwheel endorsement in a Citabria and switching to concrete from grass next weekend - super helpful, thanks again :-)
Outstanding video! Thanks. btw; My first wheel landing was a lot worse than yours. Was flying my Cessna 140 and it just seemed counter intuitive to me to push forward on the yoke. My timing was off and I bounced hard. that spring steel gear bounced us back up into the air. It was so spectacular the airplane behind me in the pattern asked, '47 November - was that a landing or a crash?'. I practiced every day after until I got pretty good at that challenging aspect of taildragger flying.
Thanks for these awesome vids. I really like that you've shared that tip from your instructor to "roll your shoulders" to loosen up on final. I'm a student pilot as of now and I recently found by pointing a gopro at my face that I bite my lip on final (too much concentration perhaps?). I'll try that roll shoulders thing first thing when I get back to flying next week. Keep 'em coming!
Altitude Aerials Awesome - glad you enjoyed riding along for this lesson; and definitely try the rolling your shoulders trick on downwind / final - it helps remind you to think about your body and that you might be subconsciously holding tension.
+Laura Halliday Congrats and welcome to the club! Keep at it and Tail Wheel flying will click. Then you have to continue keeping at it, to stay clicked :P Tail Wheel currency fades A LOT faster than any other type of flying I have ever done.
Denis is awesome! I took a lot from this series. I constantly tell myself on flare "punch n jab" I also have incorporated the loosening up procedure as part of my pre take off and downwind legs! you should come over to Scotland and we can make some tailwheel videos in my PA17 Clipped wing cub! great stuff!
I haven't flown tailwheel takeoffs and landings, but my thoughts for your landing setup went like this... "Yeah, it's a 'slip' or rudder & ailerons in opposite directions condition you're going for, but I wouldn't call it a slip or get there like I'm setting up a slip." Rudder for aiming (the nose to tail axis) and aileron for sliding (fighting the crosswind) is about how I would set up for touchdown since landing as a crab takes special circumstances (like an Ercoupe).
Additional: Let me know if there's more to consider, too! : > I watched a few of your videos and a couple Tail Dragger Tips sets earlier, too. They helped me decide to use a trike setup for the R/C trainers I was messing with (along with some other design objectives and engineering issues).
I enjoyed this lesson very much, as my airplane only seats one, and there is no room for Dennis in the back! I ground looped once, on a high speed taxi, and shot off into the grass, before I knew what was happening.
Wheel landings are challenging for me. I prefer to land with the least energy and 3 pt, it’s a hard predisposition to overcome. Edit: awesome instructor.
Ive always said when you wheel land, you have to land twice, your tires are on the ground but your wing is still flying. In the 80's I worked for this old grumpy WW2 aviator, he always said, a good full stall three point is worth a dozen wheel landings, but wheel landings do have their place, just not in gusty cross wind conditions, lol
Awesome video dude!!! :D have fun with te Super Cub :D Your different cameras give us a great view what is going on in that critical moments :D Just feel the airplane ! blue skies and safe landings !
My favorite part ... "No Wigglies". Lol. Cool video! Like the new editing. Four is about all I can split my attention on at once. Anything more would be a lot. What were your wheels doing during the crosswind landings? They're not in the vid. I admit, I always have trouble with getting the upwind wheel to touch down first.
Joshua Reed Agreed that 4 shots is the max to put on screen at once. The "wing strut cam" shot on the Super Cub can't see both wheels, so I might try a forward looking cam from the tail handle where I connect the "tail wheel cam" to see how that works.
kelticpaddler Hi David, Check out some of the earlier tail wheel flying videos where I illustrate it more clearly... But essentially, it is the way you work the rudder for landing / take off in a tail wheel plane. You need to be confident and aggressive with the rudder - The analogy my instructor used was to think of it like boxing, as opposed to ball room dancing.
Great video as always! I still have to do the wheel landing training but I find I occasionally unintentionally make wheel landings when I am trying for a three point landing. I am guessing from this video this is mainly due to being too fast on my approach.
Geoffrey Engelbrecht Thanks Geoffrey - and yeah, it's worth doing a lesson focusing on wheel landing so that you can make 3 pointers and wheel landings two separate and intentional things.... if that makes sense..? :P
***** That makes sense but I will wait till I get my 50 solo grass landings in before combining that lesson with my release on pavement. In the meantime I am figuring out the timing in the flare myself. It seems that I just need to pull back quickly right before she wants to settle and it works. If I don't pull back she settles on two wheels and if I pull back too soon she balloons. The slower my approach the smoother the transition and the less the risk of ballooning. However too slow and she stalls on flare and the landing is hard - basically my first two lessons were too slow for our weight so now I air on the conservative side with the approach speed.
Geoffrey Engelbrecht You're going to enjoy the video I make about going solo - I really get into the experiences you are describing regarding finding that balance of slow but not too slow for 3-point landings... suffice to say, my first solo was the best landing I've ever done, and it gave me a false confidence... my second solo THE NEXT DAY, I did the worst hard landing I'd done yet in all my tail wheel flying, and it scared me so much that it took several flights for me to get my 3 pointer mojo back.
***** I look forward to seeing your going solo video. I've been lucky so far with no really scary moments. But then I am landing only on grass which has some give. I have a friend who used to tow gliders with a Super Cub and he told me if it swung sideways at all he just put on full throttle and went around. The pull from the propellor in front of the main gear he said helps to stabilise the plane. My flight instructor also said he agreed that this was a good solution. I had to do that once when one gear touched first with no cross wind and it worked nicely.
Geoffrey Engelbrecht Cool. And yes, My "scary moments" have all been on pavement :P But then a had a couple on the grass after having lost my "mojo" and coming in too fast for fear of dropping it on... My home base has 1100' of grass to work with, so if you ain't on target for speed and your aim point, you're going to over run it. I'd never failed to do it until the flight following my "scare" and I had to over shoot the grass twice as I was coming in too fast. I had to go to the local grass strip which is much longer to work on grass landings with no fear of over running, to get my mojo back for the short field.
The amazing thing is you are about the only one who actually shows the footwork! Thanks!
FINALLY! Someone has a camera showing what’s happening with the petals. Very good video ❤
this guy is a real definition of any instructor
I have been listening to this instructor over this series and he is brilliant. Has a good balance of letting you make mistakes and pulling you up when needed. He also doesn't come across as know it all even though he sounds like he does indeed know it all and he doesn't get excited/impatient when you make errors, even if you do them more than once :0)
I absolutely love these videos. As a ~100 hr pilot working to get checked out on many planes I appreciate seeing the realistic learning process. Thanks for being in the minority of RUclipsrs that's willing to share your mistakes so we can all learn together. Keep it up!
Please can you post Dennis in some kind of shipping container to my home address? He's such an awesome teacher! Never gets flustered or harsh, even when he's being critical its still laid back. Exactly whats needed really
+Mirandorl : Don't put your master in shipping container... have him fly in. ...with a plane to use. ...and send him to me, too. : D
Instructors of tailwheel wheely landings are a very special breed!
Amazing video! Your use of the split-screen was incredibly effective in showing everything that was going on. I've never flown a tail-dragger, but now have a good appreciation for what it takes. Thanks!
gavink42 Thanks - I had a feeling the pedal cam would be interesting - but it surpassed my expectations as far as how useful it was to review!
I hear what you're saying about peoples' time and the viewership analytics but you must also take into account that most of the people watching this are pilots or have a strong interest in aviation, and I'll bet ya a ten bucks they'll watch pretty much whatever you throw at 'em! Just sayin'... :)
You really have a gift for doing this sort of thing. It all flows so well and the combination of avid pilot/aviation freak and pro videographer/editor is probably pretty damn rare. This is hands down the best insight into taildraggers that I've seen on the Tube. Keep it up. Oh and don't quit making these because I'll cry... Which is not something a man Michael Jordan's size should be doing.
cencalmatt Thanks man! I really appreciate this comment; this is the sort of thing that keeps me going when i am running out of steam editing these videos late at night. I'm saving this comment on my "keeper comments" list, that I'm using for sponsorship pitches - which is going really well...
***** Outstanding. I'm honored :)
cencalmatt a side note - you owe me $10 :P
I just checked the analytics on this one, and after 2000+ views the numbers don't lie
It's a solid video, that has great content and moves fast, but it still lost about 70% of the viewers after 10 mins...
But at least the 30% that stuck around are hard core :)
- that's why I thank them at the end :P
email me at flightchops at gmail dot com, and I'll send you a screen shot of the audience retention curve.
***** Man I never understand that. Why people will put in 10 minutes or so and not then not finish a great video. I'll email you because I'd love to see that and how it all works as I would like to get into different kinds of video making myself.
***** This is a good point - It hadn't occurred to me that people may start watching, and return later to finish.
Growing up dad always flew tail draggers. I asked him how he could "steer" the airplane. He said you have to predict where the tail was going to go before it got there. My gosh, he was so good at it. Never an issue with ground looping. I did not appreciate how good he flew until I was an adult. Never an issue with the engine, always logged his flight. Aircraft sang and flew like a bird.
Binge watched everything available, then started going back thru it all.i am really enjoying the tail dragger stuff, that and your ability to humble your self are enetertaining...
I love this stuff, the editing and cinematography have come along way in such a short amount of time.
Chris Ryder Thanks Chris! Glad you're enjoying the content!
I am getting back into the taildragger flying (J3c-65) and checking out RUclips taildragger vids. In spite of having about 40 hours in taildraggers from many years ago, I did 90 degrees of a ground loop last week. I felt the weight shift heavily onto the right main, but not enough to lift the left wheel. I think I did what you describe as locking up. Also, I was also wearing my fattest sneakers, which is no help on rudders from the rear seat of a Cub. The foot clearance is so narrow. Unfortunately, I called it quits for the day at that point, which gave me "redemption" dreams all week. The next flight (last week) was punch and jab on the rudders and what a difference! I find your freedom to share your mistakes to be a major benefit to the viewer. So, thanks. Looking forward to the next flight.
Awesome - I appreciate your letting me know this one resonated with you.
I knew a Cessna 195 driver who flew with bedroom slippers, just to keep the feel of the rudder pedals nice
I am a pilot and have my home build Pietenpol ready for taxi tests. Man, these are great
training videos...so happy I found them.
David Jones Awesome! I'm happy to share. I googled your plane - that looks like bags of fun! Please report back to me about how the process of learning to fly it goes!
I've now lost count how many times I've watched this. So very helpful.
Thanks for sharing! I really liked this format: 4 videos at once is great. It gives us the chance to basically what the video 4 times and still see something new!
Philippe Deslauriers Yeah - I got a lot of great review out of the time I spent editing this one, so I hope people that want to really learn from it will watch more than once.
Wow...what a great instructor this guy is ....great video
Stuart Stephens I am lucky to have Dennis - he is my Yoda :)
I liked your editing so we could observe so many landings in a short time.
Glad you liked it!
Soloed in a citabria today thanks in no small part to these videos. Really helped with my mental rehersal and putting the crosswind wheelies together. Onto the tow pilot endorsement next if all goes to plan.
Great channel and a great series. Looking forward to the future flight chops.
The temperament of the instructor is awesome. Great video
Glad to see this one still getting some traction - it is older and not 4K, but the content is evergreen for sure! Thanks for watching!
This series is one of my favorites. As a tail wheel wanna be it’s cool to see what it will be like. Thanks 🤙
Well done - really enjoyed the 4 up synced view that showed what is really happening!
CPsVids Thanks Chris!
This is awesome.... im an ultralight pilot and watch all your videos. I also fly with gopros too ... its AN AWESOME learning tool... my instructor and I use it for post-flight debriefing over coffee and sandwiches .... keep the footage coming.
***** Glad you liked it - lots more coming!
Excellent video excellent editing I love the multishot view.
Hello I'm a low hours private pilot and I absolutely love the analysis you make from your videos congratulations keep on the good work.
Greetings from MMTC
Alejandro Gidi Awesome! Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
About to start my taildragger training next week watching your videos to get mentally prepared. Great stuff as usual!
Thanks for the “punch and jab” cam for rudder work. Dennis is a terrific instructor.
Another great video. Don't apologize for them being "too long", that 17 minutes flew by (pun intended).
Todd Steenburgh Thanks - I appreciate that - I do respect people's time, so I try to keep the edits tight and entertaining even if they run a little longer...
Another awesome video! Surprising to see how much fancy footwork is involved here.
NitroRoo Yes, it is crazy how much foot work is required to fly tail wheel :)
I absolutely adore these videos. Your comments, conclusions, editing... it's awesome. Thanks for the hard work!
Hey there just love your video. I am currently doing my taildragger endorsement on a Citabria 7ECA. I used to flight instruct and now I fly a bigger jet however doing this training open up a new perspective of flying for me! I am glad to see that I am not the only one struggling to do these wheel landings perfectly ;)
Good job! Very entertaining, thanks for sharing it. As I was watching your video my feet were punching and jabbing those pedals along with you. I love flying tail draggers, and never get tired of watching videos like this when I'm on the ground.
KonradT4 Cool - yeah - reviewing my footage is a huge part of my "arm chair flying" routine, so I am happy to share the videos so that others can benefit from the experience as well.
Never get sick of watching these vids. Cheers for sharing
+alex davidson - awesome thanks! Glad you're enjoying them!
+FlightChops I'm just waiting for my dad to type me out on his Bird dog. ..beaut plane but forever fearful of the dreaded ground loop...safe travels
I don’t know anything yet but I’m learning thanks to vids and instructions like this. A+ thanks!
Wow! Another amazing video! I love the multiple camera angles, love the commentary, love the content and love the how the video is done. Well done! Great job!
biggy5567 thanks so much for this comment! It's hard work to edit these, but this sort of feedback let's me know it's all worth while!
First video of yours I've seen, I like the editing and multiple angles, well done man.
+DascCrescent right on thanks! There are like 70+ videos now! enjoy the back catalog!
Love your videos! I just started my tail wheel training in a 7AC Champ. I have about two hours and loving it. Much different than my C150 = )You have an excellent instructor! I wish I lived closer...LOL.
+N72Pilot Thanks! Happy tail wheeling! Let me know how it goes when you get signed off!
This is an awesome video. Showing the tail, the rudder pedals simultaneously. Love it. I did a gusty crosswind with a quartering tailwind yesterday in my Citabria and was duly humbled. In hindsight, I should have reversed the pattern, even though all the traffic was landing in the quartering, gusty tailwind.
Tammie Searles Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for sharing your story. Agreed that sometimes the best call is to go against the grain and be the one to decide to change "the active" - as long as you can fit into the traffic safely, of course :) The flip side is that you may inspire others to stop conforming, and switch to the more into wind runway... For all you know, the first pilot to have chosen the tail wind may have done so for a specific reason to test themselves or something, and then others just blindly followed along assuming it was "the active"...
Awesome video as always my friend! The editing, the commentary, all of it was spot on! Looking forward to the next one. Keep on keeping your flight chops sharp :)
WestTexasAviator Glad you liked it!
Great video! Always interresting to hear diffrent perspectives from diffrent instructors! Keep it up!!!!
Eric Lund Thanks Eric! and yes, Dennis always has great tips and tricks to share.
Very instructive video - thank you for showing us how to learn these techniques. I appreciated how your instructor kept such a calm, encouraging voice throughout the whole video.
Fantastic video my friend :) Proud sponsor! Keep up the good work and I'll raise my contribution.
_Cogliostro Thanks so much! I appreciate the support and friendly comments! It really makes it easy to stay motivated to get these videos made.
Excellent video. I am currently training for my sport pilot license and a tail-wheel endorsemen, in the venerable Aeronca Champ. I can say you did an excellent job covering what is important about wheel landings. You just gotta love the tail-draggers. They are alive from the moment they start rolling until they are parked, and every one has a mind of its own. Never a dull moment. Flying them is more like riding a horse than driving a car. You can give them direction, and effective direction really matters, but they still won't necessarily do what you want.
Great video! Thanks for the multi camera views, especially the footwork. I'm starting tail dragger training and this is a huge help.
This is an excellent video session. It brings back my long-ago tailwheel time, especially the transition from slip to crab on landing. Thanks mucho.
Richard Tamir happy to share!
I'm not a pilot, but I find your videos to be very informative. I watch the bulk of what you put-out, and I can't say I've ever been bored or disinterested. I totally understand that your videos are for instructional purposes, yet the breadth of knowledge and professional experience that you are able to present during your training excursions is remarkable. You do the aviation community a service in presenting your videos as thoughtfully as you do. Keep-up the good work.
Keep the videos coming! Love the editing and kudos to your instructor! Happy Landings!
+karan89er Thanks!
Yeah this is top ten taildragger landing vids on YT for sure. Well done. There was no grass where I learned so it was a real adventure from the start in the 140.
recently stumbled on your videos, had to watch them all. Fantastic job! was humbled by FKO last summer on my intro to taildraggers, luckily i had Dennis with me. Look forward to many more videos
Bill Cameron Very cool! Small world. I feel very lucky to be able to fly with Dennis - he is a rare gem of an instructor and a great guy all around! Maybe we can fly FKO together some time? I'd love to compare notes.
man, really loving these videos and your critical self-analysis! Really love it!
NineRocks Thanks - I'm happy to share as I bumble along and learn :)
The decisive slip Dennis does at 15:03 is a thing of beauty. I wept!
Great progress and you have an excellent CFI back there. Thanks for sharing!
MrJDP1974 Thanks, and yes, Dennis is pure awesome.
Great videos. Love your work. I Particularly like the foot cam in these ones!! brilliant. I am imminently starting a tailwheel conversion and feel like I already know a fair bit of what to expect! Excellent jobs
+AC UK Awesome! Happy to share and glad you found it helpful!
Definitely agree that the foot cam was a great idea. Really starting to put the pieces together.
AC UK I agree, the foot cam is killer!
I know This is an old video now but I enjoy watching your films and especially with how humble you are in regards to admitting mistakes. Keep up the awesome films! You may not be a certified instructor but the “reality” of your videos help us low hour pilots to learn just a little bit more about aviation, techniques, and airplanes in general
Great video! This reminds me of my tailwheel training 43 years ago. When I had about 30 hours in Cessna 150's working on my private I bought a really nice Cessna 140 and the transition from tricycle to tailwheel was humbling to say the least. I had soloed in 6.7 hours and it took 3.2 hours to solo a tailwheel. The Cessna 140 is not the easiest plane to wheel land because of the spring gear and in the beginning I found myself flying again after touching the ground...haha! I later bought a Citabria and found it easy to land and one of the most fun airplanes I've ever flown!. The Luscombe has to be the most difficult tailwheel airplanes I have experience with because of its narrow stance but like anything else, once you get it you got it so go have some fun!
Like the flash of the sun on the gear when you say "land on the main gear."
Brad Gassner Nothing is accidental my friend :) Thanks for noticing :)
Currently learning in a touring motor glider. I am going to get a tail wheel endorsement in the future and that tip on touching with one wheel first in to the wind is great especially as I could also see the rudder work
This is a great video! Keep doing these. I love your humble approach. I'll be starting my PPL soon and will be recording to evaluate later.
This video is great! I'm having a lot of difficulty with steering my Cessna 170 right now but there are things in this video I'm definitely going to try out! Thank you!
Stanley Nguyen Glad to help Stanley!
40 some years ago when I was learning how to land a plane I had trouble getting it in my head to steer with the petals and and not the “ steering wheel “ I FINELY! Started to pump the petals , that was the brake through.
When I was training for a tail-wheel endorsement, the first time I ever got in trouble with a side-loaded landing, my instructor didn't even touch the controls as I was fighting to keep the plane from spinning out! I was fighting for my life as I gradually ran off the grass strip weaving between the runway markers to prevent from hitting the horizontal stabilizer on them. Whew, that got my heart rate and my respect for tail-wheels up... IP said that if he helped me get out of it, then I would've never learned how to get out of it myself, he was proud of me. Luckily, we were at his grass strip with no other traffic, or the results could've been different XD
Riddle Flyboy Yup - the best learning happens when you're at the edge of your abilities. The best instructors let you get there safely.
Awesome video and great shoes. I'm also training in a tail wheel flyer, 1946 Luscombe. I need more work with cross wind and wheel landings. Fly safe and keep those videos coming.
Thanks.....
Bob Plourde I'm glad to add a resource for other tail wheel pilots to refer to!
A tail dragger is more like dancing with the airplane then controlling it :) I did my primary in a luscombe 8a. . . and make any tricycle landing easy! Keep up the great work! Stay loose / Have FUN!! :)
I used to semi high speed Taxi my Cessna 120 on the mains down the taxiway. Never had a problem doing 3 pointers or wheel landings. I never had any tail wheel instruction. Right after I got my license, I saw a 120 for sale in Arkansas and my friend flew me out there. I did a flight around the field (had to roll up my jacket and put it behind me so I could reach the pedals) and the instructor guy they found, said I was a natural. So, I bought it and flew it back to Fl Solo, with no problems. Never came close to ever having a ground loop. I didn't know I had to have a tail wheel endorsement at the time. Never understood why some people have trouble with tail wheel planes. Got it after we got back to to Fl though as soon as I found out I was supposed to have one. Loved that little plane. Sold it and got a Cherokee 140.
Great Videos !
Surprised instructor doesn't ding you about the ball position...especially on take off it's way off to the right.
Coordinated flight is your friend in any airplane.
Transitioning the crab to the sideslip on round out has been very tricky for me - and I'm so darn jumpy on the pedals; think I'm gonna consider "stuffing the stick to the corner it belongs, and focus on the feet" Thanks Dennis. Off to your flightChops Patreon page for more pointers.
+Isaac Esikhaty - Thanks Isaac :) And for sure - transition to the slip last minute is tricky, and some others have suggested starting the slip sooner on final to get more stabilized. So definitely talk to your instructor about the best practice for you in your plane.
Once you get used to the side slip, you will never go back to the crab. Just so much more you can do with the side slip technique.
Don't worry about making longer videos, it's really enjoyable.
Cinnabun Cool - glad you're enjoying them. I do try to keep the videos moving, as I respect people's time.
Excellent video. Upon landing: less aileron, more rudder work. Watch for wing drop on those pipers. How bout a video on the falling leaf exercise?
Bob Sakamanos Yes - we'll do the falling leaf at some point.
Another great one. Starting to see some of the stuff I did wrong in the Luscombe 8A. Thanks for posting!
I like that. Shoulder roll, keep loose.
My instructor, sadly passed away now, was always big on a deep breath, wiggle and stretch on downwind as part of the process for landing.
I like the foot work and the foot camera is a nice view! All of my training has been in tricycle geared aircraft but I have been told I have excellent footwork and if I have flown a tail dragger before. A current buddy who is a CFI though hates my footwork. I don't think he has flown in a tail dragger before. Even if I am in a tricycle gear I would rather have great foot work and be safe instead of getting lazy. I am hoping to get my tail endorsement in the future.
Mark Fiegen Give it a try - Tail Wheel flying is hard work, but awesome fun.
Had a wind shift last week in the pattern which got some side load on rollout. "keep the feet moving" and stay loose from this video in my head helped a lot.
Thank you so much for posting this. Takes me back to my time in a Citabria. Pushing that stick forward at touchdown goes against your reflexes of wanting to pull back. Loved it!!
Best pilot I've ever known was my "instructor" and did a snap roll on final at 300' just to show me how responsive the Citabria was. He was that crazy, but that good.
***** Glad you enjoyed it! And yes, getting into tail wheel flying has made me feel like I am learning to fly all over again - it is great!
Very good instructional video as the 4 angles provide a sense of what is going on. Also better to learn from watching 'Bad' technique then perfect. Having a camera on the main gear and perhaps a single camera out the front and on the aircraft centerline might improve the perspective.
Shemp Howard Thanks for the thoughts on that - yeah - I'm gonna try some other options when I train in different planes.
Great job on the 1st Super Cub landing... The tail never touched. Still watching.
Mikey T Cool thanks!
You mentioned in a prior younwere looking for “Shoes”in particular Merrels. Try a pair of Converse Chucks. I think you’ll find what you’re looking looking for. Love you videos
I love the Super Cub, have around 4000 hours in them, mostly towing gliders. The Super Cub will do something that no other such airplane will do. I call it a slam dunk let down. Pull power back to 1600 rpm, bank to 90 degrees to the left, full top rudder and the stick back in your gut and you will be coming down 2000 a minute at about 60mph without over cooling the engine.
Jim
Jim Foreman THAT is awesome! I started with soaring way back when I started, and I remember seeing the tow pilot at my glider club do something similar with a Citabria .... But that sounds like a hoot - I hope to be towing next summer!
thanks for your video and putting the energy into making them. I know it takes a lot of effort. I am a wanna be bush pilot but lack of funds keep getting in my way. such as life. I always learn from your vids.
Loved it. The pedal cam is a great idea.
Dima Volodin cool thanks - yeah, I thought it would be interesting to try at least, but the "pedal cam" exceeded my expectations as far as how well it worked for detailed review and analysis.
Just reviewing this episode again now that I'm back working on my tailwheel endorsement in a Citabria and switching to concrete from grass next weekend - super helpful, thanks again :-)
best playlist on youtube
+zmoney316 Right on! thanks!
Outstanding video! Thanks. btw; My first wheel landing was a lot worse than yours. Was flying my Cessna 140 and it just seemed counter intuitive to me to push forward on the yoke. My timing was off and I bounced hard. that spring steel gear bounced us back up into the air. It was so spectacular the airplane behind me in the pattern asked, '47 November - was that a landing or a crash?'. I practiced every day after until I got pretty good at that challenging aspect of taildragger flying.
Thanks for these awesome vids. I really like that you've shared that tip from your instructor to "roll your shoulders" to loosen up on final. I'm a student pilot as of now and I recently found by pointing a gopro at my face that I bite my lip on final (too much concentration perhaps?). I'll try that roll shoulders thing first thing when I get back to flying next week. Keep 'em coming!
Altitude Aerials Awesome - glad you enjoyed riding along for this lesson; and definitely try the rolling your shoulders trick on downwind / final - it helps remind you to think about your body and that you might be subconsciously holding tension.
I had my first tailwheel flight last weekend. In a Citabria.
A humbling experience for this Cherokee/172 driver. :-)
+Laura Halliday Congrats and welcome to the club! Keep at it and Tail Wheel flying will click. Then you have to continue keeping at it, to stay clicked :P Tail Wheel currency fades A LOT faster than any other type of flying I have ever done.
"The rudder went into quick drying cement" haha.. I like him.. Good video
Agree, great instructor.
_Cogliostro Jason Ellis Yes, Dennis is a perfect mix of wise, humble and calm... I've never flown with anyone quite like him.
my favorite line was "if it's not lined up it'll take you off into the rubarb!"
Great job of editing out all but the creme! And I really like your instructor!
Denis is awesome! I took a lot from this series. I constantly tell myself on flare "punch n jab" I also have incorporated the loosening up procedure as part of my pre take off and downwind legs! you should come over to Scotland and we can make some tailwheel videos in my PA17 Clipped wing cub! great stuff!
I might have to come over for a tail wheel endorsement!
I haven't flown tailwheel takeoffs and landings, but my thoughts for your landing setup went like this...
"Yeah, it's a 'slip' or rudder & ailerons in opposite directions condition you're going for, but I wouldn't call it a slip or get there like I'm setting up a slip." Rudder for aiming (the nose to tail axis) and aileron for sliding (fighting the crosswind) is about how I would set up for touchdown since landing as a crab takes special circumstances (like an Ercoupe).
Additional: Let me know if there's more to consider, too! : >
I watched a few of your videos and a couple Tail Dragger Tips sets earlier, too. They helped me decide to use a trike setup for the R/C trainers I was messing with (along with some other design objectives and engineering issues).
Never flew a TailWagger , looks like a lot of fun and work.
Great flight Denis is a great instructor
I enjoyed this lesson very much, as my airplane only seats one, and there is no room for Dennis in the back! I ground looped once, on a high speed taxi, and shot off into the grass, before I knew what was happening.
Getting ready to solo in a champ. Love this video, I have watched it multiple times now! punch and jab...
See the chops....smash the like.....love your content steve.keep em coming. Like Mikey and plane savers...I actually watch the full comercials.
Coral Gables 🌴🇺🇸 Hehe. Good seeing you again. 👌 🏄
Wheel landings are challenging for me. I prefer to land with the least energy and 3 pt, it’s a hard predisposition to overcome. Edit: awesome instructor.
Chops - another great video. I really liked this instructor.
Thank you for sharing these videos....I really enjoy them!
Marc Scott Awesome, glad to hear these more technical longer ones are going over well.
Ive always said when you wheel land, you have to land twice, your tires are on the ground but your wing is still flying. In the 80's I worked for this old grumpy WW2 aviator, he always said, a good full stall three point is worth a dozen wheel landings, but wheel landings do have their place, just not in gusty cross wind conditions, lol
Awesome video dude!!! :D have fun with te Super Cub :D Your different cameras give us a great view what is going on in that critical moments :D Just feel the airplane ! blue skies and safe landings !
Nicolás Aqueveque Thanks! Glad you liked it!
Nice experience, great editing. Thanks for sharing!
My favorite part ... "No Wigglies". Lol. Cool video! Like the new editing. Four is about all I can split my attention on at once. Anything more would be a lot. What were your wheels doing during the crosswind landings? They're not in the vid. I admit, I always have trouble with getting the upwind wheel to touch down first.
Joshua Reed Agreed that 4 shots is the max to put on screen at once. The "wing strut cam" shot on the Super Cub can't see both wheels, so I might try a forward looking cam from the tail handle where I connect the "tail wheel cam" to see how that works.
Another great vid ;)
Can you explain the terminology "Punch and jab"?
Regards
David
kelticpaddler Hi David, Check out some of the earlier tail wheel flying videos where I illustrate it more clearly... But essentially, it is the way you work the rudder for landing / take off in a tail wheel plane. You need to be confident and aggressive with the rudder - The analogy my instructor used was to think of it like boxing, as opposed to ball room dancing.
Great video as always! I still have to do the wheel landing training but I find I occasionally unintentionally make wheel landings when I am trying for a three point landing. I am guessing from this video this is mainly due to being too fast on my approach.
Geoffrey Engelbrecht Thanks Geoffrey - and yeah, it's worth doing a lesson focusing on wheel landing so that you can make 3 pointers and wheel landings two separate and intentional things.... if that makes sense..? :P
***** That makes sense but I will wait till I get my 50 solo grass landings in before combining that lesson with my release on pavement. In the meantime I am figuring out the timing in the flare myself. It seems that I just need to pull back quickly right before she wants to settle and it works. If I don't pull back she settles on two wheels and if I pull back too soon she balloons. The slower my approach the smoother the transition and the less the risk of ballooning. However too slow and she stalls on flare and the landing is hard - basically my first two lessons were too slow for our weight so now I air on the conservative side with the approach speed.
Geoffrey Engelbrecht You're going to enjoy the video I make about going solo - I really get into the experiences you are describing regarding finding that balance of slow but not too slow for 3-point landings... suffice to say, my first solo was the best landing I've ever done, and it gave me a false confidence... my second solo THE NEXT DAY, I did the worst hard landing I'd done yet in all my tail wheel flying, and it scared me so much that it took several flights for me to get my 3 pointer mojo back.
***** I look forward to seeing your going solo video. I've been lucky so far with no really scary moments. But then I am landing only on grass which has some give. I have a friend who used to tow gliders with a Super Cub and he told me if it swung sideways at all he just put on full throttle and went around. The pull from the propellor in front of the main gear he said helps to stabilise the plane. My flight instructor also said he agreed that this was a good solution. I had to do that once when one gear touched first with no cross wind and it worked nicely.
Geoffrey Engelbrecht Cool. And yes, My "scary moments" have all been on pavement :P
But then a had a couple on the grass after having lost my "mojo" and coming in too fast for fear of dropping it on...
My home base has 1100' of grass to work with, so if you ain't on target for speed and your aim point, you're going to over run it. I'd never failed to do it until the flight following my "scare" and I had to over shoot the grass twice as I was coming in too fast.
I had to go to the local grass strip which is much longer to work on grass landings with no fear of over running, to get my mojo back for the short field.