Earning the TAILWHEEL Endorsement - Piper Super Cub - Tailwheel Training: Part 4 

A few years back, I bought a 7KCAB Citabria from an old-time pilot friend of mine. It had been years since I flew tailwheel, but I was grandfathered in on my license because I learned to fly in a 7AC Aeronca Champ. My friend got in the back seat, we went out and did some practice maneuvers, and then I did three landings for him. He said I was fine and got out of the plane. The problem was that I had never done a "wheel landing." Every landing I ever did in a conventional-geared airplane was a three-pointer. I read a lot of flying books, so I bought "The Compleat Taildragger Pilot" by Harvey S. Plourde. I taught myself to do wheel landings from the instructions in that book. The approach to teaching is so logical and so clear, that each procedure is first summarized into numerical steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. Then the steps are discussed. This is the best written approach to understanding the taildragger that I have ever read. I highly recommend it. Congratulations on your decision to master conventional gear flying. You will henceforth be a better pilot for it.

99% of the time I use 3pt landings in my Cub, even with a crosswind. This series inspired me to go out and practice some wheel landings, on my first 2 I was surprised that I did the same thing! (forgot to pull power). I could hear Keith's voice saying "get that power out" on each one after that. Great series!

Never take a tail dragger for granted, I had 150 hours in a Cessna170B, I ground looped her, no one was hurt, except my dad’s pocketbook.

Low pass is the key phrase. Also. PTT ON THE throttle wow😎

“License to Learn” .....Well said on that.

Working on my tailwheel endorsement, we did lots of one wheel high speed taxi's to get used to it on Xwind landings. Recently did 15kt full xwind practice in a Citabria. Wasn't always pretty :)

Great Job on the endorsement! My PPL Checkride is coming up and I have been watching your videos all along the way!

I did my tailwheel in a Citabria and Decathlon. Throughly enjoyed it. If nothing else, I learned you fly an airplane from chock to chock. Too many folks taxi tricycle gear airplanes without regard for flight control positioning during taxi. Thanks for sharing your ups and downs during this adventure, Josh! It's all about the learning...and exercises in character-building!

For me personally this is the best series of videos you have made to date. It was a great refresher for me since I own a tail wheel. Great job.

Greetings from sunny South Africa! Thank you for a great series of videos. I've just completed my tailwheel rating today. Your content assisted me greatly!!

Thx for all these videos. Tigre is getting his tailwheel endorsement up in Alaska now. Great tips!

Great job… as a CFII it definitely makes me better. I’m buying a Champ next week and have 15 hours in Citabria about 6 years ago. Your videos help me to bring back what I need to be doing. Come to 2K9 in Oklahoma sometime for a video shoot. I’d be happy to have you stay with us on the airport.

I enjoyed this 4 part series! Thank you

There’s nothing more fun than flying a Cub. Thanks for sharing your tail wheel endorsement training. I learned in a J3 54 years ago trading line boy duties for flying time. These videos took me right back to that time. Thanks again.

Congratulations Josh. Breathing is a licence to learn ;). I can remember a conversation I had with my grandfather when I was seven or eight years old. He said that if I only ever had one ambition I should consider whether his would serve me as well as it had him. It was, only stop learning 3 days after you've been put to bed with a shovel. Down the years it's kept me thoughtful and determined to never fall into the trap of thinking I know every aspect of a subject. There will always be something to learn, even if you know everything that is known, then more is just waiting for you to go and find it. And that's a down right exciting proposition to contemplate.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I bought a super cub and did my entire training it. It was fun to relive that training threw your videos. FYI. I had the same trouble with wheel landing getting that stick forward fast enough and also enough. My instructor on touch down took the stick and shoved it full forward and the prop did not hit. That took all the pressure off of me worrying about that. So hope that helps you. One other tip I have learned is in a good head wind leave some power in it on a 3 point as well. Really helped me grease them in. You loose energy very fast in a good head wind. I did my training at my house in Utopia which is not to far away from you.

Keith is an excellent instructor! Congrats on the certification. Great series. You know, a DC3 is a tail dragger. Just realized it.

my wife just got her tail wheel endorsement yesterday!

Thanks for an invaluable set of videos on landing tailwheel aircraft. I have just built an Aerotrek A220 and will begin my first tailwheel flying in it in a weeks time. I have 400 hours on nosewheel aircraft and I’m really looking forward to the challenge. Seeing you, with much more experience, finding it difficult to land a tailwheel aircraft successfully, gives me a sense of perspective about what is in front of me. I’m very grateful for that.

REALLY enjoyed this series, Josh! Extremely educational and informative. Camera angles really showed all aspects and made it easy for review and improvement. And Keith really knows his stuff - nice choice for an instructor.

900 hrs tail wheel and my licence to learn is more valid than ever. Really enjoyed the series, keep rolling Josh and many congrats - cheers.

Got my tailwheel endorsement today, Josh! All thanks to your videos! I kept in mind all the mistakes you talked about and flying tailwheel today was a breeze and pure joy! The J3 Cub is an awesome plane to start in and I plan on investing in my own PA-18 in the future. Fair skies and fair tailwinds, bud!

Congrats! I'm hoping to get the tailwheel soon. We'll see

As a student pilot. I am getting a lot out of your videos. I learn something new with everyone of them. Thanks Josh. I just wish I lived in your area so I could use you as my instructor.

We can all use a slice of humble pie now and then. By you becoming a " student " again, Keith provided positive lessons both in flying and how to better understand your students in the future. Doubt I'll go for a tailwheel endorsement as I only fly a C172 , but this tailwheel series was very interesting. Thanks !

Nice video! I went up in a J3 today and utilized several of the points made in this series.

CONGRATULATIONS, Josh! I've never flown a tail-dragger, but from observing you, there's much more to it than with tricycle gear.

Fantastic video! I love seeing folks transition to a conventional gear plane, the series has been fun to watch. As an instructor who gives tailwheel endorsements you chose a good instructor. After watching you fly the Carbon Cub with a nose wheel and giving tailwheel pilots a hard time for not embracing that aircraft it's satisfying that you took up the challenge to be a tailwheel pilot.. welcome to the ranks. BTW when ATC asks you aircraft type and you're flying a PA-18 the correct answer is two words: "Super Cub!"

Congratulations Josh! Good job!

Great camera placements (x4), then very excellent review of each landing with slow motion and explanations. Good instructional technique for video, and good feedback from your instructor. Well done.

Congrats Josh

Thanks Josh... Great videos from a “point of view” perspective!!! Very helpful for anyone pursuing a tail wheel endorsement

I am learning this at the same time. It is interesting to watch your face and the intense concentration. I do the same thing. It is certainly a high focus event in life. Love doing these.

you're like me....putting the aileron into the wind really late during training. That was actually the last thing i was able to get down. Now that i have over 100 hours in the tailwheel that i fly...i look back and think "hmmm was i THAT bad?" haha

I really enjoyed this series as this endorsement is high on my list to attain. I agree with your comment about instructors forgetting what it is like to be a student. I notice that a lot as I interact with both a lot.

Treating wheel landings like a low pass is how I finally accomplished them successfully as well. Keith was a splendid instructor for this tail wheel training! I'm sure as you continue to fly tail draggers, you will begin to get a feel for how load and approach speed drastically affect the amount of flare time and transition time from air controlled direction to tailwheel steering on the ground. Keep up the great work, both flying and video production and thanks for taking us along!

Josh I know the disclaimer you put up at the start of every video you post says “not for training” but I’m using it for training on MSFS 2020. One day when I have the time and money to persue a Sport Pilot Certificate and tail wheel endorsement Ill blame you when my future CFI tells me I’m all messed up. 😁 Seriously though, you are making some great content keep up the excellence.

Congrats I love the jungle jim tail wheels. I didn't have access to the plane long enough. 160 hp Citabria. Great to put my CFI in the back seat. I could only hear him. Lol. Great camera views. The feet is really important. In a trike you think the stable approach I can lock up and hold. A friend sold his one seventy two and bought a One Forty cause he said the skyhawk was boring.

I have learned a lot from this series, and I can see you learned a ton as well! I am so glad you did this series because it has given me an insight to what I can be doing right out of the box to make; taxiing, take offs, and landings a lot safer in my tail wheel training. Thanks!!!

Great Video, very educational.🤔👍🏻

Again.... Great instructional video. Great content and great camera work. We need more of this

Nice series. I did my tailwheel in a C-140 and it made me a much better stick and rudder pilot in every airplane.

Going to take my first tailwheel instruction tomorrow in a J3 Cub. Thanks for these videos, they gave me some perspective as to what to look for.

Love the camera angles. They are very helpful. It would be interesting to hear how the tailwheel time helped you in 991 or whatever you fly next

I ground looped on my 3 rd solo. Got it over with early😄

Nice videos and thanks for sharing. Will be taking some Tailwheel lessons this week and this will definitely help me get ready for them although still think it’s weird doing the dance on the right and left rudder pedals but an important skill to learn even for tricycle pilots.

Low pass Idle power Stick forward Happy feet

Congrats Josh, great job. Continue to learn and to teach what you learn. Thanks for sharing.

I’m just a CFI wannabe so take it for what it’s worth. On your wheel landings, I see you keep making the mistake of bringing the stick back and forward again. As soon as you roll it on, that stick should come forward and stay there until the tail starts settling. It can even be full forward because when you’re doing a wheel landing you have plenty of flying speed, thus air over the tail that’ll keep you from nosing over. This is only possible if you get on the brakes at the same time and or you’re landing on a substantially soft field. Personally, I’d focus more on bringing that stick forward before worrying about the power. Ideally, you do them at the same time right at touch down.. As always, great video, Josh! Can’t wait to see the Canyons series & to see some videos from 991 again. Happy flying. - Glenn

Like all things in life - you never stop learning. If you run into someone that knows it all - stay away. Nice video be safe.

I can't remember the last time I landed with any power on especially in a cub. By the time I am at 30' altitude my throttle is all the way off.

Right after my PPL I went out to get a high performance endorsement in a 182. All of the bad habits I had developed landing the 172 amplified in the high performance 182. Practically had to relearn how to land. It showed me that 172's are very forgiving.

I had the exact same problem with wheel landings. I kept treating them too much like a flare. Glad to see I wasn’t the only one!

I’m heading out for my second round of tail wheel instruction today and this has helped a lot, thanks

Really great series!! Being able to see and hear your learning the techniques is so valuable. Keep up the awesome work sharing aviation.

Great information! I am training for my endorsement at the same you have been posting these. I have to say the tips here have filled the gaps in my training. I’ve made the same mistakes and your camera angles really help understand what’s going on. Thanks for sharing!

Gosh! Way back near 45 years ago I insisted on getting my "Ticket" in a Tail-wheel aircraft. Today, there are tons of videos out there about: How to get your Tail-wheel endorsement. BUT ZERO EXPLAINING HOW to get your "Nose Wheel" endorsement! Guess I made the right decision, way back then. At age 17 !

Congratulations on the endorsement!!!

Congratulations Josh, well done. Enjoyed the presentation.

Great Job!! In my PA12 I make all landings with no power unless the wind is gusty. Thanks enjoyed watching this series

Nice video! Appreciate it (as always) :-) BTW: I see 991 is airborne again - looking forward to new video of it - can't wait :-)

I only wheel land unless I'm practicing 3 point landings on purpose. The visibility and control are just so much better. I also like to plant the stick forward and in the corner when landing crosswind.

Congrats on the endorsement! Loved how you documented your training. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to get some training in a tailwheel

Congratulations Josh!

congrats !! Josh good job

Great video. I am always learning. Love the tail wheel.....it makes you a better Pilot.....rudder, rudder, rudder.....👍

Congratulations and well done on the new endorsement

Congrats! One of the best ratings you can get!

AMAZING CONTENT!!!

Awesome video, thanks for sharing your training in this way, I really think that learning to fly a tailwheel makes you a better pilot, and a good pilot is always learning ! Can´t wait to see more SuperCub flight videos, saludos Josh :D

Great videos on your tail wheel endorsmemt. I learned in a C-140 and have abour 200 hrs in 140s & 170s. instructor is correct, always eyes on the horizon and very happy feet is the key!

Congrats very cool

Congradulations on the endorsement. Enjoyed the whole series

Welcome to the world of conventional landing gear. Great Job!!

Congrats! I've got 10 hours since endorsement in my Luscombe, and it does get easier, but also harder, as you handle new things by yourself.

Well done matey. Great work. :)

Now you can get a multi-engine rating and combine the skills and fly a Beech 18, or a DC-3, or maybe a B-17!

Very good series. I did notice though that sometimes your heels seemed to be pushing slightly sometimes on the brakes. I don't know how sensitive the are but just sayin. Maybe just take a look at that. Looking forward to 80991 flying again. Be safe and congrats on the endorsement. You definitely earned it.

Very nice

Wheel landing on a hard surface... I have to agree with the other pilots who emphasized "stick/yoke forward to the stop and keep it there 'til the tail begins to drop." My wheel landings were consistently lousy 'til my instructor forced the stick full forward and to my surprise, we didn't nose over. I like the "low pass" concept of wheel landings. I'm an old guy who lost my medical years ago but I still believe everyone should have spin training as well as some tail wheel time. Makes better, safer pilots.

Haha gotta love that awkward time when you’re getting the endorsement/cert where you still feel like you flew like poo and keep saying things like “gotta keep practicing that” or “license to learn” so that they don’t change their minds 😅 Thanks for the videos! Going for my tailwheel with Keith tomorrow!

Congrats

Josh, could you explain a bit more about 'happy feet'? What are the right/left rudder inputs doing other than slowing you down? and how do they change during cross-wind landings? More rudder pressure into the wind, I'd imagine? Thanks and Cheers.

Congrats Josh. 👍👍👍👍✈️🇺🇸😎

Congrats on your endorsement. Enjoyed the training very much. I still believe if you will release the death grip you have on the stick and just go with finger tips and thumb you will get a better feel of those wheel landings. When I say finger tips I don't mean right out on the end, I mean between the second and third joint of the fingers. JMHO of course lol.

Wheel landing is not a real landing, it's leveling at the altitude of the runway!!

So... Did you go solo? I'm training for my tailwheel conversion (UK NPPL) and watching this has been very helpful. Thanks!

congratulations, great job and is a nice endorsement to have... For sure you came out as a much better pilot... enjoy it and happy landings

You need some time in that RV! Thats an airplane that will keep you on your toes!

Great series! But I thought you needed an faa dpe to sign you off for the tail wheel endorsement?

We missed 80991 Josh, how is she doing?

Congratulations Josh! How is the 172 doing?

How do you like the SuperCub compared to a 172? I just inherited a Super Cub and I can't wait to go see it. Loved this video.

When is the test flight video of N80991coming out?

Congrats! My tailwheel endorsement is the one I cherish the most, hope it's the same for you!

Congratulations on taildrag endorsement.

It seems that starting out with tailwheel aircraft makes taildraggers more natural and with 90 % of my hours with tailwheel aircraft I'm glad my flight exsperiences happened that way. Do I still need to get a tailwheel sign off? Certification in 1982, SEL, Gliders, 1500 hrs.

I remember “ Baron Pilot” saying when he first started his channel, basically your private pilots license is just a license to learn. That has stuck with me for a long time

I just found your channel and subscribe. In another video I heard the tower say San Antonio and Austin. Is that where you are? I’m in Pflugerville.

Don't know if you have your multi or not but I have a twin Comanche if you want to make a multi rating series....