Learning to LAND a Tailwheel Airplane | Tailwheel Training: Part 1 

This guy is a good instructor. I like how he just let you fly and only offered essential advice instead of chewing your ear off and potentially distracting you from the task at hand.

This guy is a CFI, owns an FBO, and has owned several flight schools, AND he's a captain at a major airline? And he has a sweet super cub!?! I need to get in gear!

Just finished up my tailwheel training in my Luscombe. Here's how my feelings progressed: I will NEVER be able to do this..... I MIGHT someday be able to this..... OK, I think I can do this..... WOW, I'm having a blast doing this!

Keith!! That guy took my flight instructor off-roading in a golf cart to get a good view of the approach end of 18 at 50R while I had my first solo this year and me to his hangar to check out this very plane when I was done. He’s the kind of guy that gets the rest of us excited about general aviation!

Wow... You've taken me back to June 1986 when I flew American Airlines with a briefcase full of cash to purchase a restored 1947 J Piper Cub , N3461K for my Dad as his last Fathers Day! (Dad a 30K ATP Rated Commercial Pilot with 15 majors, no accidents, incidents or violations through out his stellar career) Long story , short I did not receive that extensive and complete training that you are getting! The BEST advice that I got was the Grass Strips were far more forgiving that Paved Runways and the Car Gas was better than 80 Octane if I cold get it. Great Memories...thanks for the trip back 33 years ago ';-)

Wow! This instructor is incredible. Around 23:30 he tells him to stop and get out of the airplane so he can brief him on something. Some instructors will try to brief you and teach you in the cockpit. The airplane is not a good classroom. Some CFIs could take tips from him!

Lots of respect for the glider tow pilots who tow and land with big slips and crosswind landings all day long with Super Cubs and Pawnees.

Keith is a great instructor, he sends PPLs to the "dream killer" in Houston, and they pass. Dudes a legend.

So this takes me back a bit- I learned to fly in- yes- a 1963 Super Cub- took my first lesson in it at 12 years old. I’m staring down 61 now, but got my wings in one of these things- first solo- the whole nine yards. Guess that would be the ultimate tail wheel endorsement, but I don’t recall any such thing in my logbook at the time- it was by default I suppose. Back then, I never quite understood why people, mostly other pilots, made such a big deal about the fact I learned to fly in a taildragger. I didn’t know anything different; if I wanted to fly, it was, for a while, the only aircraft I had access to, and it seemed insignificant to me. Don’t fly anymore- haven’t in over 40 years but I miss it and now fly vicariously through the RU-vid channels. Josh- thanks for posting this- loved the memories it brought forward. Take care.

Great video! It’s fun watching my cousin Keith give you instruction. I need to pay him a visit and get my tailwheel endorsement 😄.

Happy Feet is important in Tailwheel control. I loved flying my Tailwheel.

This is what I’ve been waiting for Josh! Thanks for coming back to the pilot training focused vids. Amazing features with Alaska and coast to coast but this is what made Mr Aviation! Keep it up! 🇬🇧👨🏻‍✈️🛩

Tailwheel endorsement … Putting the "Mister" back into real aviator skills. Good for you.

Finally, one I can relate to. It felt like old times. I got my PPL in '95 in a Citabria. I sure miss those days. Great video and can't wait for the next ones. Thanks.

The best part of this video was how the instructor kept saying "Happy feet, Happy feet"

That was awesome, so different with a tail wheel and a stick. After seeing so many planes with sophisticate equipment, this feels like going back to the early days, flying by the seat of your pants. Cheers, Rik Spector

Once you try the tailwheel, don't go back! Remember to trim the plane, and everything will be easier ... Really a great instructor!

Looking forward to this series.

Best aviation videos hands down. Its like watching documentary. Thank you Josh! 💪🏻

GREAT tail cam; really brings the “Happy Feet” into focus. A whole new experience...even after 1,000 hours, and a CFI rating. 😎👍

This was excellent, thank you for being so transparent with it. I think my next step is definitely tail wheel.

Josh, it’s awesome to see you put a spotlight on tailwheel training. I’m a big fan of tailwheel aircraft, and strongly believe that it makes a far better pilot out of you. It also forces you to pay careful attention to the wind. And, hey, there are a lot of inexpensive, fun tailwheel aircraft out there that sit unused because so few pilots know how to fly them. What better reason for a young pilot to do all training in a tailwheel airplane 👍🏻

As much as I have enjoyed your exploration into the "film making" side of aviation it's great to see some more of the instructional videos too!

Excellent series! I’m so glad I started out in a TW! The options become so much more open with TW experience.

Thank you both for the contents. I can’t wait for part 2.

Love the Aviation Community! Very cool of Keith to take you up flying.

Great timing, i just started my tailwheel training in a Champ. My instructor told me to bring my dancing shoes for the rudder pedals. He was right, sure isn't like flying a nose dragger!

GREAT instructor! Calm and precise. Humble is another word. Great video. Glad I am subscribed.

Nice wing-rockin' instruction! You have a great CFI mentor!

That is some good instruction. Thank you Josh for the video! You did well.

Can't wait for your next video - Just converting my Kitfox from a nose gear to a taildragger so these videos are perfect. I like that you don't edit them too much and let us see most of what is actually happening. Keep them coming. Rodney

That is a beautiful old airplane; the owner is a wonderful teacher; you still show me that a young pup still can learn new tricks. I can't wait to see your airborne career continue to grow and your Channel to continue to produce terrific content. Outstanding Josh.

Working on my tailwheel right now in a Piper cub on a grass runway after I just passed my commercial. It’s humbling to say the least haha, but it puts a smile on my face every time I fly it

Thanks Josh. Once you go tailwheel it will really make the Skyhawk seem tame. Nice cameo for the Cessna 180/185's, two thumbs up for that!!

Wonderful series! The videos showing the foot work(rudder and brakes) is what makes it for me! "Informational" videos like these need more of that type of perspective.

Pleasant environment to discover tail wheel flying. Enjoyed your instructor and conversation. “Don’t give back” is a great teaching tool...especially for my nose heavy 182. I will remember that. Thanks for your great aviation videos.

So gald to see you stepping up to the plate. When I started flying in 1964, I soloed a C152 and immediately transitioned to a C140. My flight instructor told me at that time that if I could fly a Cessna 140 and fly it well, I could fly anything. He was right. Congratulations on your journey to becoming a pilot.

Excellent video! Thank you.

In tri-gear SWP's (Short-Wing Pipers) you needed _three_ hands, just to taxi! One hand on throttle, one to pick up the mic (we didn't have yoke buttons back then-) and another (!) to operate the _HAND BRAKE_ ! I was SO relieved after the ink dried on my license when I could _finally_ transition to a Super Cub! They had been the first type I took the controls of as a CAP cadet and it just felt right! TKS for this. Brings back so many memories.

Great video. I fly a Super Cub too and I absolutely love it. One of the best single engine pistons in my opinion if you’re not in a hurry 😋

I remember my tailwheel check out in a Cetabria. It was a blast and part of my training was to be able to demonstrate spin entry and recovery as well. This kept me safe and let me know what the airplane would do in case I screwed up. The Cetabria does not have flaps so I learned to do and enjoy no flap landings which made me do that more and more in tricycle gear when I have longer runways. Definitely, recommend that you can get a taildragger check out it will make you a more proficient pilot and give you a better understanding of control you mostly get lacks in tricycle gear airplanes.

tailwheel flying is the best flying. I fly a 1990 christen husky and its the absolute best flying ive ever done. never going back

Boy... does that bring back the memories of my Tail Wheel training. GREAT Video, Great Instructor! Happy Feet!!

Thanks so much for this! I'm looking forward to having the fun the pilots in these comments mentioned!

Great instructor! The don’t give it back is so true. I was flying my L-19 one day and I kept bouncing on my three point landings until on one landing it was like a light came on.... I WAS LETTING THE STICK CREEP FORWARD THUS LETTING THE TAIL UP AND AWAY I WENT. After that as long as I concentrated on keeping the stick back, I greased the landings right in. Great reminder for all us tail wheel drivers.

One of your best videos, Josh. Really looking forward to Part 2.

i like seeing the bumps gives you a better feel of the flight! Great Instructions

Lots of valuable information! Thanks!

Great Job!! I learned to fly in a Taildragger back in 1975. I have a 1946 Piper PA12 now at KIXA

One of the best TW training videos I've seen! Looking forward to seeing more.

Used to fly a Super Cub at Refugio, TX towing gliders at the club there. Great fun to fly but takes a lot more finesse I would call it. If you are used to a tricycle gear those heel brakes take some getting used to. It takes a good sense of balance along with hand eye coordination to fly well in a tail dragger. Especially on windy days. Thanks Josh for the reminders. Excellent instructional video.

Great advice to never stop learning to put you back in the students perspective.

This is really cool Josh! Keep up the great work. Love seeing this kind of stuff.

Great direction.. Both the Seaplane and the Tailwheel.

Nice video and nice job. You show something that keeps pilots alive...humility. Calling yourself out for your own mistakes for the whole world to see is a great thing. To many pilots get to a certain level and don't want to admit they are still making mistakes. You called it right on the button...no matter what your credentials or experience level...remain a student for life and you'll have a long one.

I have many hours in an A1-E Skyraider. Huge taildragger. Definitely a different flying experience.

Wow a lot more to one of those than one would think. Nice job Josh. Thanks for posting this.

Fantastic video! I love the technical and informational video style!

Hey! thanks for sharing this video. I am in the process of getting my tailwheel endorsement and these videos are definitely gonna help me.

Nice work Josh! My CFI sent me up for tailwheel during my PPL and basic acro/spins... I instantly fell in love! Keep it up

What a great instructor!

I just had my first tailwheel endorsement lesson in a super cub as well this week, and I have to say this video is very similar to my experience. It is not easy to get used to the position of the nose during the flare, you have got to pull really hard. It is very different from the flaring technique in a tricycle gear, it almost feels as if you are falling on the tail.

Getting a tail wheel endorsement makes flying so much more fun!

When i finished my pilot private license in a pa-38 i had the oportunity to buy a silvaire luscombe 8E. The first hours i wanted to sell it right away but my instructor kept telling me , keep it up is not easy. It can be really challenging specially with crosswind landings. Here in Argentina , does not exist the tailwheel endorsment you just learn to fly it and that´s it. Keep it up!! Good instructor you have there

Thanks, very educational for my training when the opportunity occurs.

Wonderful all around !!

Excellent and educational; thanks Josh!

'74 Super Cub...Sweet 🌻thank you so much I've only had an intro flight (Cessna 152) and this is the info I'm needing as I plan buy an Air Bike (tail dragged) ultra light 🏁

Congrats on the conversion to tailwheel! I let one of my nosewheel buddies taxi one of the Citabrias I fly and she almost ground looped me right off ;-). Happy Feet sir!

Awesome, thanks for sharing.

Great lesson and knowledge gained that is transferable!

Great content! Thanks for the video. 👍🏼

Great video! It looks like a fun day of training.

This is another giant leap for you! I loved doing tailwheel transitions; I did my own in a Stearman. The Piper Cub is the absolute best airplane to learn tailwheel flying, and flying in general. It has rudder aplenty, and light controls, and (for Central Texas) excellent ventilation for hot days. Wish I had one. Oh, yeah, I forgot; the only time I had to dead-stick an airplane was in a Cessna 120. It was my first flight in the type, and I did 6 solo TO/L for the insurance, then I started instructing the owner, who was new to tailwheel flying. We were doing stalls, steep turns, just like you did, to get ready to land. I had just commented to the owner that we should stay in the vicinity of a ranch's grass strip west of Waco. After one stall recovery, the owner recovered with forward pitch, then said, "You''ve got it," explaining that he added power, but there wasn't any response. We were about 2,500 AGL, and went through the engine failure checklist, but it was running rough, and not producing power. I dead-sticked it into the grass strip we were over, just east of Valley Mills, TX. A resident farmer heard the engine sputtering, and drove us into town, where we sat in the diner til we could be picked up. We went back to the airstrip, and I checked the tanks for fuel. There was a sucking sound when I opened the gas cap. The cap had a vent hole, which was not open, so the 2 hrs or so the plane had flown produced a vacuum in the tanks, reducing fuel flow to zero. I started the engine, and it did a normal run-up. We knew there was a line of dirt strips along the creek between Valley Mills and the plane's hangar in MacGregor, so the owner drove back with his wife, and I flew from one airport to the next, always within gliding range of a landing strip. I landed without further incident, and he got a new gas cap, after which the training proceeded normally.

Cool! All aspects!

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing. That’s one endorsement I’d love to get after I earn my PPL since I plan on getting an older style plane one day. Thanks again! I really enjoy your videos and they are keeping me obsessed with flying!

love it!

Love the video

Awesome!

Very cool I would love to do that someday

Tail wheel is such a joy and challenge all in one. You know your a decent pilot when you can land that super Cub with a 15kts direct cross wind. I have flown many Super cubs and prefure the toe brakes. Learning in the Super Cub is a lot nicer then the J3 with heal brakes. The orginal J3 feels so under powered. I teach a little different than Keath. Everything I heard in the video all sounded good and Keath is someone I would love to go flying with. My difference is that when you come in for the first landing I don't have you land it. I have you fly the runway about 10 feet above it going about 5kts faster than your approach speed. I have my students focuse on just keeping the nose straight down the runway and lowering a wing tip to control drift from the wind. Near the end of the runway apply power and do another pattern. On the second pass I have them fly it five feet off the runway and at ref speed. Again focusing on keeping the nose pointed straight down the runway and lowering the wing tip to control drift. On the next approach I have them fly just two feet above the runway. If they are showing me they can keep the nose straight down the runway and are controlling the drift perfectly (for the most part) I tell them to pull all the power out and let it touch the pavement. Not surprisingly their very first landing is PERFICT! WHY? Because they never stopped flying the plane. I have found doing this with every single student helps them master their landings and instills confidence with their very fist landing. I never want my students to get into the mindset that they are going to land. I want them flying all the way to the chalks. Just vary slow and low. ;-) Happy Flying everyone!

I really hope that the Super Cub gets To be included in the new LSA definitions... whenever the FAA updates those. Great video I really enjoyed it!

Wow Josh! I left Google over 5 years ago but came back and have slowly been adding back old subscriptions. I just added you back and wow, you've come a long way since you and your dad got that first Cessna. I watched all your videos back when you were training for your Private Pilot and now you're a CFI! WOW! I'm sad to say, I'm a rusty pilot. Been out of the cockpit for 5 years after a move from MO to AK and then moving back to MO. Life is settling down now and I'm trying to get back to flying and get current, get some practice, and then go after my Instrument certification. And oh yes, I STILL haven't got a tail wheel endorsement!

Wow thank you so much AV 101 I found a KIT FOX 4 in a barn !! Owner passed away daughter sold it to me for $4,500 with a trailer too !! My dream of flight has come true, it just fell in to my lap !!! Never flew before too !! thanks

GREAT JOB

Great instructor.

I so want to meet this instructor. Wish I had him years ago !!

No need to apologize for editing Josh, this was the real deal and great info! I was hoping that CC decides to do the NX Cub myself! Love the breaking action on them! Trike STOL, aircraft carrier style. 8)

Fantastic video! Welcome to the club!

I haven't watch it yet but I Love it!

Wow! I just put two and two together! I was talking to this guy in Lockhart and used his crew car to go to the exact bbq restaurant you ate at in the beginning!!!!!

Now you need to make friends with an instructor with an old fleet or a stearman. Open cockpit in a biplane is a blast.

Im retiring in about 6 years, and considering a Legal Eagle build. This video is giving me a lot of tips. It takes 3 hours (at 70 mph) to drive from my house in western Ky. to Lamberts Restaurant in Sikeston Missouri. But I think l could fly there in under 2 hrs at only 40mph (has a 22pmh stall speed). Plus, the owner of the restaurant is a pilot... and I was told that he sends a free chauffeur to pick all pilots up at the landing. That would be a fun fly.

That was cool who knew that doing a taxi was that much work in a taildragger? Keep this up you'll be flying cropdusters soon lol. Cant wait for more stay safe

Tail Wheels, Proof there's more to life for your feet than just stopping your ankles from fraying.

Met Keith while fueling at Lockhart, was really interested in his tailwheel training, just didn't have the money to spare.

I've got a whopping 3 hours in a Super Cub (long time ago in Colorado) and I consider it to be my most fun flying time in the book. Does Keith instruct anyone or was this just for you. I'd like to fly a tailwheel aircraft again. I'm looking forward to the next video.

Ahhhhhh finally!

I think I understand why he wanted to use the heel brakes on the landing. I'm not a pilot but flying the flight simulator yesterday I landed a super cub and nosed over with the brakes. I'm glad it was a simulator 🤣🤣 awesome video and great instruction. You are a superb pilot.

Thanks for the video. I am a 1000 hr canard pilot but have an AcroSport biplane I am trying to get ready to fly again after not being happy with my first attempts. My TD endorsement in a Citabria front seat which was too easy and I could see the runway.