What was the first nose wheel aircraft?
Several early aircraft had primitive tricycle gear, notably very early Antoinette planes and the Curtiss Pushers of the pre-World War I Pioneer Era of aviation. Waldo Waterman’s 1929 tailless Whatsit was one of the first to have a steerable nose wheel.
How did the planes changed over time?
Since that fateful day in December of 1903, airplane design has changed dramatically. Now that aircraft use jet engines which have helped to increase the average speed of airplanes, aircraft wings have been shortened to produce less drag. This is extremely important for aircraft that travel at supersonic speeds.
What is different about taildraggers?
There is no increase in lift so the airplane settles back down. In a taildragger, the airplane wants to stay up in the air a little longer after the bounce, yet it’s slow, so a stall higher off the runway than you really want is possible.
Why would a plane tip back?
Due to a shift in weight and balance during the offloading process, the tail of the aircraft tipped backward.
Why are aerobatic planes tailwheel?
The tailwheel is much lighter and smaller than a nose wheel. That means reducing airplane overall weight and drag (because the landing gear is usually fixed).
Why does the tailwheel of a plane move when flying?
The larger tailwheels are not dampened as well with the springs, and therefore a greater pre-load is used on the bearings to obtain the same results. When the aircraft is flying and the tailwheel is un-locked, the tailwheel should not move more than 5-10 degrees right and left.
How do you lock the tailwheel on a plane?
Takeoff and landing, crosswind or not, taxi into position, lock the wheel and move the plane ahead slowly. Move the rudder pedals right then left slightly to engage the lock. Make a normal takeoff. DO NOT TOUCH THE LOCK AGAIN until slow and in control after the landing roll. About 50 feet before turning off the runway unlock the tailwheel.
Do you shimmy your tail wheel when loading?
Walla-no more shimmy when loaded. One other point. You should carry sufficient air pressure in your tail wheel to keep the tire firmly attached to the rim when it hits the pavement on landing. Due to the small diameter of the tail wheel, it accelerates very rapidly on contact.
How much should a tailwheel move when un-locked?
When the aircraft is flying and the tailwheel is un-locked, the tailwheel should not move more than 5-10 degrees right and left. If it does, an adjustment needs to be made. This can also be checked from the cockpit rudder, with the rear of the aircraft jacked.