Taming the Taildragger: A Flight Manual for Classic Tailwheel Aircraft [Paperback]

John Ball (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0929214064 | ISBN-13: 978-0929214061 | Publication Date: June 1987 | Edition: 6

This is a guide for owners and pilots of older tailwheel type aircraft. It contains procedures and techniques that anyone contemplating learning to fly this typle plane should know. Some of the techniques may even be new to pilots who have flown "taildraggers" for many years

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

The idea for this manual was prompted by the lack of a single source of information about flying older, tailwheel equipped aircraft. While operating a flight school using an Aeronca Champ, I wrote a few pages of pertinent procedures and techniques I wanted available to pilots transitioning to tailwheel airplanes. Over the years I have expanded it to include new tips from "oldtimers", firsthand information from owning nine taildraggers of my own, and answers to the most common questions I have been asked. I think you will find a lot of practical information packed between the covers.

Flying these classic, "conventional" planes captures flying as it should be - simple, relaxing, and FUN! I think this manual will add to your pleasure.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Aviation Book Co; 6 edition (June 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929214064
• ISBN-13: 978-0929214061
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,660,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a concise book of useful notes, February 15, 2003

By 

Ganapathy Subramaniam (Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Taming the Taildragger: A Flight Manual for Classic Tailwheel Aircraft (Paperback)

This is a very concise and 'to the point' manual for tailwheel airplanes. In as short , crisp and clear a language, all aspects of taildraggers are presented in a fine sequence.

I am a studentpilot training in a classic tailwheel, soloed in the Aeronca Champ. I can totally relate to all the details in the book, right from handpropping, takeoffs,landing ..!

The chapters discussing the 'numbers' for some classic tailwheels are a handy reference.

While Stick and rudder is a treatise on the art of flying, taming the taildragger is a manual for taildraggers as its title rightly says.

3.0 out of 5 stars This book could be considered "Stick and Rudder - Lite", November 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Taming the Taildragger: A Flight Manual for Classic Tailwheel Aircraft (Paperback)

This book is good for a quick review or for a very cursory overview of taildraggers. For the price it is worth having, but it is nowhere as complete as "Stick and Rudder". That said, it provides a nice quick explanation of the procedures for operating a tailwheel aircraft. There is a section with specifications for a number of classic taildraggers that is handy to use if you are shopping for a taildragger and haven't yet decided which model you like.

If you want to become a taildragger pilot buy and read "Stick and Rudder". Get this book for a handy quick reference. For under $ 10 you can't go wrong.