TAILWHEEL ENDORSEMENTS
ELEVATE YOUR STICK AND RUDDER SKILLS WITH TAILWHEEL
Are you already a pilot, but haven’t flown a tailwheel airplane? Improve your flying skills, especially takeoffs and landings, while you learn to tame the taildragger!
Aerodynamic Aviation specializes in tailwheel endorsements, initial training in Citabria 7ECA for Private or Sport Pilot Licenses, and aerobatics/upset recovery. With nearly 60 years of experience flying taildraggers, we are the premier school in the industry. Our instructors go through rigorous training to learn to fly from the backseat so they can turn you into a proficient, tailwheel-endorsed pilot.
Getting started
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Getting started ᯓ ✈︎
Learn what it takes to FLY Tailwheel
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At least 17 years of age
Private Pilot Certificate. No FAA written test needed.
Medical: None for training, US Drivers License or Class I, II, or III to fly without instructor, depending on airplane. Light Sport Airplanes do not require a medical.
10 hrs dual minimum required by AeroDynamic Aviation to rent our taildraggers.
Must fly to proficiency
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This immersion course is designed to take a pilot completely new to taildraggers through to a tailwheel endorsement. The only prerequisites are a Private Pilot Certificate. The course will give a pilot 10-15 hours of intensive flight training over a consecutive 3-day period, ending with a tailwheel endorsement. If additional hours are needed or desired they will be charged at the regular rates. The training can be done in the following aircraft:
Bellanca Citabria 7ECA, 115hp
Bellanca Citabria 7GCAA, 150hp
Bellanca Citabria 7KCAB, 150hp
We will endeavor to match the student with the same instructor for the whole period, although sometimes that won’t be possible. It is also possible to mix and match airplanes.
The course does not have to be done in three days; training can be spread over a longer period. The same topics would be covered in a similar order.
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Total hours on our tailwheel transition syllabus: 10-15 hours dual
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Budd Davisson’s wrote an article in EAA Sport Aviation about “Taming The Taildragger Pilot“. He also wrote “Tailwheel, the Pros and Cons of Learning in a Taildragger.” For more about the EAA and Sport Aviation magazine click here.
“Wag the Tailwheel” by Pia Bergqvist in Flying Magazine.
Prices and rates are subject to change without notice. All training and rentals are subject to the terms and conditions in the Renter’s Agreement. Minimum 24 hours’ notice required for cancellation or you may be charged for the rental time.
Tailwheel Endorsement Course Outline
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Ground Approx time 1:30
Introduction
Background discussion
Aircraft description
Flight manual
Limitations
Weight and balance
Takeoff and landing techniques
Emergencies and malfunctions
Flight briefing
Preflight
Flight Approx time 2:00 (or two flights with a short break)
Preflight inspection
Starting procedures
Taxi
Proper control usage on ground
Checklist usage
Normal takeoff
Normal climb
Coordination exercises
Steep turns
Full stall series
Simulated emergencies including engine failure and power off glides
Pattern entries ( South County Airport )
Normal landings and takeoffs (power off approach, 3-point, full stop)
Taxi procedures
Pattern exit
Coordination exercises
Pattern entries
Wide runway landing ( Hollister Airport , Watsonville alternate)
Post flight
Ground Lunch Approx time 1:00
Tailwheel stability
Directional control
Gyroscopic precession
P-factor
Takeoff and landing techniques
Flight briefing
Flight Approx time 1:30
Normal (3-point) takeoff and full-stop landing
Bounce recoveries
Directional control exercises
Slips
Pattern exit
Coordination exercises
Slow flight
Pattern entry ( South County Airport )
Normal (3-point) landing full stop
Debrief
Ground Approx time 1:00
Flight discussion
Review of progress
Q&A
Flight briefing
Flight Approx time 1:30
Normal takeoff and landing
Slips
Pattern exit
Coordination exercises
Steep turns
Stall review
Pattern entry (Reid-Hillview)
Normal (3-point) landing full stop
Debrief
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Ground Approx time 1:00
Answer student questions
Spins, spin entries and recoveries
Short field takeoffs and landings
Soft field takeoffs and landings
Grass field landings
Crosswind takeoffs and landings
Touch-and-goes
Flight briefing
Flight Approx time 2:00
Taxi
Normal takeoff
Pattern exit
Coordination exercises
Steep turns
Spins
Pattern entry (Frazier Lake Airpark)
Grass landing and takeoff practice
Pattern exit
Pattern entry ( Hollister Airport , Watsonville alternate)
Crosswind landing (3-point) full stop
Debrief
Ground Lunch Approx time 1:00
Aircraft systems
Weight and balance
Performance problems
Fuel consumption
Flight briefing
Flight Approx time 1:30
Normal takeoff and landing (Hollister, Watsonville alternate)
Touch and goes
Crosswind takeoff and landing full stops
Slips
Pattern exit
Pattern entry ( Frazier Lake )
Ground Approx time 0:30
Flight discussion
Pre-flight briefing
Flight Approx time 1:30
Normal takeoff and landing
Short field takeoff and landing
Soft field takeoff and landing
Pattern exit
Coordination exercises
Steep turns
Slow flight
Pattern entry (Reid-Hillview)
Normal (3-point) landing
Debrief
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Ground Approx time 1:00
Answer student questions
Review flight manual
Wheel landings
Flight briefing
Flight Approx time 2:00
Instructor’s choice takeoff
Pattern exit
Coordination exercises
Stall review
Pattern entry ( South County )
Touch and goes (3-point)
Go-arounds
Pattern exit
Pattern entry (Hollister, Watsonville alternate)
Wheel landings full stop
Ground Lunch Approx time 1:00
Student questions
Wheel landings
FAR review ( FARs pertinent to tailwheel airplanes)
Flight Approx time 1:30
Wheel landings
Touch and goes (normal and crosswind)
Full stop landings
Pattern exit
Pattern entry ( South County )
Wheel landing
Ground Approx time 0:30
Flight discussion
Flight Approx time 1:30
Landings (3-point) full stop
Pattern exit
Pattern entry (Reid-Hillview)
Debrief
Tailwheel endorsement
Ground Approx time 1:00
Answer student questions
Review flight manual
Wheel landings
Flight briefing
Flight Approx time 2:00
Instructor’s choice takeoff
Pattern exit
Coordination exercises
Stall review
Pattern entry ( South County )
Touch and goes (3-point)
Go-arounds
Pattern exit
Pattern entry (Hollister, Watsonville alternate)
Wheel landings full stop
Ground Lunch Approx time 1:00
Student questions
Wheel landings
FAR review ( FARs pertinent to tailwheel airplanes)
Flight Approx time 1:30
Wheel landings
Touch and goes (normal and crosswind)
Full stop landings
Pattern exit
Pattern entry ( South County )
Wheel landing
Ground Approx time 0:30
Flight discussion
Flight Approx time 1:30
Landings (3-point) full stop
Pattern exit
Pattern entry (Reid-Hillview)
Debrief
Tailwheel endorsement