Give me some opinions on preferences for landings on grass and hard surfaces.

[topgun327]

Who favors wheel landings for hard surface runways?

Who thinks that a 3 pointer is better on grass, or vice versa

[Ray]

Re: Give me some opinions on preferences for landings on grass and hard surfaces.

Well I'm still a rookie but I like to three point it on asphalt and wheel land it on grass. My plane has been down for 2 years for a full restoration but will soon be done in the next few months, cant wait to be flying it again.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Give me some opinions on preferences for landings on grass and hard surfaces.

I will assume you are talking about a Taylorcraft and a piece of grass for landing, not a green field of large holes and stumps.

Grass, always grass, if it's available, take the grass.

Qualification to opinion.
If you are driving an F-18 Hornet, go for the pavement.

Hank

Unless there is a few hundred feet of steel deck with 4 wires across it available.

[Jim Hartley]

Re: Give me some opinions on preferences for landings on grass and hard surfaces.

I take into account as many factors as I can before planting the wheels and I prefer a full stall in my plane. With practice it is a gentle plop on the surface with immediate and positve tailwheel steering. Grass or asphalt I use the same technique.

[cvavon]

Re: Give me some opinions on preferences for landings on grass and hard surfaces.

with my plane i prefer grass its more forgiving and feels good as type of landing i also prefer a full stall with the bush wheels it just settles on and roll out well OH pavement is hard on bush tires

[swoeric]

Re: Give me some opinions on preferences for landings on grass and hard surfaces.

learn both 3 point and wheel equally well....use them when the situation dictates.....large rocks, rough ground, dont abuse that tail...cross winds wheels for the control or learn not to float in a 3 point stance to minimize time with less effective ailerons.....at night no wind, no landing lights etc 3 point, set the deck angle and just wait for the plop. if you're afraid of a bounce on two wheels touch down on one first and the extra energy will level you instead of bouncing you

[fearofpavement]

Re: Give me some opinions on preferences for landings on grass and hard surfaces.

I do either on both surfaces. Whether you do a three pt landing or a wheel landing, you're going to wind up in a three point attitude. When training, I emphasis wheel landings including one wheel touch and goes. I think a lot of tailwheel pilots never master the wheel landing to the point where they feel completely comfortable doing one in any wind condition. By one wheel landings, I call them roll on landings because the goal is to touch down on a main, roll down the length of the runway with enough speed/power to keep the other main off the ground, then take off never having touched the main. Do the left main only and then the left main only. Both with left and right crosswinds. ie, left wing low with a right crosswind and right wing low with a left crosswind. (opposite of what one would normally do) When this can be done proficiently, then a "normal" wheel landing is very comfortable to accomplish with a high level of confidence. I want T-craft pilots to be able to fly the plane to the edges of the box but to operate well within those boundaries.

[Carrieve]

Re: Give me some opinions on preferences for landings on grass and hard surfaces.

Grass by all means. I do wheel landings when I have a cross wind and I don't want the angle of attack to give me a problem. Otherwise it is always a three pointer. Well almost...........

[jim cooper]

Re: Give me some opinions on preferences for landings on grass and hard surfaces.

I usually 3 point it...I was taught this way in 1954-58. I never fly if a direct cross wind is over 15. In higher wind, Little airplanes bounce me around too much, hitting my head, etc. A Bonanza or a Mooney is entirely different. Wheel landings are fine if you have a really good feel for your airplane which usually comes from lots of flying it. I agree that you should be comfortable on either grass or pavement and the statement that if a 3 point is done correctly it just "plops on the runway"is correct. Most instructors today do not have good skills in taildraggers and are usually more adept in 172 type aircraft. They also seem to like long airline approaches which scare the s out of me. There used to be ALOT of people around that could repair your T-Craft at a reasonable price. Today they are gone. So.....if you screw it up, its usually big bucks. I further agree that grass is easier, but you should be well versed in both. I am not an instructor nor a commercial pilot but do have over 2900 hours in tailwheel aircraft. I have had close calls in ground loops, twice, both in wheel landings in a Stearman. One wheel landings in a Stearman are not advised. JC

[matsuthunder200]

Re: Give me some opinions on preferences for landings on grass and hard surfaces.

A few years ago i was over at a airport (Palmer airport) eating my lunch. They had a paved runway and off to one side they had a grass strip. There was a guy in a t-craft doing wheel landings on the pavement. There was no wind and was a great day for flying. He was a student pilot and had his instructor with him.
He made about six or seven wheel landings on the pavement and was doing real well. On the last landing i noticed he was lined up for the grass In the back of my mind i thought this was going to be interesting it was fairly wet from the rain the night before. he touched down on the mains rolled about 30 feet then hit the soft spot He flipped it over on its back. I was alway tought here in Alaska If you are going to do wheel landings do them on pavement. If you are going to land anywhere else three point is the only way. Now if you have a grass strip and have walked it keep it mowed and you know it is not soft then i would say it dosnt make much dif wheel or three point. The other thing for me is i can land at a much slower speed in a full stall three point landing ..

[astjp2]

Re: Give me some opinions on preferences for landings on grass and hard surfaces.

No wind at palmer? YOU MUST BE FIBBIN! I have never flown in there without a wind of somekind. Even had verticle downdrafts.....Tim

A few years ago i was over at a airport (Palmer airport) eating my lunch. They had a paved runway and off to one side they had a grass strip. There was a guy in a t-craft doing wheel landings on the pavement. There was no wind and was a great day for flying. He was a student pilot and had his instructor with him.
He made about six or seven wheel landings on the pavement and was doing real well. On the last landing i noticed he was lined up for the grass In the back of my mind i thought this was going to be interesting it was fairly wet from the rain the night before. he touched down on the mains rolled about 30 feet then hit the soft spot He flipped it over on its back. I was alway tought here in Alaska If you are going to do wheel landings do them on pavement. If you are going to land anywhere else three point is the only way. Now if you have a grass strip and have walked it keep it mowed and you know it is not soft then i would say it dosnt make much dif wheel or three point. The other thing for me is i can land at a much slower speed in a full stall three point landing ..