Taming the Taildragger - $7.50I got my taildragger checkout in early 1996 at a local FBO (Classic Aviation at Addison) in a Cessna 120 and a Piper J-3 Cub. I was surprised at the lack of taildragger items out there for potential taildragger pilots. On a sad note: Harvey Plourde, the author of The Compleat Taildragger Pilot, died in 1996 (natural causes). With so few tailwheel resources around, it is particularly sad to lose one of them. His book will continue to be available, however.
Taming the Taildragger. This is the classic, basic tailwheel book by John F. Ball. Basic flight manual for taildraggers, with performance specs for a variety of older taildragger models. The author is pretty low-key, and explains things clearly without a lot of fluff. Basic performance and limitations charts for Aeronca Champ, Citabria, Cessna 120, 140 and 170, Luscombe, Piper Cub, Pacer, and Super Cub, Stinson, and Taylorcraft. 96 pp. $ 7.50
Taming the Taildragger - $7.50
The Compleat Taildragger Pilot. Harvey Plourde. Comprehensive, illustrated manual which describes not only the mechanics of flying tailwheel aircraft, but also the physics and mathematics behind why they behave as they do. New chapters cover torque, crosswind landing gear, P-factor, crabbed crosswind landing, and a special section for flight instructors, with plenty of diagrams, graphs and equations to satisfy your curiosity. 263 pp, Paper: $ 23.70
Compleat Taildragger Pilot - $23.70
SPECIAL! Get both books for only $30! Buy the combo on-line! (Domestic orders only, international orders please email us first.)
Taildragger Combo - $30.00