It's maybe just the definition of "better pilot." I was a passenger
on an MD-80 whose port side engine exploded during rotation. The
single-engine ILS, at night, 600 and 3/4 in sleet and fog, following
that failure was outstanding. How smooth the guy's landing were, or
whether he could even spell tailwheel, is not part of my definition!
Best,
Fred F.
> >
> > > One thing that taildragger pilot's are unanimous about is that learning
> > > to handle a taildragger has made them a better pilot. There is less
> > > margin for error when handling a taildragger on the ground so you end up
> > > having to unlearn all of the sloppy techniques you get away with in a
> > > trike.
> > Fred F wrote:
> > There will unnecessary debate if phrased as such! Nosedragger pilots
> > would argue that not knowing how to do things which aren't necessary
> > isn't sloppiness. ;-) Like the view that better IFR pilots can do
> > zero-zero takeoffs and calculate groundspeed with a 2nd VOR.
>
> Ah, have to take issue there (why do I have the feeling that Fred is
> pushing buttons and sitting back to enjoy the show?) - I'm entirely in
> agreement with Tony. When I was learning to fly (Cessna 150's at Santa
> Paula) I took time off at about 30 hours to do 10 hours in an underpowered
> Citabria before finishing my PPL - and that made a big difference to my
> Cessna flying.
>
> Indulging in that favourite sport of watching other pilots land (and yep, I
> do provide my share of the entertainment) its interesting to sit there and
> try and pick out the taildragger pilots landing trikes... I'll bet you can
> with a success rate of better that 90%.
>
> Miles
>
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