I'm getting ready for my experimental cub to be finished next year. Insurance wants 100 TW/50 in type so I'm renting a Citabria 7ECA since I started this whole adventure with only 15 TW from 18 years ago. It's actually a very fun airplane, although very weight limited. I did a few supercub lessons this year but everyone has them on 35's operating off gravel and I remember from flying the Stinson 108 for my endorsement back in the day that 35's + gravel feel nothing like small wheels on pavement, the 35's are just too easy. The citabria has small tires, 6.00's I guess.
So, I did a 5 hour checkout with a really good instructor who I'm glad I had around because the first flight was a real mess, especially since we started with wheel landings. He is against doing 3 point landings on pavement. Reasons given were that wheel landings provide better visibility and control authority if tires' grip on the runway causes the airplane to swerve. I guess, in most tailwheel airplanes there's no reason to need to do a 3 pointer on pavement because any paved runway is probably 3x longer than what you need. I do feel a bit silly using 2000 feet to land though, granted it's my wheel landing technique that is most of the problem I'm sure.
Any thoughts on this? Do big tires vs small tires make a difference? I will say that in the Citabria The tailwheel definitely hits first in a power off 3 pointer. I think I have to carry 1000-1200 rpm to do a "tail low" wheel landing or even a more simultanous 3 pointer.
So no, I haven't tried a 3 pointer on pavement but it seems like it might be a good skill to have.
So, I did a 5 hour checkout with a really good instructor who I'm glad I had around because the first flight was a real mess, especially since we started with wheel landings. He is against doing 3 point landings on pavement. Reasons given were that wheel landings provide better visibility and control authority if tires' grip on the runway causes the airplane to swerve. I guess, in most tailwheel airplanes there's no reason to need to do a 3 pointer on pavement because any paved runway is probably 3x longer than what you need. I do feel a bit silly using 2000 feet to land though, granted it's my wheel landing technique that is most of the problem I'm sure.
Any thoughts on this? Do big tires vs small tires make a difference? I will say that in the Citabria The tailwheel definitely hits first in a power off 3 pointer. I think I have to carry 1000-1200 rpm to do a "tail low" wheel landing or even a more simultanous 3 pointer.
So no, I haven't tried a 3 pointer on pavement but it seems like it might be a good skill to have.