taildragger
Old-fashioned landing gear
A taildragger is an aircraft with two main wheels under the wings and a smaller wheel or skid under the tail, so the fuselage sits nose-up when on the ground.
This was the standard configuration for early aircraft before tricycle landing gear became dominant.
Taildraggers are trickier to land and taxi but remain popular among bush pilots and vintage aircraft enthusiasts: He learned to fly in his grandfather's taildragger.
Restored vintage military aircraft
- biplaneAircraft with two wing levels
- antiqueOld valued collectible
- restorationReturning something to condition
- barnstormingTouring rural areas performing
airshow · aviation history · nose art · radial engine · grass strip · windsock · flying circus · Golden Age
Rear aircraft landing wheel
- tailskidRear fuselage ground support
- fuselageAircraft's central structure
- rudderPivoting stern blade
- propellerRotating blades creating thrust
ailerons · elevator · flaps · cockpit · stick · throttle · radial engine · open cockpit
Landing on all gear
- crosswindLateral airflow across path
- ground loopCurrent flowing between grounds
- stall speedSlowest flight-sustaining velocity
- flareSudden bright burst
touchdown · slipstream · propwash · drift · torque
Lightweight single-engine aircraft
- WacoCentral Texas municipality
- Super CubSmall Honda motorbike
- Great LakesFive connected inland seas
Education for aspiring pilots
- checkridePilot certification examination
- flight instructorOne who teaches piloting
- flight schoolPilot training institution
- soloPerformance by one
touch-and-go · grass field · go-around · gusty conditions · proficiency · currency
warbird
Restored vintage military aircraft
- biplaneAircraft with two wing levels
- antiqueOld valued collectible
- restorationReturning something to condition
barnstorming · airshow · aviation history · nose art · radial engine · grass strip · windsock · flying circus · Golden Age · crop duster
tailwheel
Rear aircraft landing wheel
propeller · ailerons · elevator · flaps · cockpit · stick · throttle · radial engine · open cockpit · cowling
three-point landing
Landing on all gear
- crosswindLateral airflow across path
- ground loopCurrent flowing between grounds
- stall speedSlowest flight-sustaining velocity
Piper Cub
Lightweight single-engine aircraft
- WacoCentral Texas municipality
- Super CubSmall Honda motorbike
- Great LakesFive connected inland seas
flight training
Education for aspiring pilots
- checkridePilot certification examination
- flight instructorOne who teaches piloting
- flight schoolPilot training institution
solo · touch-and-go · grass field · go-around · gusty conditions · proficiency · currency
- aircraftairplane, airliner, airplanes, plane, biplane
- small aircraftjet, private jet, business jet, turboprop, prop plane
- bush flyingbush pilot, bush plane, backcountry, floatplane, ski plane
- landing gearmain gear, nose gear, tailwheel, fixed gear, bicycle gear
- 1920s aviationbarnstorming, biplanes, airmail, Lindbergh, Spirit of St. Louis
- recreational flyinggliding, hang gliding, paragliding, skydiving, ballooning