One quick comment regarding the previous discussion on tailwheel aircraft. Taildraggers actually have two landing techniques at their disposal. The one most people envision, where the aircraft touches down on the mains before gently settling the tail down, is called a wheel landing. There is, however, also the three-point landing, where the goal is to touch down with all three wheels at the same time and is usually the first landing technique taught, especially to pilots transitioning from tricycle gear aircraft.

The technique used on each landing is chosen based on a number of factors, among which:

• Landing type (e.g. short-field vs. cross-wind)

• Aircraft type (some aircraft are just plain more difficult to land or may be entirely unsuited for one technique versus the other)

• Pilot currency (with the exception of heavy wind conditions, I find three-points easier to "grease" when out of practice)

• Runway conditions (pavement is much less forgiving then grass of sloppy rudder control; by the same token, three-points can offer better debris clearance for the propeller on rough fields)

If you want to learn more about aircraft and flying, I would encourage to look up FAA resources (especially the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook), as well as the trove of information on AOPA's website.

One quick comment regarding the previous discussion on tailwheel aircraft. Taildraggers actually have two landing techniques at their disposal. 

The one most people envision, where the aircraft touches down on the mains before gently settling the tail down, is called a wheel landing.

There is, however, also the three-point landing, where the goal is to touch down with all three wheels at the same time and is usually the first landing technique taught, especially to pilots transitioning from tricycle gear aircraft.

The technique used on each landing is chosen based on a number of factors, among which:

• Landing type (e.g. short-field vs. cross-wind)
• Aircraft type (some aircraft are just plain more difficult to land or may be entirely unsuited for one technique versus the other)
• Pilot currency (with the exception of heavy wind conditions, I find three-points easier to "grease" when out of practice)
• Runway conditions (pavement is much less forgiving then grass of sloppy rudder control; by the same token, three-points can offer better debris clearance for the propeller on rough fields)

If you want to learn more about aircraft and flying, I would encourage to look up FAA resources (especially the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook), as well as the trove of information on AOPA's website.

One quick comment regarding the previous discussion on tailwheel aircraft. Taildraggers actually have two landing techniques at their disposal. The one most people envision, where the aircraft touches down on the mains before gently settling the tail down, is called a wheel landing. There is, however, also the three-point landing, where the goal is to touch down with all three wheels at the same time and is usually the first landing technique taught, especially to pilots transitioning from tricycle gear aircraft.

The technique used on each landing is chosen based on a number of factors, among which: -landing type (e.g. short-field vs. cross-wind) -aircraft type (some aircraft are just plain more difficult to land or may be entirely unsuited for one technique versus the other) -pilot currency (with the exception of heavy wind conditions, I find three-points easier to "grease" when out of practice) -runway conditions (pavement is much less forgiving then grass of sloppy rudder control; by the same token, three-points can offer better debris clearance for the propeller on rough fields)

If you want to learn more about aircraft and flying, I would encourage to look up FAA resources (especially the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook), as well as the trove of information on AOPA's website.

One quick comment regarding the previous discussion on tailwheel aircraft. Taildraggers actually have two landing techniques at their disposal. The one most people envision, where the aircraft touches down on the mains before gently settling the tail down, is called a wheel landing. There is, however, also the three-point landing, where the goal is to touch down with all three wheels at the same time and is usually the first landing technique taught, especially to pilots transitioning from tricycle gear aircraft.

The technique used on each landing is chosen based on a number of factors, among which:

• Landing type (e.g. short-field vs. cross-wind)

• Aircraft type (some aircraft are just plain more difficult to land or may be entirely unsuited for one technique versus the other)

• Pilot currency (with the exception of heavy wind conditions, I find three-points easier to "grease" when out of practice)

• Runway conditions (pavement is much less forgiving then grass of sloppy rudder control; by the same token, three-points can offer better debris clearance for the propeller on rough fields)

If you want to learn more about aircraft and flying, I would encourage to look up FAA resources (especially the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook), as well as the trove of information on AOPA's website.