Welcome to tailwheel flying!
We are passionate tailwheel pilots. Some might say we are tailwheel evangelists.
Tailwheel flying will teach you stick and rudder skills increasing your margin of safety and comfort in any airplane you fly. You’ll finally learn what that “flippy thing on the back” (rudder) is for.
Whether your need a tailwheel endorsement to fly that RV8, Cub or Cessna 180 you just bought OR just want to explore new depths of aviation, we are right choice for you.
Because there is such a variance in skill and adaptability, we don’t do a tailwheel syllabus. Instead, tailwheel training is done in 7 phases. Students will progress thru each phase at their own pace.
Phase One: Ground session covering tailwheel concepts, aerodynamics, etc.
Phase Two: Introductory flight including taxi, takeoff, stalls, steep turns, wingover maneuver, dutch roll, falling leaf stalls, slips and intro to 3-point landings
Phase Three: Landings on grass runways to introduce and build proficiency in 3-point, full stall landings
Phase Four: Landings on hard surface runways to perfect 3-point, full stall landings
Phase Five: Landings on grass runways to introduce and build proficiency in wheel landings
Phase Six: Landings on hard surface runways to perfect wheel landings
Phase Seven: Final evaluation flight and tailwheel endorsement
Note: from phase four and up, we will actively seek crosswind conditions to build your skills. Our goal is to expose you to +15kt direct crosswinds whenever possible.
Cost: training is to proficiency and is billed by the flight hour. Most students reach proficiency around 8-10 hours with an estimated cost of $2,000+ depending on your skill level. Billed at $175/hour + tax for the airplane and $75/hour for flight and ground instruction.
Get your tailwheel endorsement
Learn how to REALLY use the rudder
Master crosswind landings and directional control
We teach full stall AND wheel landings… and you’ll get really good at crosswind landings and forward slips.
A Flight Review can be included if requested at no additional charge.
Our litmus test for check out: Can the student do consistent wheel landings on pavement in a crosswind? If so, we check ‘em out!
You do not receive the endorsement until we are fully confident in your skills.
Out of town students
3-day course
We often get requests from out-of-town students seeking tailwheel training. We usually recommend coming to Indy and getting a hotel for 3 days/2 nights. We fly two sessions per day and do a concentrated course. Hotels, restaurants, shopping, movie theaters, entertainment, etc., are plentiful within just a few minutes of our airport.