Warbird Information Exchange

If you have learned to fly via the usual training with Cessna's (150's, 172's) and now you want to advance to possibly an AT6, what would you guys advise? Is there an airplane that would be appropriate to learn tail wheel training in? Is there a process or direction to follow? If anyone here really had an interest in trying to fly warbirds someday, What does our warbird veterans advise after Cessna 3 wheel training?

M

Why not do what they did during the war? I would do some of the PT series, -13,17,19,23 etc. They were all primary trainers and excellent transitions to the Texan. Besides that, there are plenty of them around, and relatively cheap to operate and train in.

You might go Cub/Champ/T-craft ect. for 200 hours of tail wheel time first. They will open more access for you to PTs, BTs, and ATs and save you much money. This goes for both getting owners and insurance companies interested in you.

Nothing makes you a better pilot then flying as many (relatively safe) different types as you can get checked out in. Especially if you can ferry a few across the country for people so you get to operate them in lots of different environments (plains, mountains, desserts, high and low elevations and different weather patterns). Try gliders, seaplanes and twins if at all possible, and get as many ratings as you can.

I have soloed over 110 distinctly different types now (I know no one else believes me either other then Baldeagle who has flown more then that) and you will find sooner or later, after you get a reputation for flying a few types, opportunities will find you.

Avoid getting all your tail wheel time in a Citabria. They are so easy to fly that I find some people don't give them as much credit towards tail wheel time (like Apache time is now for many multi-time requirements).

The Citabria thing will get me some complaints, but I would not loan my airplane to someone that had 200 hours of Citabria time, but would consider someone with 50 hours of Luscombe time. And I am not kidding, I loaned my airplane to someone last week that had never been in a Clipper in his life (Bernie Vasquez). Of course he showed up in the Jelly Belly Stearman, and I had met him a couple of times before.

_________________
Fly low. Fly slow, Fly safe.

The recommendations I've heard say that anything with a tailwheel is the right place to start.

Be that a Citabria/Decathlon, Cub, whatever...get your feet and mind used to playing the tailwheel game.

The other side is learning to operate the big radial that you'll find on the Six. Any of the PTs/BTs will work there, apparently, as well.

warbird1

Are there any St Louis YPT-15s flying. I have been looking for one to photograph (since the one I thought was the last one was crashed a few years back)?

_________________
Fly low. Fly slow, Fly safe.

Sorry, you are right. I wrote that a little fast up above, without thinking. I'll go back and correct it!

Thanks for keeping me honest!

I was not trying to correct you, I was hoping you had seen one about that I did not know about.

I have been lucky with primary trainer solos (PT-13, PT-17, PT-19, PT-20B, PT-23, Tigermoth, Chipmunk, Jungmann, Jungmeister, N3N-3, UPF-7, Jenny), and as I have yet to find a BT-13 or an AT-6 that I can get regular access to, I am starting my type rating training in a T-28B next week. Lets hope I can get through it before the airplane goes unservicable, politics turn wierd, or I find I am out of my legue.

Cool thread by the way, I would bet you are not the only one thinking about this.

_________________
Fly low. Fly slow, Fly safe.

I thought I was quite good at finding rare aircraft...

...then I met Eric.

The real type-hunter.

His trophy room (available in book form, see Eric) is well worth a look.

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

A big factor with tailwheel converting after having done basic training on a Cessna etc is to remember that it isn't actually difficult, just different.

I was lucky, I did my PPL on C-150 and PA28's of various maturity and then, almost straight away did my tailwheel conversion on a PA-18 Super Cub. After a few hours on that post solo I did a couple of hours on a J-3 and then convinced someone it would be a good idea for them to let me fly their PT-17. 4 or 5 hours later I was solo on that and having a ball. Because of work commitments I dropped out of flying that and just kept my hand in for a few years on the bog-standard flying club types and then went back into a real aeroplane in a PT-19 last year which took an hour or so to become comfortable with.

Now, the crux of this is, I'm not a good pilot. I'm adequate for the sort of flying I do and I recognise my limits. There is no major mystery to flying the light-end taildragers, it's just down to opportunity and a willingness to accept that these aeroplanes do things in a slightly different way.

That said, there isn't much difference in attitude between pulling off a good nose high 2 point landing in a nosewheel aeroplane or a half decent three pointer in a taildragger.

I'd echo the sentiment above though, get yourself a PT-19. A good one is bloody cheap compared to a Stearman, they're a bundle of fun and you'll learn a lot in the process.

Just my 2 pence worth, I hope it helps.

G

_________________
BURMA! Sorry, I panicked

Eric, Yea I was about to complain about the "citabria" quote since I do have quite a bit of Citabria & Champ time and I do prefer them over the PA-18. So as you call it "easy" time, you cleared yourself as a owner of a "Clipper". I have been in one myself and I now understand why you said that the citabria is easy. I would have too!!!!

_________________
Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

With over 1000 hours in a Citabria, I agree

As for the Luscombe, that narrow, relatively high gear intimidates me....

Cubs are good for getting used to ground manuvers without being able to see........

HI Eric,

I'm not licensed yet, but have a lot of 172 time. When I get the license, I'd like to get the taildragger endorsement, and I think I know the perfect plane to train in; Hisso-powered Jenny. Do you know who I could maybe borrow one from?

Have you seen Remo lately?

Rich

_________________
Rich Kolasa
www.crystalgraphix.com

Well, my plan is to continue in the Citabria and add any other tail wheel experience I can get. Then at 200 hours, I want to apply for for check out in the CAF WI Wing's PT-26. After that, who knows?

_________________
"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

You guys are really in to this, and have had some great advice. I am impressed by all of you.

We can do a Jenny checkout, should only cost about $2,000.00 per hour, with a ten hour min. Pay in advance to Frank Schelling.

N3Njeff. What did you think of the Clipper. She is no sleeper is she? Did you try her in the wind?

_________________
Fly low. Fly slow, Fly safe.

Well being that I was 17 at the time and only got some stick time while it was airborne, I thought she was a sweetie from the start!!! We left the home airfield which was a grass strip and flew to another airport for a EAA meeting. What I loved about the clipper was that she scoots along with minimal fuel burn!!! When we landed at the other airport with a paved runway did I find that she is a wolf in sheeps clothing so to say!!!! Now I had been landing my uncles champ once I could reach the rudder pedals and even tho it was not my landing, I have nothing but GREAT respect!

I have bid on 2 projects, but they went higher then what I wanted to pay. Some day soon I will have one to put together so it has not scared me yet!!!

Whats funny is that the guy I went with owned a C-170 before that and his friends told him to get rid of it before he killed himself in it. ( I did witness some landings ) so he sells the C-170 and bought the clipper!!!!!!!

_________________
Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005