• Links to my own articles:
  • Transitioning to a Decathlon http://aerobaticsaustralia.net/?p=75
  • Short Field Tailwheel Operations http://aerobaticsaustralia.net/?p=60

Back before Part 61, we had stuff like this – “WHEEL LANDINGS: PROHIBITED ON BELLANCA DECATHLON” despite their handling notes stating “In high gusty wind or when a cross wind exist, a wheel landing is recommended …”. So people like me weren’t taught wheeler landings for a tailwheel endorsement and, instructing in the Decathlon … well, weren’t they prohibited?

There are real safety issues with using one of these old Decathlons for tailwheel training per Part 61, well almost any Decathlon, even a factory new Super Decathlon as explained below.

The following document compares the competency standards for ab initio training (that can be done in a tailwheel aeroplane) for short field takeoff and landing with that for a tailwheel endorsement. They should be pretty much the same. Imagine if someone did their ab initio training in a tailwheel aeroplane – when they passed the test for RPL or PPL they would’ve been granted a tailwheel endorsement – but they would not have met the separate and different standards for a tailwheel endorsement!

Of course, there is much more good guff in my book – “Aerobatics Down Under” – the Kindle version is only US$3 or about A$4 at https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07PXY467M