2.25 Please help with ideas/suggestions for ground steering with taildraggers!

From FlightSim

Q:

PLEASE HELP WITH IDEAS/SUGGESTIONS FOR GROUND STEERING WITH TAILDRAGGERS!

A:

There are a number of factors which ALL contribute to 'poor' taildragger ground handling:

1. Expectations
Most taildraggers under discussion do not have steerable tailwheels: they either have a fixed 'skid' or a castor (free-rotating trailing wheel like the front wheels on a shopping trolley). The wheelbase of tailwheel aircraft is also typically nearly double that of a tricycle. Therefore, comparing the two is like comparing the turning circles of a Cadillac Eldorado with a Honda Civic - or comparing the precise steering of a small motor car with sitting in a moving shopping trolley and trying to turn it by willpower alone.

2. Sim Limitations
No-one has yet found the 'magic variable/s' in the flight model (if any) which control steering strength and direction. No doubt this situation will change soon. But this is only a MINOR limitation to taildragger enjoyment.

3. Flight Model Errors
Many (most?) taildragger flight models have the wheelbase and track incorrectly specified. In addition, most have the rear body scrape point at or lower than the wheel location - causing FS to add body drag to already poor simulation of a skid or castor. Some even have the nosewheel or tailwheel off-centre - causing further problems with the simulator.

4. Technique
For stationary or very tight turns: Both castor wheels and skids must be freed from rest by a burst of propwash on the rudder (using a quick burst of engine power). FS98 recognizes propwash, but FS95 and FS5 didn't. This requires that the rudder be partly or fully deflected - PLUS, one of the wheel brakes has to be released so that the plane can spin about the other wheel - while you also increase and reduce the throttle. If you don't have rudder pedals, this takes three hands to coordinate in FS :-)

When taxiing:
Most taildraggers with good wheel location specs can be taxied at about 1,100 to 1,800 rpm (depending on engine power and gross weight). Choose an rpm that requires short jabs on the foot brakes every second or so to keep speed down to 15 - 20. Then - and here is the big SECRET - use BOTH differential braking (one finger held down on F11 or F12) AND balanced braking (one finger tapping your normal braking button on joystick/yoke) SIMULTANEOUSLY to move around tight corners at no less than 5 - 10 knots. Add a short burst of throttle to help if required.

With just a bit of practice, you will be able to taxi almost any taildragger anywhere around an airport quite easily. The bigger the plane, the slower you should try the 'running turns' to avoid huge turning circles.

Ian Donohoe