Learning Tailwheel

[Flynlow]

Warning! Long-Winded Story! I wrote this awhile back for another forum.

I grew up flying, taking my first flight at 3 weeks old (much to my Mother's chagrin!!). I loved everything from pulling the plane out of the hanger, to hearing the gyros wind down after we were done. As a little boy, I would be so excited when it was time to go fly, and would cry when told the plane was down for maintenance or the weather was bad. Even as a child, flying would remove everything else from my mind. There was nothing to worry about except enjoying the flight.

When I was old enough, I paid for my license up-front and completed the lessons as quickly as the weather and my instructor's schedule permitted. Within a year of having my license, I had taken all of my friends up. For most of them, it was their first flight. I still love giving those first rides to this day!

After a while, I got bored with putting around in a Cessna that was a old as I was, and worse for the wear. I didn't have the budget to really go anywhere, so the longest journey I took was about 100 miles away to an airshow with some friends.

One day, I went for a ride with my instructor and as we were putting the plane away, I saw it. A beautiful Decathlon taxiied by with it's nose in the air. It seemed to be saying it was better than the 152s and Tomahawks being abused by students that day and I couldn't have agreed more. I mentioned to my instructor that I wanted to fly that plane. He couldn't have picked three worse words to utter: "That's Chuck's plane."

Chuck White was a very well known instructor at the airport. I had the chance to meet him when getting my license. He was the pilot who gave me my second stage check.

Now by the time you get to this stage check, you pretty much know how to fly a plane. I was the best pilot that ever set foot in a Cessna! At least I was until Chuck stepped into it! By the end of the flight, I didn't like Chuck and was pretty sure I would never fly again. He didn't like anything I did. He picked on my rudder usage, my navigation skills, my ability to use a chart... well, you name it and I was bad at it. I was devastated. Over the next few weeks, my instructor built my confidence again and once again I was worthy of wearing the scarf and goggles. I passed both written and flying portions of my test with flying colors and was complimented heavily on both.

So now, I'm back to my great desire to fly that Decathlon. I wanted it more than anything I've ever wanted. I needed my tailwheel endorsement and then Chuck would rent it out to me. I had to suck up my pride and go talk to him. He told me he kept current parachutes in it and with a little training I could fly aerobatics! There was no turning back now, he had me.

I showed up for my first lesson and sure enough, there was the Grinch waiting for me. He was as grumpy as ever, but not only was I taught to respect my elders, but he had the keys to my new style of flying, so I held my toungue. He started showing me how to taxi and I was soon convinced that something was wrong with the plane as it wouldn't go in a straight line. He gruffly told me that I didn't have to S-turn it, it wasn't a Pitts! The Decathlon is a tandem plane, so I was in the front, with him sitting behind me, so he couldn't see my facial expressions! I'm sure that was a good thing. He sure wasn't my favorite person.

I knew that getting your tailwheel endorsement usually takes between 5 and 10 hours. After the first hour of him pecking me in the back of the head (really!), and asking if I'd left my right foot at home, I was sure I'd never make it. I wasn't willing to admit defeat though, and I kept showing up for lessons. I made it through three lessons of one hour each and on the fourth day we took off and made a few passes through the pattern. We didn't have much fuel, so it would be a short lesson of only touch-n-goes. After a few circuits, he told me to land and get fuel, so I pulled up the pumps and filled it to the standard halfway point we kept it at. I was ready to go, but he just stood there. He told me to go fly... I had 3.5 hours of training and he cut me free. He said I was ready. I couldn't have been more scared or excited at that moment. As I flew by and looked down at him, seeing him look up at me, I realized our relationship had just changed.

Chuck was a few years older than my Grandfather and I was amazed at his flying skills. He'd spent most of his life in a plane. He was one of those instructors you really learned from and rarely find.

Chuck and I became closer over the years. He had emphesema and though he still had his medical (he couldn't teach primary students), he usually didn't feel like pulling the plane out or fueling it. I would go get it ready for him and watch him take off and go fly. He wanted to fly alone and I was so scared that one day he'd make the decision not to return.

I would sneek out to the hanger wash the plane and treat it as my own. He greatly appreciated it and told me so often.

One time after a rough biennial where he again critisized my skills with a chart, he said something that I'll never forget. He said I was one of the best pilots he'd ever known. He said he couldn't find anything to correct me on when flying. I could work on my navigation skills, but I was a natural when it came to flying. From him, this meant the world to me.

Once he let a guy borrow his plane to go get something from his plane at a remote airport. When the guy landed at that airport, he started bouncing and somehow blew out the tailwheel. Chuck called me and asked if I would go get his plane. The pilot had left it there in his hanger and returned in his Bonanza. he would fly me out to get it. Chuck said he couldn't breathe and wanted me to do it because he trusted me. I went to his hanger, picked up the spare tailwheel and we were off. Something this simple was a huge compliment to me.

I flew that plane for many years, putting almost 350 hours on it! I did learn aerobatics in it and I was proud to fly it anywhere. Even though it was a 1973, it was in perfect shape. When he called me to tell me he had to sell it, my heart sank. His health wasn't getting any better and he didn't want his wife to be stuck with it when he was gone. After it sold, I bought my Team Airbike, got into Powered Parachutes, and now I'm flying an Aeronca Chief.

On April 10th of 2009, I lost my Grandfather. I was very close to him and spent his final few days with him. I was completely out of touch with the rest of the world as I tried to make sense of his loss. Several weeks after I returned, I found out that Chuck died on the same day as my Grandfather. For all of the many students he shared his passion of aviation with, for all of the the lives he touched, I couldn't believe how simple his obituary was: WHITE, Charles Edmond, 80, retired aviator and instructor, of Austin died April 10. Survived by wife Patricia. No services planned. Arrangements by Neptune Society. Yes, he was an aviator and instructor, but he was much more... he was my friend and mentor.

Chuck, I miss you buddy. Thank you for all you taught me. I still hear your words of wisdom when flying. Sometimes I still feel your finger tapping the back of my head! You taught me skills that have no doubt saved my life. I will never forget you. Happy flying up there where the winds are always calm and there are no thermals and you can breathe in the sweet air. I wish every pilot could have a mentor like you.

The above was the original story. I'll add that when I lost the engine in the Chief the other day, some people mentioned how calm I sounded. I actually heard him telling me to "fly the plane". Just do what you need to do and relax. Panicking doesn't help in an airplane.

[brink]

Hi Jack:
Ever seen Always! or a GUY named Joe ! Don't worry you will feel that tap on the shoulder; for many years to come. A fellow aviator Sunny

[David Johnson]

Damn Jack, that is a beautiful story. Sent chills up my spine. Brings back memories of all the folks that helped me. Some of them are gone now. Now I need to get going and get flying again. And work on plans to pass it on to the next generation. Thanks for posting. David J.

[james gevay]

That's an excellent story Jack.
Your lucky that you found someone who saw that spark of talent in you and nurtured it into a competent pilot.
Pilots like that are priceless, we're lucky and proud to have known them.

[Flynlow]

Thank you all.

David - I've thought of becoming an instructor. I also fly powered parachutes and could easily become a Light Sport instructor in PPCs, then it would be easy to get my Fixed Wing Light Sport instructor rating added. I think I would be good at it as I stay calm under pressure!

I think Chuck was there again yesterday afternoon. I was flying the Chief for the first time after my engine-out. The mechanic decided we just had a bad gas cap and we were good to go.... Everything went well on the runup, no hiccups. I took off and flew around for awhile and climbed up to about 3,500 feet. I pulled the power back to idle and the engine was very smooth. When I tried to advance the throttle though, it coughed and sputtered and felt like it would die. A little more throttle and it smoothed out. I tried this a few times and it did it every time. I just pulled her back to idle and came in high and slipped her for all she was worth, landing fine. Phil will call the mechanic today.

It's at those times when you hear your instructor telling you to relax and fly the plane. You know what you're doing, relax and do it. Even without an engine, this is still a good flying airplane, you just can't go-around. Still, our airport is up on top of a big hill with big trees all around. I couldn't help thinking what would happen if I went in...

[David Johnson]

Jack, I have thought of that as well. But I am now 290 lbs. Can't fly the back seat any more. Need to get serious. Used to enjoy giving rides from the back. Lots of fun. David J.