Taildragger rated

Larry and Dave finishing Dave's taildragger rating in the Flight School's Bushbaby Explorer Taildragger aircraft MSC today. Thanks Larry, that was fun, tearing up the runway at Richards Bay with you. 

Larry and Dave in the taildragger MSC

Umhlanga beachfront from the air in MSC

Dave does the admin thing refuelling the plane in the heat of Friday morning after pulling all of the planes out of the hangar.

The fuel tanks on the wings feed the carbs by gravity, obviating the need for an electric fuel pump

Dave en route to Richards Bay in the taildragger

Richards Bay harbour and estuary seen from 800 ft in the Explorer

Moment of take-off with the tail in the air and Dave at the flight controls of the Explorer at Richards Bay airport

Instructor Larry vd Merwe with Dave in the Explorer

Celebration margaritas after being signed out for the taildragger rating and landing back safely at Virginia Airport

Running out of air

My taildragger training was cut short this afternoon when we lost tyre pressure in the right wheel.. not a heavy landing.. we had just put pressure in earlier and it could have been a faulty valve. So I brought the plane to a stop on the runway and the Fire Department came to help us push the plane off while lifting the wing to take the pressure off the wheel.

Instructor Larry says "It wasn't me" ha ha

Doing my Taildragger conversion training

Incredible day flying yesteday.. the air was clean and clear and you could see forever. Our Instructor Larry Van Der Merwe took to the skyye with me in our Taildragger MSC for my conversion training and we flew out to Cato Ridge and Pietermaritzburg for some cheaper circuits landing this beauty. You can do your conversion too at Durban Skyye Flight School - for both PPL and NPL pilots.

Instructor Larry (left) and Dave ready for some conversion training on our flight school Taildragger MSC

Durban looking beautiful as we flew in from Cato Ridge in the west

Larry with MSC in Pietermaritzburg - beautiful little airport and an ideal lunch stop if you are in the area - the coffee shop opens when the Link airline plane is due to arrive

MSC looking proud on the Pietermaritburg apron

Dave and Larry posing before flying back

All smiles from Larry as we head back to Durban

Durban's Bluff, the harbour and  city as we pass the compulsory reporting point at Cooper's Lighthouse

We head to the harbour entrance which is the second reporting point as we enter the Virginia Airport airspace

Rounding the harbour mouth we have now left uncontrolled airspace and the beautiful view back to the Bluff reveals itself. I used to be the City Councillor for the Fynnland ward and this view basically takes in my ward.. from the harbour side through the Fynnland suburb to Beacon Road.

A view of Vetch's pier - suitable landing space for our Seaplane when we get it up and running

Taildragger next

If you like dodgem cars, you will love the Explorer Taildragger we have as a training aircraft at Durban Skyye Flight School and I had a lesson with our rated Instructor Ian today.. the difference between a taildragger and a tricycle plane is that the centre of gravity is behind you, so instead of it balancing on a nose wheel and two main wheels, it leans backwards with a little "supermarket trolly" type wheel at the back just above the ground. The huge difference this makes is that when you taxi or land the plane, the heavier back tail keeps trying to overtake you and can easily result in a ground loop or spin-around unless you can keep the tail centred behind you. Pilots like the taildraggers because they keep you on your toes and are fun to fly - certainly no docile plane!!

Here is Ian with the Explorer taildragger and then a few happy snaps as we took advantage of the clear Durban skyye after the rain and he showed me how to land the little bugger.

Ian poses before showing me how the plane works.. just taxiing the plane was taxing!

I think I can do this thing!!

Smart MGL glass cockpit of the Explorer with all the information you need to fly

Beautiful Durban and the harbour on take-off from Virginia Airport