Tail wheel or tail skid

[Dai Fledermaus]

I've noticed that on many sports designs and trainers where a steerable tail wheel is not fitted, that a tail skid is used instead of a fixed tail wheel. Is there any particular reason for this?

[Daithi O Buitigh]

Usually because a wheel offers better control than a skid (although the full size Sopwith Pup did have a steerable skid)

If the model isn't steerable, then a skid is a simpler option to make and fit

Edited By Daithi O Buitigh on 08/01/2013 23:41:07

[Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator]

I agree with Daithi - generally a skid is the simplier (and cheaper) option. Its also probably easier to repair - although tailwheels/skids don't tend to come in for a lot of damage in my experience.

The downside is it becomes a little more difficult to steer the model. With a skid you usually have to sort of "blow the tail round" with prop wash over the rudder - so a fair bit of throttle blipping is called for!

BEB

[Vecchio Austriaco]

No problem for take off and landing - but if you would like to turn around on the strip it is difficult. with the steerable wheel you can hold down the tail with the elevator during taxiing. If you do that with a skid it will not turn. So if you want to blow around the tail as mentioned by BEB you have to leave the elevator straight which can end with the model on its nose. (don't ask why I know this...)

VA

[David Davis]

Many vintage models featured a fixed tail skid or even a sort of under fin to hold the tailplane off the ground, the Tomboy for example, but these were invariably originally free flight and were hand launched or pointed directly into wind for a rise off ground take-off so steering was not a factor.

[Ernie]

It's so cool to taxi to the runway, turn into wind and off and up

ernie

[Peter Miller]

I find that a skid is fine for grass but a tailwheel (non-steerable) is better for tarmac as the rubber grips better. The fixed tailwheel works much the same as a sskid on grass.

Steerable tailwheels are OK but a free castoring tailwheel is hopeless.

[Dai Fledermaus]

Thanks for your thoughts fellers. I have a steerable tail wheel, which I had thought of using on my Tyro Major although the plan shows a tail skid. I guess I could make it work, but I think I'll just keep it simple and modify it to use as a fixed tail wheel.

[Plummet]

It there is any wind then models can weathercock to point into the wind, which may not be what you want when you are trying to taxi out for take off. Some full sized aircraft have castoring tailwheels or skids - and trying to taxi them downwing can be very difficult. This is why you often see people holding onto the wing tips of taxi-ing aircraft of a certain age.

Plummet

Edited By Plummet on 09/01/2013 16:09:52

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

Many aircraft with castering tailwheels have wheel brakes which are used differentially to assist with turning/steering. Additionally, a lot of heavier tailwheel aircraft have lockable tailwheels to stop them swinging on take-off.

Guess who built his Chipmunk to scale (as per the plans) with a castering tailwheel - after a couple of years struggling in any amount of wind I eventually did a field mod to lock it which has remained so ever since!