Landing and rudder trim

[SimFreak]

Yeah, this plane is screwy I think. The aircraft I fly IRL doesn't have a steerable nose either, and that thing is more of less a breeze to taxi around. I don't know, maybe it has something to do with the tail wheel, but when I try to apply the same practices of light taps on the brakes to keep straight, it just spins out of control, or failing that, doesn't do anything at all.

 

Note: this is probably me not doing something right, and I do notice that there is a significant difference between an Sr-20 and a P-51D.

 

Answer is simple; lock tail wheel! Combination of differential braking and rudder makes it easy to taxi.

[Yo-Yo]

Yeah, this plane is screwy I think. The aircraft I fly IRL doesn't have a steerable nose either,

 

That's the point. Taildraggers are very different because of intrinsic instability at taxiing with tailwheel free.

Compare A-10 taxiing with castering nosewheel.

[HiJack]

That's the point. Taildraggers are very different because of intrinsic instability at taxiing with tailwheel free.

Compare A-10 taxiing with castering nosewheel.

But is the wheel spinning freely? It must be some friction there to keep it from swirling around? It feals like it swings 180 degrees at once if you press the stick fully forward even if the aircraft is sitting firmly on the 3 wheels, cant be that way IRL.

[Smokin Hole]

The thing to remember about tailwheels/tailskids is this: they are inherently unstable. In a nosewheel airplane, the CG is in front of the mains. This means that the mass of the airplane is always working to point the nose down the direction of travel. A "conventional gear" airplane will always have the CG behind the mains. Any tendency away from the current ground track will accelerate until corrected. The P51D, if we are to believe the manual, is even more aft which will only exagerrate the instability.

[Smokin Hole]

But is the wheel spinning freely? It must be some friction there to keep it from swirling around? It feals like it swings 180 degrees at once if you press the stick fully forward even if the aircraft is sitting firmly on the 3 wheels, cant be that way IRL.

 

A locked tailwheel isn't necessarily locked outright. Many incorporate a spring into the locking mechanism. This protects the tailwheel from mechanical failure if stressed. If you have the stick in your gut but still insist on a sharp turn with differential braking, the tailwheel will turn past 6 degrees. At least untill you track straight for a meter or two to pop it back into its lock.

[Slayer]

Seems like I read somewhere don't use rudder trim on landing with P-51 at all , if you have to crab in then straighten out just before touchdown.