Landing a Microlight Tail-dragger

Until relatively recently, all Thrusters were tail-draggers, these articles examine how to learn to land them.

The Thruster was originally an Australian design, which became naturalised in the UK. It is reasonable, therefore, that we go to Australia for guidance on how to fly the things.

Tony Hayes runs the Thruster Operator Support Group in Australia and now, primarily concerns himself with writing and publishing Ultralight Pilot and Ultralight Instructor Training Manuals. Tony is also the resident CFI for the Brisbane Valley Leisure Aviation Centre.

As a result of questions asked on the ThrusterClub Yahoo! Group, Tony started to post a series of articles, explaining the essentials of successful microlight tail-dragger landings. He has kindly allowed us to copy these articles here.

Part 1 – The Psychology of Landing

Part 2 - Bits & pieces we need for landing

Part 3 - Energy and Glideslope

Part 3a - The transition from Glide to Float

Part 4 - The float and prelanding configuration

Part 5 - Landing Configuration - Understanding The Aircraft

Part 6 - Touchdown Phase

Part 7 - Post Touchdown Ground Run

Part 8 - Three Point Landings Or Wheel On Landings?

Part 9 - Three Point Landings

Part 10 - Bounce Recovery

Part 11 - Cross Wind Landings

Part 11a - The Sharp End of the Wedge

Part 12 - Last Look Around

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