TAILWHEEL TRAINING

Explore where others can’t

DISCOVER TAILWHEEL

ONLINE TAILWHEEL COURSE

TAILWHEEL ENDORSEMENT

BUSH PILOT COURSE

DISCOVER TAILWHEEL

For anyone – no experience required or for nose-wheel pilots that are thinking about greener pastures. 

Join us flying the well renown Piper Super Cub around the Sunshine Coast hinterland, exploring some of the exclusive bush strips we have access to. 

No experience – no worries. Our instructors will take you through all of the basics of ‘how an aircraft flies’ and they’ll have you flying the aeroplane before you know it under their guidance.  

Have some flying experience already – we’ll focus more on introducing you to the tailwheel flying fundamentals.

NEED A GIFT CERTIFICATE

This starts out with a briefing at the Stick ‘n Rudder HQ. The briefing will be tailored to you. If you’ve never flown before we’ll take you through the basic operations of the aircraft controls and some important safety considerations. If you have experience flying a nose-wheel (we won’t judge you, much) we’ll take you through the fundamental principles of flying a tailwheel aircraft. 

After completing the pre-flight inspection of the aircraft, we’ll get airborne and track for the beautiful Glass House Mountains and then onwards to the Somerset Valley. Along with taking in the breath taking views, we’ll be climbing, descending and turning; embraces the freedom of flight. En-route we’ll stop in at a few of our exclusive bush flying strips and say hi to the locals. 

  • Use this experience to discover if learning to fly is for you or if you’re ready to drop the nose-wheel for a tailwheel. 

We are operating the legendary Piper Super Cub. It is fitted with many bush modifications, which include but are not limited to, vortex generators, an offset engine thrust line, 31″ alaskan bush wheels, 3″ extended landing gear, a belly pod and much more. 

The Cub has a unique feature which allows you to fly with the door open, allowing you to fully experience the elements. 

It is the ultimate adventuring machine. 

This experience takes half a day (around 4 hours) from start to finish. There will be around 1.5 hours of flying in the aircraft. 

$995

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ONLINE TAILWHEEL COURSE

LEARN ON THE FLY

  • ANYWHERE
  • ANYTIME
  • ANY DEVICE

Prepare for your practical tailwheel training with our online course. It features illustrations and interactive quizzes, along with written and video content by one of Australia’s most experienced tailwheel flight instructors. 

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TAILWHEEL ENDORSEMENT

Tailwheel or conventional undercarriage aircraft training is our speciality. Collectively, our flight instructors have tens of thousands of hours operating tailwheel aircraft and we are passionate about sharing our knowledge and skills with you. Learning to fly tailwheel aircraft is for any pilot aspiring to improve their general flying skills. Upon completion of this course you will be issued with a tailwheel design feature endorsement.

WHY TAILWHEEL

  • IMPROVE YOUR GENERAL AIRCRAFT HANDLING SKILLS
  • DEVELOP YOUR STICK N RUDDER COORDINATION
  • INCREASE YOUR AWARENESS OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT
  • ENHANCE YOUR SENSORY INPUTS TO ACCURATELY PREDICT CHANGES IN AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE
  • ENHANCE YOUR SENSORY INPUTS TO ACCURATELY PREDICT CHANGES IN AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE

All of our students start by completing our online tailwheel training course. It features illustrations, interactive quizzes, along with written and video content to ensure you’re well prepared for the practical training ahead. 

Flights will start with a short operational briefing reviewing the theory covered in our online course, however they will be tailored to your past experience and the weather conditions on the day. 

Our course covers the basic flying skills required to safely operate a tailwheel aircraft which are:

  • – Tailwheel ground handling
  • – The tailwheel takeoff
  • – 3 point landings
  • – Wheeler landings
  • – Crosswind takeoffs and landings
  • – Short-field takeoffs and landings
  •  

This will meet the requirements of a CASA design feature endorsement, however if you’re looking to take your new skills to the next level we also have you covered. We operate the legendary Piper Super Cub that is kitted out for bush operations. With access to many bush strips of vary complexity, you’ll have the opportunity to hone your skills while having a great time. 

*Bonus: The issue of a CASA Design feature like a tailwheel endorsement will renew your single engine class rating. I.e “flight review”. 

We are operating the legendary Piper Super Cub. It is fitted with many bush modifications, which include but are not limited to, vortex generators, an offset engine thrust line, 31″ alaskan bush wheels, 3″ extended landing gear, a belly pod and much more. 

It is the ultimate adventuring machine. 

The course takes around 5-8 flying hours to complete. This is generally completed by our students over 3-4 half days (4 hour block) of one-on-one training. It can also be completed in full day training blocks pending availability. 

Please note this is a competency based course and we are hear to make great tailwheel pilots not just tick boxes. 

Our rates:

  • – Instructor (Full Day – 8 hours): $655
  • – Instructor (Half Day – 4 hours): $355 
  • – Super Cub: $355/hr Tacho
  •  

Total (estimate): 

  • – Online tailwheel course $135 = Free of charge for our students 
  • – 3x Instructor (Half Day) @ $355 = $1065
  • – 5hrs x Super Cub @ $355/hr = $1775
  • – Total (estimate) = $2840*
  •  

*Training is competency based and make take longer and cost more. The estimate is based on a current private pilot.

BUSH PILOT COURSE

Take your tailwheel skills to the next level with this bush pilot course. 

If you’re looking to challenge yourself and have a great training/flying experience this is for you. 

Discover the full flight envelop of our modified Super Cub, exploring and adventuring around beautiful south-east Queensland. 

Hone your skills on bush strips, learn on the fly with a series of micro briefings and debrief/talk planes with your instructor while camping out under the wing.

 

This a two day, one-on-one, fully immerserve training experience. 

Starting out at Stick ‘n Rudder HQ your instructor will take you through an operational briefing of the forecasted weather for your training and a briefing on the Super Cub’s handling. 

Load the Cub with the provided camping gear (there’s no need for you to bring anything, except a water bottle and cap) and learn about the importance of correctly planning the weight and balance of the aircraft. 

We’ll start out with a local flight, putting the Cub through it’s paces, particularly slow speed flight and circuits at our home airfield. Shortly afterwards we’ll be tracking for our first bush strip. 

Flying from bush strip to bush strip we’ll hone your skills on different landing areas and operating environments. As required we’ll top up the aircraft’s tanks and yours with snacks. Soaking up the pcituresque bush of south-east queensland with a hot or cold drink in hand your flight instructor will deliver a series of micro briefings on important bush operation considerations which include: 

  • Emergency equipment
  • Essential aircraft tools and their uses
  • Aircraft performance considerations
  • Go/no-go considerations
  • Landing area analysis 
  • Micrometeorology considerations
  • Landing on sloping terrain
  •  
  • After a full day of flying we’ll stop at one of the bush strips and setup camp underneath the wing of the plane. This is a great opportunity to review the days flying and unwind from your busy life back at home. 

Day 2, more flying! In total we will land around 12 different locations.

Please note their is no formal Bush Flying Certification but we’ll provide you with a certificate of completing this course. If you’re due for a Aeroplane Flight Review (AFR), previously referred to as a BFR training and assessment for this can be done during this course. 

We are operating the legendary Piper Super Cub. It is fitted with many bush modifications, which include but are not limited to, vortex generators, an offset engine thrust line, 31″ alaskan bush wheels, 3″ extended landing gear, a belly pod and much more. 

It is the ultimate adventuring machine. 

This is a two day course with one night of camping. We will fly for around 6.5hrs over these two days. 

$4300. 

This includes aircraft, instructor, fuel, camping gear, food. Everything! Just bring your great personality.