The 3-Point Landing
In most tailwheel aircraft, the 3-point landing is the normal landing position. The approach for
a 3-point landing is very much the same as the approach in a tricycle gear aircraft. As the
aircraft nears the ground the aircraft is flared to a 3-point position. As the aircraft slows down,
a serious attempt to keep the aircraft flying as long as possible and continual slow backpressure is
applied to the stick. When the airplane finally stalls, it will settle to the ground in the three-point
position and the rollout is continued using the rudders for directional control.
During the rollout the stick must be kept back in order to keep the angle of attack high enough to
maintain a stalled position. The initial rollout is typically the most dangerous position for a pilot
transitioning from tricycle gear aircraft to tailwheel aircraft due to the lack of experience with
having to fly the aircraft beyond the landing. Brakes are to be applied only as necessary.
During the 3-point landing, the key is to keep stick coming back through the flare in a slow constant
motion to keep stall condition for landing. This must be continued at the same rate as the aircraft
settles to the ground and after the aircraft is on the ground on all three wheels, the stick must be
held full back to keep the aircraft angle of attack in a fully stalled position and the aircraft firmly
on the ground.
A 3-Point Landing is performed through these steps:
- Begin the approach at a normal airspeed an aligned with the runway;
- When the aircraft nears the runway, the aircraft will be pitched slightly up into the
three-point stance for the touchdown. As the pilot pitches the aircraft for this position, and
once the runway can be made, power will be reduced smoothly for landing;
- As the aircraft settles toward the ground, the pilot will continue to slowly add backpressure to
the stick/yoke to keep the aircraft in the three-point stance through the point of touchdown which
should occur at stall speed;
- Once the aircraft has touched down on the ground on all three wheels, the pilot should apply full
backpressure to the stick/yoke to keep the aircraft at an angle of attach that will not allow it
to become airborne again along with providing for full steering with the tailwheel on the ground
by adding pressure to the tail through the elevator position;
- As the aircraft rolls out the pilot will need to maintain diligent control of the rudders to keep
the aircraft rolling straight down the runway;
- Apply brakes as needed for during the roll out to stop or taxi only after the aircraft is under
control using the rudders.
Three-point landings are the first landings that most tailwheel students will encounter and students
should be proficient at these prior to attempting wheel landings. These are good, safe, landings that
allow the aircraft contact the runway at the minimum controllable airspeed and provide quick stopping
for soft and short fields.
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