Harvey Plourde The Compleat Taildragger Pilot

What is The Compleat Taildragger Pilot about?

Harvey Plourde's manual covers the essential skills for safely operating conventional-gear aircraft. It works through handling turning tendencies, mastering crosswind landings, and safe taxiing, with a central focus on avoiding ground loops. The book builds from basic ground handling up to advanced flight techniques and also touches on bush flying, aerobatics, and vintage aircraft operations.

Who wrote the book and is he qualified to teach tailwheel flying?

The book was written by Harvey Plourde, a respected taildragger CFI and an authoritative source for both students and flight instructors. His years of taildragger experience inform a systematic, step-by-step methodology, with material aimed at student pilots transitioning to conventional-gear aircraft and at certified flight instructors alike.

Why are taildraggers harder to fly than tricycle-gear airplanes?

A conventional-gear airplane carries its center of gravity behind the main wheels, so it tends to swing away from a straight path during taxi, takeoff, and landing rollout and demands attentive rudder control. This guide is built around those handling differences, teaching the directional control and ground handling skills needed to operate a taildragger safely and avoid ground loops.

What is a ground loop, and does the book cover how to avoid it?

A ground loop is an uncontrolled, rapid turn on the ground that can happen during taxi, takeoff, or landing rollout because a taildragger's center of gravity sits behind the main gear. Avoiding ground loops is a central focus of this book, which teaches the handling and directional control needed to keep conventional-gear aircraft tracking straight.

Is this book good for a beginner with no tailwheel experience?

Yes. Private pilots transitioning to taildraggers will find its structured approach invaluable, and it builds from basic ground handling up to advanced techniques. The step-by-step methodology is aimed at student pilots moving to conventional-gear aircraft, so it suits readers new to tailwheel flying as well as experienced pilots adding the skill.

Does the book include material for flight instructors?

Yes. Beyond standard pilot instruction, the manual includes dedicated sections for certified flight instructors, making it a resource for standardizing tailwheel instruction curricula. Flight schools and training centers use Plourde's systematic approach to help reduce instructor workload while improving student outcomes, so it serves both learners and CFIs.

Does it apply to vintage and bush-flying tailwheel aircraft?

Yes. Alongside core training material, the manual addresses the unique challenges of bush flying, aerobatics, and vintage aircraft operations that demand superior tailwheel proficiency. Vintage aircraft owners can gain expertise to protect their investment and operate with enhanced safety margins, making it useful well beyond an initial endorsement.

Will it help me earn my tailwheel endorsement, or can it replace flight training?

It supports that goal but does not replace instruction. Transitioning pilots find its structured approach invaluable for earning their tailwheel endorsement. That endorsement is an FAA logbook authorization earned with a qualified CFI, so this book is meant to complement hands-on flight training, prepare you for lessons, and serve as an ongoing reference.

How is the book rated by pilots who have read it?

Readers call it a must-read for taming the taildragger, praise its clear crosswind explanations, and note that tailwheel instructors recommend it before lessons. Many describe it as a strong complement to classic stick-and-rudder texts and full of practical, easy-to-understand information.

How many pages is the book, and what edition and format is it?

This is a softcover book of 263 pages with black and white illustrations. It measures about 7.5 by 9 inches, and the listed copy is the Fifteenth edition. The book was originally published in 1991, with an effective date of 2022 for this printing. The ISBN is 978-0-96391-370-8.