Subscriber question:
"I'm struggling with my tailwheel checkout. I use too much rudder or brake or not enough. Is there anything I can do to get a better feel for the airplane when it's on the ground?" — Randall J.
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Rick:
“There’s an old saying among tailwheel pilots: Wearing hard-soled shoes or boots is an invitation to a groundloop.
Wear flexible, soft-soled shoes, such as running shoes, deck shoes, or moccasins. They should bend easily and be soft enough to let you feel the rudders and brakes, and help keep your feet off of toe brakes when you don’t want to hit them. You want your shoes to flex with your feet.
In addition, ensure that your heels are on the floor before takeoff and on final for landing. This helps avoid inadvertently pressing the toe brakes.
That’s especially true in an airplane with heel brakes, because you can’t feel the rudder pedals and brakes. Soft-soled shoes will help you find the heel brakes with your feet, as well as better let you modulate the pressure you apply.
Shoes that don’t flex can cause problems in nosewheel airplanes, too. If your heels aren’t on the floor at touchdown, you might inadvertently apply pressure on the toe brakes. That could result in a flat-spotted tire, or even a strong swerve off the runway if the braking is uneven.”