TAILWHEEL & SPIN TRAINING
Develop confidence through competence
TAILWHEEL & SPIN TRAINING
Develop confidence through competence
Why should you learn to fly Tailwheel
Stick & Rudder skills
Tailwheel flying improves stick-and-rudder fundamentals that transfer directly to all aircraft.
The Super Decathlon provides more direct aerodynamic feedback and less forgiving handling characteristics during takeoff and landing. NASA and FAA loss-of-control research repeatedly identifies poor energy management and inadequate rudder coordination as major contributors to general aviation accidents.
Tailwheel training exposes pilots to these fundamentals earlier and more aggressively, improving control precision, crosswind technique, and aircraft feel across all other aircraft.
Exposure to varied and realistic operating environments
Many aircraft used in bush flying, backcountry operations, agricultural aviation, glider towing, vintage aircraft operations, Aerobatic and STOL competitions use conventional landing gear because it performs better on rough, soft, or unimproved surfaces and offer less drag in flight.
Tailwheel configurations reduce propeller strike risk and often allow larger propeller diameters and shorter-field capability. Learning tailwheel expands operational understanding beyond long paved runways and standardized airport environments.
Improve attention, discipline, and workload management.
A tailwheel airplane cannot be “passively” flown during taxi, takeoff, or landing. Small deviations compound quickly. This forces continuous situational awareness and active control inputs through all phases of flight.
FAA accident analyses consistently show runway excursions and loss of directional control remain among the most common general aviation accident categories. Tailwheel training conditions pilots to stay mentally ahead of the airplane during the highest-risk phases of flight.
Spin Training
Why spin training
Every stall has the potential to become a spin. While intentional spins are rare in everyday flying, inadvertent stalls and loss-of-control accidents continue to be one of the leading causes of fatal general aviation accidents. Quality spin training gives pilots the knowledge, confidence, and hands-on experience to recognize the warning signs early, apply the correct recovery techniques, and prevent an upset from becoming an accident.
Spin training isn't just for Flight Instructor Candidates, all pilots will gain a better understanding and capability by earning a Spin Endorsement.
Build confidence through all phases of flight
Spin training builds a deeper understanding of aerodynamics. Pilots learn how angle of attack, coordination, rudder inputs, and control effectiveness interact during critical phases of flight. The result is better stick-and-rudder skills, improved aircraft handling, and greater confidence in all phases of flight, not just during spins.
Whether you fly for recreation or professionally, spin training is one of the most valuable investments you can make in your safety and proficiency.
Initial CFI requirement and a good recurrent training regime
As a Certified Flight Instructor, you are expected to recognize and recover from loss-of-control situations before they become emergencies. While an initial spin endorsement satisfies the regulatory requirement, skill degradation occurs over time if those techniques are not practiced. Recurrent spin training keeps those critical recovery skills sharp and reinforces the judgment needed to intervene quickly when a student makes an unexpected control input.
Beyond maintaining proficiency, adding recurrent spin training to your pilot proficiency program allows both pilots and instructors to refine their flying and teaching techniques, stay current with industry best practices, and experience a variety of spin entries and recovery scenarios in a controlled environment. The more prepared an instructor is, the safer every lesson becomes.
Professionals never stop training. Recurrent spin training demonstrates a commitment to safety, and continuous pilot improvement.
5x MASTER FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR
A five-time Master Certified Flight Instructor, multi-time AOPA award-winning instructor including 2023 Best Flight Instructor Eastern Region, and award-winning STOL competitor, Doug’s instruction philosophy is grounded in discipline, exposure, repetition, and accountability. He has logged over 9,000 hours of dual given across more than 100 makes and models, developing a reputation for producing highly capable, safety-focused pilots.
He is the owner of Air Ventures Flying School and Newport Aviation in Rhode Island, where his work centers on structured, performance-driven training designed to build competence rather than push volume-based certification. His approach emphasizes decision-making, consistency, and long-term pilot development in an industry with historically high attrition.
For two decades tailwheel flying his passion. Trained by tailwheel legend Capt. Paul Santopietro - He treats it as a foundational discipline that reinforces stick-and-rudder precision, energy management, and timely pilot judgment skills that transfer directly to all levels of operation and are increasingly absent from modern training environments.
Available Tailwheel Training
Introduction to Tailwheel Flying
Introduction to Tailwheel Flying
Introduction to Tailwheel Flying
Come get a taste of what flying a conventional gear aircraft is all about! You will learn ground control, managing adverse yaw, Dutch rolls, stall characteristics, and how to do a 3 point landing.
This course includes 1 hour of ground and 1 hour of flight.
$549.00
Tailwheel Endorsement
Introduction to Tailwheel Flying
Introduction to Tailwheel Flying
Earn your Tailwheel Endorsement in as little as 2 days!
This course normally consists of 10 hours of flight training, 5 hours of ground school.
*Piloting skill can vary, tailwheel training is performance dependent.
I recommend that you are proficient in coordinated flight, slow flight, and stalls prior start of training.
Spin Training
Introduction to Tailwheel Flying
Tailwheel Immersion Package
Required for aspiring CFIs - recommended for everyone!
In this course you will learn all of the aerodynamics of a spin, how to identify an incoming spin, and how to recover from incipient and developed spins in both directions and different phases of flight including takeoff, landing, and secondary stall / spins.
This course incudes 2 hours of ground and up to 1 hour of flight.
You do not need a tailwheel endorsement to complete this course.
$700.00
Tailwheel Immersion Package
Tailwheel Immersion Package
Tailwheel Immersion Package
Spend 2 days flying into all five New England states experiencing a variety of unique environments while building both Cross Country and Tailwheel time.
This course includes 10 hours of Cross Country flight time, and 10 hours of ground instruction, and lunch!
This course does not require a tailwheel endorsement, and will typically not meet the repetition time to earn an endorsement - though on occasion students may qualify.
Tailwheel Mastery Package
Tailwheel Immersion Package
Tailwheel Mastery Package
Spend 2 days mastering all of the intricacies of flying a tailwheel aircraft.
You will work on basic airmanship, rudder control, spin training, wheel landings, wheel landings, crosswind landings, forward slips, turning slips, and the all important go around.
You will leave with a significantly improved understanding of aerodynamics and significantly improved aircraft control.
You must already hold a tailwheel endorsement to book this course.
Aircraft Acquisitions
Tailwheel Immersion Package
Tailwheel Mastery Package
After you complete your training you will need to buy yourself a nice tailwheel airplane.
I have helped hundreds of students locate and acquire wonderful aircraft saving them from aircraft that could quickly turn into money pits.
I can help with every part of the process, from finding the right airplane, planning for aircraft ownership and storage, prebuy inspections, pickup and delivery.
Contact me today for pricing.
Important Training Information
Important Training Information
Important Training Information
All tailwheel training is completed at KSFZ unless otherwise arranged.*
Tailwheel training in owner provided aircraft also available.
*Travel and lodging costs will be added to any arranged offsite training.
**Due to increasing fuel costs a fuel surcharge may be added to all training.
Required reading: (click links)
- The Compleat Taildragger Pilot by Harvey Plourde prior to any training.
- FAA Tailwheel Transition guide
There will be a test.
Rates
Important Training Information
Important Training Information
Training by the hour is available schedule permitting.
ACA Super Decathlon 8KCAB - $399.99/hr (wet)
Doug Auclair (Master Instructor) - $150.00/hr
- Prepaid cash discount available for courses.
- University professional pilot program discount available.
- 8KCAB not available for solo rental.
Book or contact Doug today
Training out of KSFZ
AIR MAIL
Get updates on availability, events, seminars and more! (Thou shalt not be spammed)
Copyright © 2026 Doug Auclair - All Rights Reserved.
*Tailwheel endorsement training can run over the prepaid courses - any time after 10 hours is paid by the hour at current hourly rates.
Aviate. Navigate. Communicate.
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.