How do I land a taildragger in MSFS 2020?

To land a taildragger in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, fly a stabilised final, remove drift, and keep the nose exactly aligned with the runway using rudder. For a three-point landing, hold off until the main wheels and tailwheel touch together, then keep the stick back and steer actively throughout the rollout.

Use the aircraft's published approach speed rather than copying a figure from another taildragger. If the approach or flare is the weak point, first review the core MSFS approach and landing technique; the steps below address the extra directional-control problem created by a tailwheel undercarriage.

Which taildragger landing technique should I use?

Use a three-point landing for normal conditions and a wheel landing when you need firmer directional control in gusty or crosswind conditions, subject to the aircraft's own operating guidance.

Neither technique fixes a poor approach. The aircraft must reach the runway aligned with no sideways drift. Our comparison of three-point and wheel landings covers the aerodynamic reasoning in more depth.

How do I make a three-point landing in MSFS 2020?

A successful three-point landing comes from holding the correct attitude while controlling direction continuously, not from forcing all three wheels onto the runway.

1. Prepare the aircraft. Set the recommended flap, trim and propeller configuration. If the simulated aircraft has a lockable tailwheel, set it according to that aircraft's instructions.
2. Stabilise the final approach. Hold the published approach speed and a steady descent. If large pitch, power or rudder changes are still needed near the threshold, go around.
3. Remove drift and yaw. Use rudder to point the nose along the centreline and aileron to stop sideways movement. Do not accept a crabbed touchdown simply because the wheels are close to the runway.
4. Round out just above the surface. Reduce power as appropriate and raise the nose towards the aircraft's three-point attitude. Shift your gaze farther down the runway or towards its edge if the nose blocks the centreline.
5. Hold off rather than pushing down. Let speed decay until the aeroplane settles onto the main wheels and tailwheel nearly together. If it is still floating, maintain the attitude instead of hauling the stick farther back.
6. Keep the control fully aft. Once down, hold the stick or yoke back to keep weight on the tailwheel. Make prompt, small rudder corrections and maintain aileron into any crosswind.
7. Brake cautiously. Wait until the aircraft is slow and settled before using substantial braking. Apply equal pressure unless a small amount of differential brake is genuinely required for low-speed steering.

How do I wheel-land a taildragger?

For a wheel landing, fly a shallow, controlled descent and touch the main wheels first while keeping the tail off the runway.

1. Arrive over the threshold aligned with the runway and with all sideways drift removed.
2. Hold a level or slightly tail-low attitude just above the surface, using a little power if the aircraft requires it.
3. As the main wheels touch, ease the control forward only enough to keep them on the runway. A large forward push can cause a bounce, propeller strike or nose-over.
4. Reduce power and keep straight with rudder. Continue holding the correct crosswind aileron.
5. As speed falls and the elevator becomes less effective, let the tail descend gently. Move the control fully aft after the tailwheel is down.

Why does my taildragger bounce or ground loop?

Bounces usually begin with excess speed, an excessive descent rate or an attempt to push the wheels onto the runway; ground loops begin when the tail starts moving sideways faster than the pilot corrects it.

• Small bounce: hold the landing attitude and avoid pushing forward. A small amount of power can cushion the next contact.
• Repeated or increasing bounce: go around while the aircraft is still controllable. Chasing each bounce with alternating pitch inputs usually makes it worse.
• Swerve after touchdown: look well down the runway and use quick, restrained rudder inputs. Waiting to see a large heading change is too late.
• Ground loop tendency: keep the tailwheel loaded with aft control and avoid correcting every small deviation with differential braking.
• Nose-over under braking: release the brakes and hold the control aft. Check that a brake axis is not partially applied or reversed.
• Wing lifting in a crosswind: increase aileron into the wind as the aircraft slows, because the controls lose effectiveness during rollout.

Which MSFS 2020 settings make taildraggers easier to control?

The most useful setup is a direct, progressive rudder axis with no unwanted brake input.

• Use the Modern flight model unless a particular add-on explicitly requires something else.
• Disable assisted rudder and assisted landing when practising manual technique. They can oppose or conceal your inputs, although assisted rudder may be necessary for players limited to keyboard control.
• Add only enough rudder dead zone to remove hardware jitter. If the centre feels twitchy, soften the response curve rather than creating a large dead zone.
• Check that left and right brakes release completely. An unnoticed partial brake application can make the aircraft veer as soon as the wheels touch.
• Rudder pedals provide the best control, but a twist joystick is workable. Keyboard rudder commands are much harder to meter accurately.
• Set the cockpit viewpoint before joining final so the runway edges and landing attitude are visible. Avoid changing views during the flare.

How should I land a taildragger in a crosswind?

In a crosswind, remove the crab before touchdown, keep the nose straight with rudder, and lower the upwind wing enough to stop drift. Touch the upwind main wheel first during a wheel landing, then increase aileron into wind throughout the rollout.

If full rudder or aileron cannot hold alignment before touchdown, go around and choose a more favourable runway or calmer conditions. The full sequence is explained in our flight-simulator crosswind landing procedure.