But you needn't wait until you ve earned your private pilot certificate to taste this kind of old-fashioned flying. Many student pilots even start their training in taildraggers where such instruction is available. If you are used to flying trigear airplanes, a few hours of dual instruction should bring you up to speed for a tailwheel sign-off, although regular practice will be necessary to stay proficient. Because tailwheel airplanes are no longer the norm, the availability of tailwheel flight instruction can sometimes be spotty. The best way to seek it out is to ask around at the local airport, and check the ads in any of the regional aviation publications you find on the coffee table at your flight school.
Nothing quite impresses the neophyte helicopter flier like the hover.
You look past your feet, and there's the ground down below, and you're just sitting there on this invisible cushion of air. Most people are hooked on helicopter flying after that first hover. Whether you start out in helicopters or add a helicopter rating to your fixed-wing private pilot certificate, you are sure to be challenged by this fun and growing branch of light aviation. That's because helicopters are complicated machines that are costly to maintain and operate. Helicopter flying offers unmatched versatility, utility, and enjoyment.