Definition
A landing gear arrangement in which two main wheels are positioned forward of the aircraft's center of gravity and a single small wheel supports the tail at the rear of the fuselage. Aircraft with this configuration sit nose-high on the ground and are commonly referred to as taildraggers or conventional gear aircraft.
Plain English
A landing gear setup where the two main wheels are at the front and a small wheel sits under the tail, so the airplane rests pointing slightly upward when on the ground.
Context Anchor
Seen in landing gear discussions, aircraft preflight, taxi training, takeoff, and landing practice for airplanes often called tailwheel airplanes or taildraggers.
Derivation
Called 'conventional' because this was the standard arrangement in the early decades of aviation, before nosewheel designs became widespread. The nickname 'taildragger' comes from the tail literally being the lowest point on the ground.
Why Pilots Care
Aircraft with this configuration handle differently on the ground and require specific techniques to avoid ground loops during takeoff and landing.
Grounding Statement
Picture the airplane resting nose-high, with its tail supported by a small rear wheel instead of a nosewheel up front.
Intuition Check
Do not think of tailwheel landing gear as just a wheel attached to the tail. In aviation, it names the whole landing gear layout: main wheels forward, tail supported at the rear.
Example Sentence 1
Before flying the Super Cub solo, she completed her tailwheel landing gear endorsement with an instructor.
Example Sentence 2
Many classic trainers still use tailwheel landing gear, which keeps the propeller farther from the ground on rough surfaces.