Definition
The way a tailwheel-equipped airplane reacts directionally to rudder pedal inputs during ground operations, where the steerable tailwheel is mechanically linked to the rudder pedals and turns the airplane in the direction the corresponding pedal is pressed.
Plain English
How a tailwheel airplane turns on the ground when you push the rudder pedals. Push the right pedal, the tail swings left and the nose points right; push the left pedal, the nose points left.
Context Anchor
Used when taxiing a tailwheel airplane and judging how the airplane reacts to rudder pedal or brake inputs on the ground.
Why Pilots Care
Misjudging the response leads to over-corrections and ground loops during taxi and takeoff roll.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a tailwheel airplane steers like a car. The airplane may react with a delay, then turn more quickly as the tail starts to swing.
Example Sentence 1
Before taxiing the Cub, the instructor demonstrated the tailwheel steering response with small pedal inputs so the student could feel how quickly the nose tracked left and right.
Example Sentence 2
At higher taxi speeds the tailwheel steering response became more sensitive, requiring lighter pedal pressure.