Definition
Airplanes with a landing gear arrangement consisting of two main wheels forward of the center of gravity and a small wheel or skid at the tail. Because the main wheels sit ahead of the center of gravity, the airplane is directionally unstable on the ground and tends to swap ends if not actively controlled with rudder during taxi, takeoff, and landing.
Plain English
An airplane that sits nose-up on the ground because its two big wheels are up front and a small wheel holds up the tail. This layout makes the airplane harder to keep straight on the ground, so the pilot has to work the rudder pedals more carefully than in a nosewheel airplane.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of aircraft control during taxi, takeoff, landing, and ground handling.
Derivation
Called 'tailwheel' simply because the small third wheel is at the tail. Also nicknamed 'taildraggers' because the tail rides low and 'drags' along behind. The older term 'conventional gear' comes from the fact that this was the standard layout in the early decades of aviation, before nosewheel designs became common.
Why Pilots Care
Ground handling, taxiing, takeoff, and landing all require specific techniques to maintain directional control due to the tail-low attitude.
Grounding Statement
Picture an airplane sitting on the ground with its nose raised and a small wheel under the tail; that wheel placement is what gives it its distinctive ground handling.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “tailwheel type” only identifies where one wheel is located. In aviation use, it describes the whole landing-gear arrangement and the handling behavior that comes with it.
Example Sentence 1
Before flying the Cub solo, she had to log dual instruction and receive a tailwheel endorsement in her logbook.
Example Sentence 2
Many tailwheel type airplanes are used for bush flying because the propeller clearance is greater on rough surfaces.