Definition
Airplanes whose landing gear consists of two main wheels forward of the center of gravity and a single small wheel at the tail. Because the center of gravity is behind the main wheels, these airplanes sit nose-high on the ground and require active rudder control during taxi, takeoff, and landing to keep the nose tracking straight.
Plain English
An airplane that rests on two big wheels up front and one small wheel under the tail, so it sits with its nose pointed up while on the ground.
Context Anchor
Used in discussions of taxiing, takeoff, landing rollout, and ground loops in airplanes with conventional landing gear.
Derivation
Named simply for where the third wheel sits — under the tail — in contrast to nosewheel (tricycle) airplanes, where the third wheel sits under the nose. Also commonly called 'taildraggers' or 'conventional gear,' since this layout was the original standard before nosewheels became common.
Why Pilots Care
These airplanes are directionally unstable on the ground, making them more likely to ground loop if the pilot fails to maintain precise rudder and brake control during takeoff and landing rolls.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as an airplane with any kind of tail shape. Here, “tailwheel-type” is about the wheel arrangement on the ground: main wheels ahead, small wheel at the tail.
Example Sentence 1
Before flying a tailwheel-type airplane solo, most pilots complete a specific endorsement focused on takeoffs, landings, and ground handling.
Example Sentence 2
Many older training aircraft are tailwheel-type airplanes that require the pilot to hold the tail up during the initial takeoff roll.