Definition
Two distinct touchdown techniques used in tailwheel airplanes. A three-point landing is a full-stall touchdown in which the main wheels and the tailwheel contact the runway simultaneously, with the airplane in its normal landing (three-point) attitude. A wheel landing is a touchdown made on the main wheels only, with the tail held off the runway in a near-level attitude until airspeed decreases enough for the tail to settle.
Plain English
Two ways to land a tailwheel airplane. In one, all three wheels touch the runway at the same time with the airplane fully slowed and nose-high. In the other, only the main wheels touch first while the tail is still in the air, and the tail is lowered to the runway later as the airplane slows down.
Context Anchor
Encountered when learning touchdown technique in tailwheel airplanes, especially during landing practice and transition training.
Derivation
Three-point refers to the three points of contact on a tailwheel airplane: the left main wheel, the right main wheel, and the tailwheel. Wheel landing refers to touching down on the main wheels first, with the tailwheel not yet on the runway.
Why Pilots Care
Choosing the correct method maintains directional control and prevents propeller strikes or ground loops in tailwheel aircraft.
Grounding Statement
In a three-point landing, all three wheels arrive together; in a wheel landing, the main wheels arrive first and the tail follows later.
Intuition Check
A wheel landing does not mean any landing where the airplane lands on wheels. In tailwheel flying, it specifically means the main wheels touch first and the tailwheel comes down later.
Example Sentence 1
On the short grass strip, the instructor demonstrated a three-point landing so the airplane would touch down at the lowest possible speed.
Example Sentence 2
On a windy day the pilot chose a wheel landing to keep the tailwheel off the ground until the plane slowed.