Definition
The pitch attitude of a tailwheel airplane in which all three landing gear -- both main wheels and the tailwheel -- are simultaneously in contact with the runway surface. This attitude corresponds to a relatively high angle of attack and is the airplane's natural resting position on the ground.
Plain English
The nose-up position a tailwheel airplane sits in when all three of its wheels are touching the ground at the same time.
Context Anchor
Seen in tailwheel airplane takeoff and landing discussions, especially when the pilot is told to let the airplane lift off from the same attitude it has while resting on all three wheels.
Derivation
Named simply for the three points of contact -- the two main wheels and the tailwheel -- all touching the runway together. The phrase makes sense once you picture a tailwheel airplane sitting on the ground: it naturally rests on three points, with the nose pitched up.
Why Pilots Care
Achieving the correct three-point attitude prevents propeller strikes and reduces the chance of bouncing or nose-over during ground operations in tailwheel aircraft.
Grounding Statement
Picture a tailwheel airplane sitting still on the runway with both main wheels and the tailwheel on the ground; that sitting position is the three-point attitude.
Intuition Check
“Attitude” does not mean mood here; it means the airplane’s nose position. “Three-point” does not mean three steps or three checks; it means the two main wheels plus the tailwheel.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor demonstrated holding the three-point attitude during the takeoff roll until the airplane was ready to fly off the runway.
Example Sentence 2
Before liftoff the airplane was held in the three-point attitude until sufficient speed allowed a smooth rotation.