Definition
A landing technique used in tailwheel airplanes in which the airplane is flown onto the runway in a near-level attitude so that the two main wheels touch down first while the tailwheel is held off the ground. After touchdown, forward elevator pressure is applied to keep the main wheels firmly on the surface, and the tail is lowered to the runway only as airspeed decreases.
Plain English
In a tailwheel airplane, you land on the two main wheels first while keeping the tail in the air, then let the tail settle down as the airplane slows.
Context Anchor
Seen in tailwheel airplane training and in the Airplane Flying Handbook section on landing techniques.
Derivation
Called a 'wheel landing' because the airplane lands on its main wheels only, in contrast to a 'three-point landing' where all three wheels (two mains plus the tailwheel) touch the runway at the same time.
Why Pilots Care
It improves directional control in crosswinds and gusty conditions by keeping the tailwheel off the ground longer.
Grounding Statement
Picture the airplane rolling onto the runway on its main wheels while the tail is still in the air, then settling the tail down as speed bleeds off.
Intuition Check
A wheel landing does not mean simply any landing on wheels. In tailwheel training, it specifically means touching down on the main wheels first while keeping the tail up at first.
Example Sentence 1
Because of the gusty crosswind, the instructor demonstrated a wheel landing rather than a three-point landing.
Example Sentence 2
In the crosswind, a wheel landing helped keep the tail from swinging.