Tailwheel lock

[jollyjack]

Recently noticed tailwheel lock is in the basic controllers global listing.

 

Which planes have it and need it to be set on takeoff ?

I know the FW190 has it on joystick elevator pullback only, but with a p51?

[Kubert]

The best what you can do is to read  specification for plane before you try it. Tailwheel lock is always mentioned in specification and it varies from plane to plane. Some have manual lock/unlock system, some have tailwheel controlled by pedals, some semi-automatic lock depended on pedals or joystick position (FW-190, MiG or Yak-1b) and some planes have no lock all.

Edited July 8 by Kubert

[Skycat1969]

The tailwheel lock in the keybinds is for the subset of aircraft that have a manually activated locking system to keep the free-castoring tailwheel in track during takeoff and landing. The P-47 is the best example I can think of offhand; look down to the floor to the right of the seat and you'll see a lever for the tailwheel. Use the tailwheel binding and you'll see the lever move. 

 

The P-51 has a locking system connected to the flight stick, therefore the tailwheel lock bind isn't usable. I believe at least some of the BF 109s do have the tailwheel lock, but I haven't flown them in a long while so I'm not sure. As Kubert said, you have to know the specifics of each aircraft you fly.

[czech693]

None of the British fighters have tailwheel lock, nor does the Mosquito (that's why it's a whirling dervish).

All of the American fighters have tailwheel lock  Nose wheel aircraft (including the A-20) caster.

All of the 109's have manual lock and 190's have joystick lock.

110's have no lock, but 410 has a lock.

Me262 has a castering nosewheel.

Arado.  Haven't flow it so I don't know about it.

German bombers have no lock

Stuka has a lock.

Russian varies.  IL-2 and Yak have tailwheel locks.  LaaG, La, Pe, no tailwheel lock.  I-16 appears to be steerable but without a lock.  MiG is the weird one, probably why so many had difficulty with it when it first came out.  It's locked until you deflect the rudder 40% and then it becomes steerable.

C-47 has a tailwheel lock.  I presume the Li has a lock, but I haven't flown it so can't be sure.

I'm pretty sure I got these right.

[Kubert]

26 minutes ago, czech693 said:

I'm pretty sure I got these right.

Mostly yes.

P-40 and Yak-1b have similar system as MiG just less sensitive. P-40 needs a half of deflection and Yak-1b even more to unlock.

P-51 has unlocked wheel by default but steerable by pedals when joystick is pulled back. 

[czech693]

I forgot Hs-129 which does not have a tailwheel lock.

[czech693]

On 7/8/2025 at 4:10 PM, Kubert said:

Mostly yes.

P-40 and Yak-1b have similar system as MiG just less sensitive. P-40 needs a half of deflection and Yak-1b even more to unlock.

P-51 has unlocked wheel by default but steerable by pedals when joystick is pulled back. 

No, that's not right.  They are not similar.

 

The P-40 tailwheel is steerable until the rudder reaches a certain deflection at which point it becomes castering.

The Yak-1b is locked until the rudder reaches a certain deflection at which point is becomes castering.

The MiG-3 is locked until the rudder reaches a certain deflection at which point it becomes steerable.

[BlitzPig_EL]

The P40's system is just like the one used by the Stearman model 75.  I had it's owner demonstrate it to me when I had the chance to go up in it several years ago.