FAA Ground School Practice Test

When taxiing a tailwheel airplane into a right quartering headwind, how should the flight controls be held?

1. Left aileron down, elevator up

2. Right aileron up, elevator up

3. Right aileron down, elevator down

4. Neutral ailerons, elevator neutral

The correct answer is: Right aileron up, elevator up

When taxiing a tailwheel airplane into a right quartering headwind, the appropriate control input is to hold the right aileron up and the elevator up. This is due to the effect of the wind on the aircraft's wings. In this scenario, the right wing is likely to be lifted by the wind, so keeping the right aileron up helps to counteract that lift and prevent the aircraft from tipping towards the left. Meanwhile, the elevator should be held up to maintain the correct pitch attitude, ensuring that the tailwheel has adequate contact with the ground while minimizing any tendency of the nose to pitch downward. A proper setup of the controls is crucial for maintaining directional stability and control during taxi operations, especially in crosswind conditions. The combination of these inputs ensures that the aircraft remains level and controllable as it maneuvers on the ground.