Effect of touchdown on angle of attack, tailwheel vs tricycle I have a theory but I can't find any documented confirmation. Please let me know if my theory seems right:
My theory:
During a regular touchdown, a tricycle gear equipped airplane, since the main wheels are behind the center of gravity, rotates around its transversal axis (nose down), thus reducing the angle of attack. This should reduce the plane tendency to rebound (unless the nosewheel touches the ground).
On a tail-wheel airplane, the effect in reversed, on touchdown the airplane rotates around in transversal axis, thus increasing the angle of attack.
Does that make sense?
Yes, it does make sense.
However, the angle of attack increase of the tailwheel airplane would only be possible if it touches down on the main wheels while there still is much clearance of the tail wheel or skid. Normally, the ground attitude of tailwheel airplanes should be very close to their landing attitude, so all three wheels touch down almost simultaneously.