@TomMcW Yeah, I had similar results with the tissue.

So what do tailwheel planes exist for anyway? What do they do that tricycle gear planes can't? They seem like a big pain to have to deal with and taxi and I don't see any advantage to them at all. What am I missing?

@RyanMortensen 1) tailwheels came first 2) tailwheels are somewhat advantageous for ground clearance at the nose 3) tailwheels set the wings up at a higher AoA during the takeoff roll, which makes STOL somewhat easier

@Shalvenay It doesn't make STOL easier. Being nose-up gives you more drag at the start of the take-off roll, and as soon as you get any lift, you rotate to level to improve your acceleration

@DanHulme ah, good point.

1) and 2) are still a thing though

Yeah, 1 and 2 are the chief reasons. If you're operating on grass, more prop clearance is more safety, and it's better to have the tailwheel config than longer undercarriage

also, in 1930's UK, some senior people in the RAF and what was the Air Ministry thought tailwheels were superior, so that made tricycle designs less saleable for many years