Taildraggers.com, a new online platform exclusively dedicated to tailwheel aircraft, has officially launched.
Created by pilot Kevin Laufer, the site offers a destination for taildragger pilots and enthusiasts to buy, sell, and connect.
Laufer is no stranger to aviation or tech.
A corporate pilot with 25 years of professional flying and website development experience, he’s spent decades blending two passions: Flying and building websites.
“I got my tailwheel endorsement in a Piper Cub at age 17, and that really set the course for my flying career,” says Laufer. “At 18, I bought a Piper Clipper and towed banners at the Jersey Shore in Super Cubs throughout college. I still own that same Clipper today, alongside a Cessna 185 Skywagon.”
“This project is about more than just buying and selling tailwheel aircraft,” he continues. “It’s about sharing a part of aviation I deeply respect. Tailwheel flying is one of the purest forms of flight — steeped in history, raw, unforgiving, and incredibly rewarding.”
“Flying a tailwheel aircraft, especially in challenging conditions, demands precision, humility, and a unique connection between pilot, machine, and environment,” he adds. “What I’ve always admired most is the camaraderie among tailwheel pilots. It’s a tight-knit community, and I’m proud to be part of it.”
A Family Affair
Laufer built the new website with his son Michael, a private pilot and aviation safety student at the University of North Dakota.
“This site is a family affair,” Laufer explains. “It’s been a way for us to stay close and work on something meaningful together.”
While Laufer brings decades of flying experience and deep roots in the taildragger community, his son runs the site’s social media and digital outreach.
“He complements me perfectly,” Laufer jokes. “Even though I’m tech-savvy when it comes to web development, I’m still a round-dial analog guy at heart — I still write everything down on paper. He’s the one who keeps us visible online and connects us with the next generation of tailwheel pilots.”
Reviving the Tailwheel Pilots Association
Taildraggers.com is also home to the newly relaunched Tailwheel Pilots Association, a community-based group dedicated to promoting tailwheel flying.
Laufer originally founded the group more than 20 years ago but lacked the technical tools to sustain it at the time. Now, with a new platform and stronger infrastructure, the group is back, offering opportunities for tailwheel pilots to share stories, advice, and camaraderie.
For more information: Taildraggers.com
In my more than 60 years of flying with over 25000 hours I have only owned one airplane! Yep, it was a Piper J3 Cub that I loved flying it! I It was also the plane that I taught my son to fly in who went on to fly F18’s for the Navy and is now a Captain for AA Airlines. When you learn to fly in a Cub you really learn to fly!
Back in 1970, I went to my local flight school and declared I wanted to become a private pilot.
Seeing a fleet of cool looking Piper Cherokees on the ramp really motivated me to start on my Private SEL immediately.
Then the school’s chief pilot informed me that my initial training up to solo and a little beyond would consist of learning in the fleet of those high wing yellow fabric covered tailwheel airplanes on the ramp. (Piper J-3 Cubs)
Disappointed, I asked why I couldn’t learn in the Cherokees. He said that day would come during cross country training, but for now, I would be in the J-3–including spin training. I’ll never forget his final words, “Trust me on this. You will thank me later.” I’ve owned 5 airplanes in 55 years of flying— all tricycle gear including high performance models to which I applied my stick and rudder skills learned in the J-3. A great and rewarding experience, but now in my senior years I am shopping for a taildragger—aka Cessna 120 or 140. I am thanking that chief pilot “later,” just as he said.
That old boss was Mr. T., my father in law, Andrea Tomalino. Jets are for kids has always been part of Paramount Air Service tee shirt logo up until his daughter sold the assets of Paramount three years ago.
LOVE IT!!!
I flew for Sky Signs in the late 90’s and 2000’s .
Those Super Cubs will ALWAYS HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART ❤️
Thanks,
Rob