The fuselage under the tail of a jet has a bump on it called a “tail skid” that is designed to crumple and absorb impact.

We have to let the ship down on two wheels and let the tail skid at a speed of thirty-five miles an hour and not break the landing gear.

No tail skid is necessary because the tail will never be near the ground.

As he taxied up the field, the plane's tail skid threw a rock through the fuselage, injuring the stabilizer controls.

Then he pushes the joy stick forward slightly to get the plane's tail skid off the ground, pulls it backward and the plane rises.