Aerotime

APRIL 3, 2025

Flying for extended periods of time at the controls of a basic aircraft was hard physical work, and poor weather or mechanical issues could also add to pilot fatigue on longer flights. As the French mechanic slid himself along the wing of the aircraft, shifting its center of gravity, the aircraft became unbalanced.

Weight-Shift-Control 301

Weight-Shift-Control Cockpit Pilot Stability 301

Pilot Institute

JUNE 4, 2025

The Weather Vane It mostly comes from the vertical stabilizer (fin) and the sides of the fuselage behind the center of gravity. To help you understand this, imagine a weather vane with the CG as the pivot. This feature lets the aircraft’s center of gravity sit in front of the aerodynamic center.

Tail 52

Tail Airplanes Weight-Shift-Control Drag 52

Plane and Pilot

MAY 3, 2025

Depressions in the vertical stabilizer and rudder, as well as stabilator skins and ailerons, all help increase panel stiffness while allowing less under-skin structure. I think twice of all the times we’ve flown, we’ve woken up and said, you know what, the weather’s not working out, let’s just drive it, he says.

Approach 73

Approach Airplanes Stability Weight-Shift-Control 73

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 23, 2024

PARE: Power idle, Ailerons neutral, Rudder opposite, Elevator forward. An aft center of gravity increases flat spin risk. A flat spin happens when the center of gravity shifts too far aft (toward the tail), and the aircraft’s rotation becomes more horizontal. Ailerons: Neutral. Ready to become a safer pilot?

Center of Gravity 98

Center of Gravity Weight-Shift-Control Aileron Rudder 98

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

Additional Dangers of Ice Accumulation Icing also makes your aircraft heavier and can even change the position of the center of gravity. Weather conditions that lead to mixed ice include areas where warm air layers are above freezing and cold air layers are below freezing. The result is an uneven, lumpy ice layer.

Pitot Tube 52

Pitot Tube Drag Lift Airfoil 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 5, 2024

But don’t hang up your headset just because the weather isn’t perfect. Your ailerons and rudder will be neutral once you’re in the crab position. Simultaneously, we apply ailerons opposite the rudder input. The ailerons control our lateral position over the runway. We call this de-crabbing.

Crosswind 52

Crosswind Longitudinal Axis Aileron Rudder 52