Aerotime

APRIL 3, 2025

Largely gone are the days when pilots had to manually control their aircraft from engine start-up to shut down by keeping their hands rigidly fixed on the controls at all times. As a result, the first autopilot was developed to introduce an element of control on the trajectory of airplanes. What is an autopilot?

Weight-Shift-Control 298

Weight-Shift-Control Cockpit Pilot Stability 298

Pilot Institute

JUNE 4, 2025

Have you ever seen an airplane with no tail and no vertical fin, but with just a sleek wing? How does it turn or climb without the usual control surfaces? They prove that with the right aerodynamic tricks, you dont need a tail to fly. Despite their lack of horizontal control surfaces, tailless aircraft are designed to be stable.

Tail 52

Tail Airplanes Weight-Shift-Control Drag 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

At first glance, ailerons look like ordinary hinged panels on the wings, but don’t be fooledthey’re important for keeping an aircraft both stable and maneuverable. These control surfaces dictate the aircraft’s roll, and this allows it to bank smoothly through turns or even recover from turbulence. What Is an Aileron?

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

Plane and Pilot

MAY 3, 2025

Lets go back to that time in postwar GA when the sands shifted quickly. The Ercoupe was designed with only two controls, roll and pitch, so it couldnt be kicked out in a crosswindit had to withstand landing in a crab. There were 23 runway loss of control (RLOC) events. The rich can dream of jets and warbirds.

Approach 73

Approach Airplanes Stability Weight-Shift-Control 73

Vintage Aviation News

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

[James Kightly] One of Louis Blriot’s major achievements, and one he deserves credit for, was his control system. In the pre-1910 period there were numerous variations in the ways people developed to control their aircraft. On the early Bristol Biplanes (Boxkites) the ailerons were called ‘balancers.’

Weight-Shift-Control 77

Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Aileron Airplanes 77

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 19, 2024

Tasked with creating an aircraft that could meet the Navy’s evolving and often shifting requirements, Petty and his team faced an uphill battle. The wings were metal structures covered with fabric, a common practice that balanced strength and weight considerations. Leading the design team was British engineer G.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Aviation Technology Aileron Rudder 52

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 23, 2024

Key Takeaways A flat spin is a dangerous, level-flight spin with reduced control effectiveness. PARE: Power idle, Ailerons neutral, Rudder opposite, Elevator forward. 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.

Center of Gravity 98

Center of Gravity Weight-Shift-Control Aileron Rudder 98