Pilot Institute

JANUARY 3, 2025

If youre preparing for takeoff, navigating an approach, or landing at an uncontrolled airport, knowing how to read a windsock can give you quick wind information. Standard FAA aviation windsocks are calibrated to fully extend at a wind speed of 15 knots. How To Read a Windsock Hanging limp : Winds are under 3 knots.

Knot

Flying Magazine

JULY 3, 2025

As late afternoon approached, I was expecting a call about what hotel we would be in that night. I fully expected the gauge to fix itself before we landed because that is what old airplanes frequently do (this airframe was about 42 years young). I asked ATC to arrange for fire/rescue in case I messed up my approach/landing.

Knot

Flying Magazine

JULY 22, 2025

However, as Epic CEO Doug King told FLYING , the airplane was originally designed to be a big-engine, high-performance machine, unlike many manufacturers that start small and progressively add power. We note that the airplane we flew, the first AX off the line, equipped with nearly every option, had a useful load of 2,918 pounds.

Rudder

Plane and Pilot

MARCH 6, 2025

I felt knots forming in my stomach. The winds and rain caught up with the little craft as if a hand was reaching out grabbing control of the airplane. The 152 rocked and bounced in the air currents as we approached the runway. It was all I could do to keep the airplane straight. I noticed that the wind was picking up.

Airplanes

Flying Magazine

JUNE 23, 2025

I’ll start with a confession: I have never ditched an airplane. I don’t have any plans to ditch an airplane. The current elevation of lake (it’s changing rapidly) is 4200 feet msl, so the airplane was about 1400 feet above the water. But notice: the airplane floated. Will I Have To?

Pilot

Air Facts

MARCH 5, 2025

For example, describing a Cuban eight maneuver would involve such writing as, enter the (in Farsi , R-L), Cuban eight (in English, L-R), maneuver no lower than (in Farsi , R-L), 10,000 AGL (in English, L-R), at a minimum of (in Farsi , R-L), 450 knots (in English, L-R). add 5 knots for winds at 10 knots gusting to 20 knots).

Pilot

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 31, 2024

Have you ever thought about landing an airplane without using flaps? Think about these scenarios: maybe the flaps stop working, or youre flying an older airplane that doesnt even have them. Pilots must adapt their approach and landing technique during flap failure. Flatter approach angle (due to less drag).

Pilot

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

How did any given airplane sell? In order to be flown by a sport pilot, the resulting airplane must still meet the current regulations—1,320 pounds maximum gross weight, 120 knots max cruise speed, for example—but how it gets there is up to the builder. But successful? Not at all. Was it profitable for the company?

Airplanes

Flying Magazine

JUNE 3, 2025

About 100 local officials, industry executives, city developers, and other spectators gathered at Modern Aviations JFK FBO to witness the approach of Beta Technologies Aliathe first all-electric model to fly into one of the areas three major airports. We’re like, this is an all-electric airplane. Clark told FLYING.

Air Traffic Control

Flying Magazine

JUNE 18, 2025

Subscribe Now While still in production in limited numbers by Textron as the G36, refurbished A- and B36-series models with new avionics, aesthetic and creature improvements, and low airframe and engine time are good alternatives to high-dollar, later-model G36 airplanes. Bonanza pilots learn early on to use the electric pitch trim.

Gross Weight

Pilot Institute

MARCH 28, 2025

If youre flying an airplane with a short wingspan, you should do everything you can to avoid severe wake turbulence. Pilots need to keep this behavior in mind as theyre likely to encounter these vortices while theyre on approach or during departure. This lateral movement takes place at a speed of about two or three knots.

Turbulence

CFI Academy

MARCH 28, 2025

For the FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Airplane Single Engine (ASE) checkride, the demonstration stalls are specific maneuvers that you, as a CFI candidate, must perform and explain to demonstrate your instructional knowledge and ability. How to Perform: Trim the airplane for a climb or approach speed (e.g.,

Aileron

Flying Magazine

JUNE 23, 2025

I don’t recall what happened, but the airplane wasn’t flying off the island that afternoon. Controllers on the ground will try to manage things, but they often misidentify airplane types—it’s easy for one low-wing airplane to implement an instruction meant for another low-wing. How can we make sure our skills are up to the task?

Runway

Air Facts

MAY 14, 2025

He shook the stick in reply: Youve got the airplane. During each turn, we lost about 1015 knots, but once wings-level again, the jet quickly accelerated back to 300. For every 100 pounds above 1,000, add one knot to each airspeed. Add half the gust factor to final approach and touchdown speeds. Youve got the airplane.

AGL

Air Facts

APRIL 9, 2025

Starlink Mini isnt exactly tiny, but it can be mounted in most GA airplanes. Ive flown with it on multiple cross-country trips and can tell you its like having full-speed home Wi-Fi on your airplane, all over the US and at all altitudes. Attention is a scarce resource in life today, and flying light airplanes requires a lot of it.

Weather

Air Facts

MAY 5, 2025

Flying a single engine airplane, under IFR, in the clouds, in a non-radar environment and without an autopilot, adds a great deal to the pilots work load. With three airplanes, we departed Springfield for Fairfield, Iowa to compete in an NIFA competition against five other schools. This was the situation on Friday, December 1, 1972.

VOR

Plane and Pilot

JULY 2, 2025

As with all airplane maneuvering, proper altitude changes are based on the foundational formula “power plus attitude equals performance.” For climbing, full or recommended climb power is usually employed, and for descent or landing approach, a power setting that produces the desired descent rate is selected.

Descent

Flying Magazine

MAY 14, 2025

Once the order is confirmed, customers receive live tracking updates as their delivery approaches at speeds close to 60 knots. The partners cited the states legacy of aviationits license plates read First in Flight, a nod to the Wright brothers maiden flight in Kitty Hawkand forward-thinking approach to drone regulations.

Knot

Flying Magazine

MAY 17, 2025

Flight Planning A pilot encountered 32-35 knot headwinds at cruise. After a review, the airplanes fuel capacity was less than the expected 40 at 35-37 gallons, and the fuel gauge was too optimistic. On final approach, the tower told him to go around. The result was an uneventful approach and landing.

Pilot

Flying Magazine

JULY 18, 2025

This means buying the airplane right so there’s money—lots of it— left in the budget for major panel upgrades. Still, the market for avionics systems for turbine airplanes is dominated by Garmin, which earns regulatory approval at impressive rates. There’s also automatic low airspeed protection when below VMCA, plus 15 knots indicated.

Flight Deck

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 26, 2025

I’ll start introducing you to everyone I know, and we’ll have them teach you a little bit about each of these airplanes.” But I also reminded myself this would soon be the most cost-effective, newer airplane I had ever flown. “All right, let’s just go out and walk the booths,” said Johnson. And with that, we were off.

Aileron

Flying Magazine

JUNE 20, 2025

According to the report and previously acquired ADS-B data, the pilot was attempting an instrument approach in thick fog and flew below the published glideslope. The pilot was in contact with the Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SOCAL TRACON) controller while at 17,000 ft mean sea level (msl).

Knot

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 23, 2025

Moments later, the airplane crashed. The Bonanza lay crumpled up in an empty lot just 2,400 feet from the approach end of the runway. The wind at the surface was reported as 220 degrees at 6 knots gusting 19 knots. An immediate strong correction to the left might have salvaged the approach. Where is the wind?

True Airspeed

Plane and Pilot

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

We often hear that the key to a great landing is an equally great approach. And lets face it, the key to that flawless approach is often a well-planned descent. The en route instrument approaches, traffic patterns, and terrain are all new. When should we review the approach (IFR) or airport diagram (VFR)?

Descent

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 15, 2025

Velocity Andrews, North Carolina/Injuries: 1 Fatal NTSB Report: ERA23FA194 The owner recently purchased the experimental amateur-built, modified airplane. He did not have a lot of experience in the make and model airplane, so he hired the accident pilot to conduct the first flight since recent modifications.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

iPad Pilot News

MARCH 11, 2025

The alert will only sound once every 60 seconds and is automatically disabled if groundspeed is less than 40 knots. Runway Final Approach Alert – Alerts when approaching any runway, based on altitude, vertical speed, track, and when within 4 nm of the runway threshold. AGL after having been above 1,000 ft.

AGL

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Just to be clear, although I avoid flying in “hard” IFR, all of my IFR practice includes approaches to minimums, go-arounds, and holding patterns—just in case. Fussing with the avionics to keep tabs on the weather gave many more knob touches than the airplane itself. The FAA weather said a thunderstorm was forecast, gusts to 6 knots.

Weather

Gary's Flight Journal

MAY 25, 2025

It was a bumpy ride with twenty knot headwinds all the way to Cambridge. The three of us enjoyed lunch and the airplane talk that followed. Ron is a wealth of knowledge and we enjoyed discussing IFR flight, approaches and some of the recent accidents. I was off at the one thousand foot markers and climbed away.

Pilot

Flight Training Central

DECEMBER 30, 2024

Video tip: how to recover from a spin with Patty Wagstaff – Join Patty Wagstaff in her Super Decathlon aerobatic airplane, as she explains how it’s possible to enter a spin, and then the proper recovery. Enjoy these top 10 posts from 2024 and safe flying in the New Year!

Indicated Airspeed

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 2, 2025

View enroute to Washington Dulles Austrian business class pre-landing snack Upon waking up, I first ordered an americano, which was served in a Julius Meinl branded mug, and was pretty great for airplane coffee. He warned of some turbulence on approach, and of strong winds at Washington Dulles, which were gusting up to 30 knots.

Approach

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 16, 2024

It’s typically measured in knots (nautical miles per hour), with one knot being about 1.15 As an aircraft accelerates, especially at or above 200 knots, the air particles flowing around it become tightly packed. Then, check the altimeter to confirm that you’re holding your altitude, or approaching the altitude you want.

True Airspeed

CFI Academy

MARCH 28, 2025

For the FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Airplane Single Engine (ASE) checkride, the demonstration stalls are specific maneuvers that you, as a CFI candidate, must perform and explain to demonstrate your instructional knowledge and ability. How to Perform: Trim the airplane for a climb or approach speed (e.g.,

Aileron

Photographic Logbook

MAY 25, 2025

I cancelled the flight to my hometown due to a combination of strong winds aloft, surface winds forecast at 20-something knots gusting to 30-something knots, and potential for IFR conditions and icing to boot. Both were immediately on board, but the weather was not. Too many strikes. They really do try to make it hard to get lost.

OAT

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Or how do modern airplanes reduce dangerous effects like aileron flutter or adverse yaw? Unstable aircraft designs are better suited for high-maneuverability aircraft like aerobatic stunt airplanes or military fighters. Commercial airliners fly at speeds above 300 knots but also need to be controllable at speeds below 150 knots.

Aileron

AV Web

JULY 1, 2025

The max stall speed is 45 knots and the max full-power cruising speed is 120 KCAS. If you’ve always wanted to build an airplane (or have the regulatory freedom of owning an experimental), there are kit-built E-LSA models. The better approach is flying it on like an ultralight—carrying power all the way into the flare.

Gross Weight

Fear of Landing

JUNE 27, 2025

They said that they had looked left and right before entering but did not see the Boeing 738 on final approach. Citation II Crashes in San Diego Residential Area During Low-Visibility Approach ] The NTSB has released the preliminary report which confirms some key details. They will be livestreamed on the NTSB YouTube channel.

Descent

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

Detecting them is difficult, which makes final approach and landing especially dangerous. Horizontal wind speeds near the surface can be as fast as 45 knots, resulting in a 90-knot wind shear from headwind to tailwind across the microburst. This can fool anyone easily, and could lead to disaster during approach.

Wind Shear