Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 18, 2025

Set your power and speed for the maneuver, maintaining a steady airspeed typically 10-20 knots above stall speed to allow for a margin of safety. Monitor your instruments closely, especially the altimeter and airspeed indicator, and make small, continuous adjustments. Maintaining the Turn: Use pitch control to maintain altitude.

Pilot

Air Facts

MAY 5, 2025

After all, I had just aced my checkride. The general prognosis indicated no icing in the clouds, no turbulence and a quartering headwind from the west resulting in a mere five knots of headwind component. Instead of a gentle breeze out of the west, we had over 20 knots of headwind blowing out of the south. How can this be?

VOR

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

They are also one of the most feared maneuvers during the private pilot checkride. In the Cessna 172S Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH), the landing distance decreases by 10% for every 9 knots of headwind. For the Cessna 172, landing distance increases by 10% for every 2 knots of tailwind.

Weight-Shift-Control

Pilot Institute

MAY 9, 2024

Lazy eights sound like the least challenging commercial checkride maneuver to learn. For a Cessna 172, the recommended indicated airspeed for the maneuver is 105 knots. At this point, you should be flying at the slowest speed (5-10 knots above stall speed). Glance at your altimeter. The bank angle should be about 15°.

Rudder

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

Some instruments that are part of the scan for the maneuver include: Attitude Indicator Altimeter Heading Indicator Turn/Slip Indicator If the aircraft starts to climb, less back pressure or a slightly steeper bank angle will help bring the aircraft back to the starting altitude. Commercial Pilot ACS Skills Standards 1. Clear the area.

Lift