Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

As we pushed back, the colors popped on the various tails parked down the row of gates, and we sat in line for takeoff with the low sun angle perfectly lighting a yellow Spirit Airbus against an ominous dark sky, save for the rainbow that arched high across the vista. As we approached the gate, my phone rang again.

Runway

Pilot Institute

MARCH 28, 2025

As seen from the aircrafts tail, the vortex rotates in the anti-clockwise direction on the right wingtip and the clockwise direction on the left wingtip. Pilots need to keep this behavior in mind as theyre likely to encounter these vortices while theyre on approach or during departure. Whats Happening Inside the Vortex?

Turbulence

Flying Magazine

JUNE 23, 2025

Turns out there was a Cessna 172’s tail sticking out of some heavy brush toward the end of the runway. For example, it shouldn’t be that difficult to maintain 100 knots and 1,200 feet msl, but it is for many. Flying into Sun ’n Fun or AirVenture isn’t something you should approach lightly. Slow flight, for one. If you’re No.

Runway

Fear of Landing

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

As they descended towards Leeds, the crew calculated the landing performance with the wind at 060 at 19 knots. The approach controller gave them the current wind as 070 gusting 33 knots and let them know that a Boeing 737-800 had just landed. And sometimes its 35 knots across *and* thick fog. Like Jersey.

Crosswind

CFI Academy

MARCH 28, 2025

Why It Matters: This mimics a common accident scenario where a pilot overshoots the final approach centerline and tries to “force” the turn with rudder, leading to a stall/spin. climb or approach) and the pilot suddenly applies full power, causing an excessive pitch-up due to the trim setting and increased propwash over the tail.

Aileron

Flying Magazine

JULY 22, 2025

Other relevant numbers for the E1000 AX are its max cruise speed of 333 knots, max operating altitude of FL 340 and NBAA range of 1,560 nm. The batteries provided so much cranking power that both cold and hot starts never even approached engine temperature limits. Then, pitch up a long way—12.5 gph at normal cruise power.

Rudder

Fear of Landing

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

Whether or not there were issues with CRM or in the approach, there is no evidence at this time that either pilot had struggled through their training or were anything less than qualified for their positions. The wing tip struck the runway after which the wing and the tail separated and the fuel from the wing caught fire.

Runway

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 2, 2025

As you can see, the plane doesnt yet have the full Austrian livery, but instead has an all-white fuselage, except for the Austrian name written across the front of the plane, and the Austrian logo on the tail. He warned of some turbulence on approach, and of strong winds at Washington Dulles, which were gusting up to 30 knots.

Approach

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. The FAA weather said a thunderstorm was forecast, gusts to 6 knots. Full flaps and 80 knots, trimmed, the airplane asked, is this what I really wanted?

Weather

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. The EGPWS “sink rate” warning sounded 2.6

Descent

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Increasing The Aircraft Speed Small, light, and low-powered aircraft such as the Cessna 172 have a relatively narrow operational speed range ranging from 40 knots up to about 160 knots. Commercial airliners fly at speeds above 300 knots but also need to be controllable at speeds below 150 knots.

Aileron

CFI Academy

MARCH 28, 2025

Why It Matters: This mimics a common accident scenario where a pilot overshoots the final approach centerline and tries to “force” the turn with rudder, leading to a stall/spin. climb or approach) and the pilot suddenly applies full power, causing an excessive pitch-up due to the trim setting and increased propwash over the tail.

Aileron

AOPA

JULY 21, 2025

Latest News Magazines Videos Podcasts Webinars Media Room Contact Us Newsletters Training & Safety Training & Safety Embark on a journey of continuous learning: from prepping for checkrides, perfecting instrument approaches, to proficiency flights. Van’s Aircraft has traditionally sold tail kits first.

Tail

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. When Mike provided my tail number, the lineman said, "Oh, he literally just landed." Too many strikes. Photo by Mike K.

OAT

Pilot Institute

JUNE 12, 2025

Aircraft like the Cessna 208 Caravan and the De Havilland Twin Otter are often seen at airports with famously short runways or steep approaches, such as St. By the time the aircraft decelerates below roughly 80 knots, the pilot moves the reverser controls to the idle reverse position. Barts Island.

Thrust

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

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 25, 2025

After a low pass for the public and the press that had gathered to watch, Captain Thomas made the approach on runway 36 north. The aircraft had to land into a 15-knot crosswind, and the plane landed at a speed of 115 mph, well below the standard landing speed of between 150-175 mph.

Cockpit

AV Web

JULY 1, 2025

The max stall speed is 45 knots and the max full-power cruising speed is 120 KCAS. In reality, they’re far easier to prang and the right instruction teaches a very different approach to landing them compared to heavier birds. The better approach is flying it on like an ultralight—carrying power all the way into the flare.

Gross Weight

Air Facts

AUGUST 1, 2025

I sat in the cockpit of the old Tecnam P92-JS Echo, tail number I-GITR. The plane was one of the earliest of its model built by Tecnam, and the tail number was an homage to former Italian finance minister Giulio Tremonti. Tail number I-GITR. I knew this milestone was approaching. At 55 knots, I eased back on the stick.

Runway

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 26, 2024

The white light is located on the aircrafts tail and sometimes additionally on the wingtips, facing backward (aft). Pilots have jokingly created different phrases to remember what seeing certain lights means, such as Green then red, turn right or youre dead when an aircraft is approaching head-on.

Airplanes

Plane and Pilot

JULY 1, 2025

John Espe Cruiser Buhl, Idaho/Injuries: None NTSB Report: WPR23LA29 The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing, he encountered a gusting tail wind. Probable cause(s): The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing with a gusting tail wind.

Density Altitude

Plane and Pilot

JULY 24, 2025

Time to Move On As is often the case in a large company with a rigid approach to advancement, Davis’ experience and skill outgrew the pay scale, so he left Beechcraft to work for another company located on the other side of the field, Air Care Corp.

Airplanes

Flying Magazine

JULY 15, 2025

Avionics are centered on a Garmin G1000 integrated flight deck with dual GNS 530W navigation units providing WAAS enabled GPS approaches. With a cruise speed over 200 knots and fuel burn around 16 gph at mid-altitudes, the airplane delivers efficiency without compromise.

Gross Weight

AV Web

APRIL 15, 2025

As he approached the herd, with the intention of driving the cattle into the corral, the bull departed and headed toward an area covered with heavy mesquite brush. It had cut into the tail rotor gearbox, tearing it off the helicopter. Im roped in, Sam. The pilot observed the wire wrapped around the helicopter. Other than that, what?

Pilot

Aerotime

MARCH 21, 2025

TSB Approach sequence Due to reported wind gusts as the CRJ900 approached Toronto Pearson following a flight from MinneapolisSaint Paul International Airport (MSP) the aircraft was flown at 149 knots. seconds before touchdown the aircrafts indicated airspeed was 136 knots, and its ground speed was 111 knots.

Indicated Airspeed

Air Facts

JULY 15, 2024

Though wind is reported using such simple numbers like 270@15G20, I’ve come to believe that 20 knots here is not always the same as 20 knots there. I did a checkride in 30 knot winds in the flatlands of Kansas, almost straight down the runway. Then came the landing in 20 knots in the Hill Country of Texas, west of Austin.

Crosswind

Fear of Landing

APRIL 19, 2024

The helicopter turned left to return to the airport, travelling at about 85 knots. The indicated airspeed had fallen below 65 knots and was still decreasing. The helicopter was at treetop height with an indicated airspeed of zero knots when the right yaw ceased. The pilot reported two miles out.

Torque

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 12, 2024

This experimental approach allowed engineers to test various rotor configurations and propulsion systems, laying the groundwork for future innovations in the industry. This hybrid helicopter could be configured with wings and General Electric TF34 turbofans, enabling it to reach speeds of up to 300 knots. S-72 RSRA compound in flight.

Drag

Fear of Landing

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

The flight crew adjusted the icing bug to 165 knots. Flying in clouds of cold and warm fronts can lead to very small supercooled water droplets which build up as rime ice on the parts of the aircraft exposed to the wind: probes, antennas, and the leading edges of the wings and tail. The ATR’s airspeed was 191 knots.

Knot

Fear of Landing

JUNE 28, 2024

CABRI G2 SERVICE LETTER 12-001 Yaw control in approach It is recommended to keep this letter with the Flight Manual. The service letter goes on to explain that the Cabri G2’s Fenestron tail rotor requires immediate and significant right pedal input to counteract the yaw movements, especially during low-speed manouevres.

Rudder

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 18, 2024

What you do is you sit up high for takeoff and as you add power and the tail comes up almost immediately, very quickly. ” Bristol Bulldog at Tillamook Airport After a short time in the air, Storo circled around to approach Tillamook Airport setting up for landing. “Coming back around, I’m usually at about 60 knots.

Crosswind

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 2, 2024

This system includes modes for: roll pitch heading vertical speed altitude hold approach These modes allow for a steady rate of descent, ascent, and consistent speed and altitude ranges. Notable design changes included the introduction of a swept tail design in 1960 and a new cowl design in 1961, which improved aerodynamics and performance.

Knot

Air Facts

JULY 1, 2024

It reminded me of the ILS approaches that many Instrument-rated pilots do, ‘chasing needles’ when they fly oblivious of the “Flight by the Numbers.” He was in his forties when we flew together in his V-tail Bonanza. Upon returning for the ILS approach, I called out the power settings of 18 inches of MP and 2400 RPM.

Knot

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 24, 2024

The tail section, minus horizontal stabilizer, came from a crashed TF-104G that was found in an Ontario, California junkyard. Photo- Jim Larsen As America’s Bicentennial approached, Ed Browning, owner of the Idaho-based Red Baron Flying Service, came on board to provide Darryl with much needed financial and logistical support.

Horizontal Stabilizer

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

As we pushed back, the colors popped on the various tails parked down the row of gates, and we sat in line for takeoff with the low sun angle perfectly lighting a yellow Spirit Airbus against an ominous dark sky, save for the rainbow that arched high across the vista. As we approached the gate, my phone rang again.

Runway

Air Facts

MARCH 26, 2025

The airspeed indicator registered 55 knots, close to the Cessna 172s stall speed. But as I banked into my final approach, my heart sank. I did the worst thing possible and tried to lose altitude by steepening my approach. The aircraft had sustained little damage the tail tie-down was knocked off and no one had been hurt.

Knot

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

A 10-knot tailwind was also in our favor as the Cessna tracked around 150 knots over the ground. Two hours later, Allentown (Pennsylvania) Approach handed me off to Newark (New Jersey) Approach when I was 30 miles east of the city. Approved as requested, turn right to a heading of 110 degrees,” said Newark Approach.

Clearance