Flying Magazine
JULY 9, 2025
As far as solo from the aft seat, that is usually dictated by the aircraft’s center of gravity. Ask us anything you’ve ever wanted to know about aviation. Our experts in general aviation, flight training, aircraft, avionics, and more may attempt to answer in a future article.
Pilot Institute
APRIL 12, 2025
High camber generally promotes more airflow deflection, thanks to something called Bernoullis Principle. This is why the typical airfoil shape has a curved top and a flat bottom, especially in slower-speed general aviation aircraft. This generates a downward force on the tail ( reaction ). It provides yaw control.
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Pilot Institute
FEBRUARY 20, 2025
In recent times, composite materials have been introduced for flight controls even in small general aviation aircraft. Fly-by-wire is expensive, so you wont find it on most small general aviation aircraft. This shifts the ailerons Center of Gravity (C.G.) What Materials Are Used in Ailerons?
Pilot Institute
JUNE 2, 2025
Aircraft manufacturers design training and general aviation aircraft to react this way when disturbed in pitch. Weight Distribution Effects For example, moving the aircrafts Center of Gravity (CG) aft makes it less stable in pitch. This is called a damped or convergent phugoid.
Pilot Institute
MARCH 6, 2025
This is a general aviation term that also applies to drone flight. CG Center of Gravity For any given body, the CG is the average position of the weight distribution of an object. This means that, in most cases, a drone pilot flying in FPV will need a visual observer nearby.
Pilot Institute
NOVEMBER 23, 2024
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. Some aircraft can enter flat spins even if their center of gravity is in the normal range.
Pilot Institute
APRIL 22, 2025
Interestingly, the FAA started issuing BasicMed for general aviation (GA) pilots as an alternative to the third-class medical certificate in 2017. The requirement applies to private, commercial, and airline transport pilots, as well as flight engineers and navigators who fly internationally.
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