Pilot Institute

JUNE 4, 2025

The Weather Vane It mostly comes from the vertical stabilizer (fin) and the sides of the fuselage behind the center of gravity. The reflexed shape of the airfoil usually causes a positive (nose-up) pitching moment coefficient at its aerodynamic center. This also means resisting unwanted side-to-side nose movements.

Tail

Flying Magazine

JULY 22, 2025

Full-fuel payload is a whopping 1,150 pounds, and max landing weight is 7,600. Over the years we’ve flown a lot of aircraft with “aft-tending” centers of gravity—if you filled the seats, you were outside the aft CG limit, and the rear seats in six-place airplanes were unusable.

Rudder

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

Newton’s Third Law helps pilots and engineers improve flight safety and aircraft performance. If we understand it well enough, we can harness this phenomenon to help us even defy gravity. Developments in aircraft design and engine technology have allowed us to fly farther, faster, and carry more payload.

Torque

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

Key Takeaways Dispatchers are often called pilots on the ground. Dispatchers are often considered “pilots on the ground” and play an important part in airlines. In smaller operations, the pilots plan the entire flight. In an airline environment, pilots have many responsibilities. What Does a Dispatcher Do?

Weather

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

When spelled geoduck it represents a grotesque, oversized mollusk, or clam to we pilot simpletons. Much depends on the aircraft’s weight, pilot skill and, surprisingly, “how much abuse you want to experience. Checking the oil is the main attraction to the pilot. The airplane will handle more than you want to.”

Airplanes