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.

Center of Gravity 98

Center of Gravity Weight-Shift-Control Aileron Rudder 98

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

Additional Dangers of Ice Accumulation Icing also makes your aircraft heavier and can even change the position of the center of gravity. It most commonly forms on the leading edges of your aircraft, including the wings, tail, and horizontal stabilizer, as well as on the propeller blades and pitot tubes.

Pitot Tube 52

Pitot Tube Drag Lift Airfoil 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

What Is Aircraft Stability? Stability is the aircrafts tendency to maintain its attitude or orientation. This means that they have to be effective enough to counter the aircrafts inherent lateral stability. Lateral stability depends on the aircrafts design. This shifts the ailerons Center of Gravity (C.G.)

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

Pilot Institute

JUNE 2, 2025

Well discuss how phugoid motion relates to your aircrafts stability, what you can do to counter it, and even look at what it can do to an aircraft in severe cases. Phugoid Motion and Aircraft Stability Phugoid motion is closely related to an aircraft property called longitudinal stability. What can make an aircraft do that?

Stability 52

Stability Tail Pilot Descent 52

Vintage Aviation News

DECEMBER 14, 2024

It was certainly a most unusual aircraft, distinguished by its forward swept wing and canard horizontal stabilizers. One of the biggest challenges for the X-29 was the unusual center of gravity, which was affected by the rear-mounting of the forward-swept wings and made the X-29 inherently unstable.

Horizontal Stabilizer 94

Horizontal Stabilizer Center of Gravity Tail Drag 94

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

How an aircraft handles Dutch roll depends on its dynamic stability. The aircraft’s design influences its dynamic stability. To understand the aircraft’s response to a disturbance, you need to understand aerodynamic stability. There are two main types of stability: Static and Dynamic stability.

Stability 52

Stability Center of Gravity Aileron Rudder 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

The aircraft pivots about its center of gravity. This law helps understand what lifts wings, propels rockets, stabilizes helicopters, steers jets, and even helps bring the aircraft to a stop. The elevator raises if you pull back on the stick or yoke. This causes the tail to force air upward ( action ) instead of straight back.

Lift 52

Lift Torque Thrust Aileron 52

Flying Magazine

MAY 6, 2025

As Aviat worked to increase the useful load of the Husky, it also extended the center of gravity (CG) range. There are handles on the lower aft fuselage for maneuvering the airplane on the ground, but more importantly, there are also handles where they are really needed, on the front of the horizontal stabilizer.

Gross Weight 82

Gross Weight Horizontal Stabilizer Airplanes Rudder 82

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

From the pilot’s seat it cruises near effortlessly and handles nimbly on land or water with a great combination of stability and modest control pressures. Just recognizable in the background is a horizontal stabilizer and one-piece elevator. I think I’d have figured out the trick in another couple hours.

Airplanes 79

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 79

AV Web

APRIL 15, 2025

After takeoff, the airplane impacted the ground about 600 yards from the end of the runway… Although estimated takeoff weight was below maximum, the airplane was loaded with an aft CG (hint), which would have reduced the longitudinal stability during the climb out. Post-almost-flight investigation proved embarrassing.

Pilot 52

Pilot Airplanes Runway Descent 52