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

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

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

Helicopters use a small rotor mounted on the tail that produces sideways thrust to counter the main rotors torque reaction. The tail rotor pushes air to one side ( action ), and the tail moves the other way ( reaction ). Other Designs The tail rotor is not the only way to solve the torque reaction problem.

Lift 52

Lift Torque Thrust Aileron 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 96

Horizontal Stabilizer Center of Gravity Tail Drag 96

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

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 78

Gross Weight Horizontal Stabilizer Airplanes Rudder 78

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

True, a slightly higher aspect ratio wing was desired, which in turn required a larger vertical tail and thus a little extra mass, but the size, approximately 20% larger than a Widgeon, was set. The Mallard—it’s a trike—has a tail stinger because it otherwise falls on its tail when loading.”

Airplanes 79

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 79

AV Web

APRIL 15, 2025

It had cut into the tail rotor gearbox, tearing it off the helicopter. 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.

Pilot 52

Pilot Airplanes Runway Descent 52