Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 12, 2025

Whether you’re aiming for a private pilot license or seeking advanced certifications, Leopard Aviation provides personalized training programs to fit your schedule and goals. Understanding the Basics of Flight Aerodynamics 101 Flying a small plane revolves around understanding four key forces: lift, thrust, drag, and weight.

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Weather Pilot Drag Rudder 52

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 31, 2025

where snow falls, pilots frequently have to decide whether or not to go flying, after accumulation stops and the skies clear. Most new-to-winter pilots are concerned about trying to stop after landing, but over the years Ive seen more challenges during takeoff than in the landing roll-out. In parts of the U.S.

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Runway Airplanes Crosswind Drag 87

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 5, 2025

One of the most reliable aircraft for training is the Piper Seminole, a twin-engine plane that offers hands-on experience for future pilots. Section 1: Getting to Know the Piper Seminole The Piper Seminole is a versatile twin-engine aircraft frequently used for flight training, particularly for pilots advancing to multi-engine ratings.

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Descent Final Approach Approach Runway 52

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 27, 2024

Back in the early days of jet airliners, pilots long experienced in more forgiving two- and four-engine, piston-powered prop planes found themselves running out of airspeed, altitude, and ideas on the final approach to landing. Some pilots soar like eagles to a smooth touchdown, and others settle to the runway like wounded turkeys.

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Stability Approach Runway Pilot 89

Flying Magazine

APRIL 26, 2024

The small aileron “tabs” were not doing a great job in crosswind ability. I imagine this is how a real CRJ pilot must feel. I imagine MD80-style pilots are used to the same sensation. As is often the case with swept-wing jets, sometimes extra drag is required beyond gear and flaps. Taking off in violent winds was a task.

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Crosswind Weather Knot Aileron 105

Northstar VFR

JULY 21, 2024

It’s a rite of passage for pilots-in-training to hear these words come from their flight instructor repeatedly. The pilot can control the yawing of the plane by inputs on the rudder pedals. Some new student pilots think the rudder and vertical stabilizer are the same thing. The pilot controls the throttle to create thrust.

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Rudder Airplanes Pilot Stability 52

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 2, 2024

Pilots and flight schools favor this aircraft for its ease of use and dependable performance. First introduced in 2005, this all-glass cockpit revolutionized the flying experience for pilots by providing a comprehensive and intuitive interface. This article explores the Cessna Skyhawk C172’s features, evolution, and lasting appeal.

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Knot Cockpit Pilot Gross Weight 98

Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

Even the best of pilots can mess up sometimes. But for new pilots, it can be tough to figure out where it all went wrong. A stabilized approach requires the pilot to establish and maintain a constant angle glidepath towards an aiming point. You can find them in the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) or the owner’s manual.

Descent 52

Descent Weight-Shift-Control Crosswind Runway 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Have you ever wondered how pilots keep control at high speeds, during stalls, or even when systems fail? The pilot is able to control the aircrafts roll by turning the control yoke or sidestick in the cockpit. The hydraulic system works similarly to a cars power steering and greatly reduces the effort needed by the pilots.

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Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

Pilot Institute

MAY 9, 2024

Despite the easygoing name, many pilots find lazy eights harder than they thought. There’s a reason why it’s been a commercial pilot practical test staple for decades. If you’re about to begin your commercial pilot journey, you’ve come to the right place! This drag imbalance amplifies the adverse yaw.

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Rudder Lift Aileron Drag 52

Pilot's Life Blog

MAY 6, 2025

But knowing their range matters, especially if you’re a student pilot or weekend flyer. Weight and Loading More weight means more drag. More drag means more fuel burn. Pilots have to do weight and balance calculations before every flight. Crosswinds force you off course. Things always change.

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Weather Drag Flight Plan Pilot 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Short field landings are a true test of a pilot’s skill. They are also one of the most feared maneuvers during the private pilot checkride. Whether you’re new to short field landings or a pilot needing a refresher, this essential guide is for you. Will you need a crosswind correction? Full flaps, 1.3

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Weight-Shift-Control Runway Density Altitude Descent 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Modern AOA indicators help pilots maintain safe flight attitudes and prevent stalls. Managing the angle of attack matters because it directly influences lift generation and drag in all phases of flight. Proper angle of attack management also maintains safety during slow flight, crosswind landings, and when encountering wake turbulence.

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Lift Turbulence Drag Pilot 52

Pilot Institute

MARCH 26, 2024

A soft field landing is a technique pilots use when landing on unpaved surfaces. Why Do Pilots Perform Soft Field Landings? However, the increased drag might make it impossible to take off again. Crowd Source Information The next best resource for information about runway conditions is other pilots.

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NOTAMs Runway Approach Descent 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

Newton’s Third Law helps pilots and engineers improve flight safety and aircraft performance. If the pilot increases the wings angle of attack too much, the airflow can separate from the wings surface, causing a stall – an abrupt loss of lift. What does Newtons Third law tell pilots about thrust?

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Lift Torque Thrust Aileron 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 5, 2024

Landing an airplane is not easy, even for experienced pilots. In this article, we’ll cover all you need to know to confidently master crosswind landings. Key Takeaways Manage crosswind landing challenges using the crab and sideslip techniques. Plan for crosswind conditions with step-by-step procedures.

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Crosswind Longitudinal Axis Aileron Rudder 52

AV Web

JANUARY 22, 2025

Most accounts point outcorrectlyhow decisions about spacing and glide path management, and even whether it was wise to hold the pick-up game contest in winds that caused cancellation of a larger, planned STOL Drag event, may have contributed to this crash. The private pilot was fatally injured. Those lessons are all valid.

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Final Approach Airplanes Drag Crosswind 52

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Pilots operating to and from the airport are warned to avoid the Perry Memorial by at least 1,000 feet. I was intrigued by what appeared to be a grass crosswind runway at North Bass Island, but no such runway is listed in official publications. Moments later, the pilot emerged and helped four women disembark. I shrugged.

Runway 89

Runway Approach Knot Drag 89

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

Large aircraft use yaw dampers while small aircraft rely on piloting techniques to counter Dutch roll. Increased lift on the raised wing immediately creates more induced drag. What’s induced drag? The higher drag on the raised wing reduces its speed relative to the lower wing. Dutch rolls are usually not dangerous.

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Stability Center of Gravity Aileron Rudder 52

Pilot Institute

JUNE 26, 2024

Go-arounds are among the easiest tasks a pilot can perform. Pilots avoid go-arounds because it is seen as an admission of guilt. Pilots perform the maneuver when a landing is unsafe or can result in an incident. Pilots perform the maneuver when a landing is unsafe or can result in an incident. What Is a Go-Around?

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Wind Shear Runway Aeronautical Decision-Making Approach 52

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 7, 2025

For pilots, memorable experiences are a combination of the where and when along with the what and the whom. Plane & Pilot associate editor Cayla McLeod is the youngster who, you might be surprised, isnt all about the latest stuff. Although todays airline pilots might scoff at the DC-3, true aviators could never.

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Airplanes Tail Pilot Jet 98

Flying Magazine

MAY 6, 2025

Adventurous aerobatic pilot Frank Christensen, owner of Christen Industries, which built the Pitts Special series and the Christen Eagle II aerobatic biplane kit, watched as biplane sales fell during the early 1980s. In 1995, businessman, backcountry, and aerobatic pilot Stu Horn bought the company and changed its name to Aviat Aircraft Inc.

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Gross Weight Horizontal Stabilizer Airplanes Rudder 78

Plane and Pilot

DECEMBER 16, 2024

While LSAs in general have been tagged for having slightly underbuilt landing gearone of the more common accident scenarios is a newly transitioned pilot not managing the slickness of this kind of airplane and wiping out the gear during a botched landingthe goal is for the F2 to be unusually robust. More lessons learned.

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Rudder Airplanes Aileron Crosswind 98

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.”

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Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 79