Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 12, 2025

Understanding the Basics of Flight Aerodynamics 101 Flying a small plane revolves around understanding four key forces: lift, thrust, drag, and weight. Thrust, produced by the engine, propels the plane forward, overcoming drag, which is the resistance caused by air. These forces must work in harmony to maintain flight stability.

Weather 52

Weather Pilot Drag Rudder 52

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 31, 2025

Brake-dependent high performance aircraft obviously need dry runway to meet their normal landing distance numbers, while light airplanes slow down reasonably well with the added drag of snow accumulation. I have made experimental touch-and-goes on an unbroken runway, but that technique carries some risk.

Runway 87

Runway Airplanes Crosswind Drag 87

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 5, 2025

Learning how to land a Piper Seminole means becoming comfortable with these avionics, which help guide the aircraft through the landing procedure, ensuring optimal approach speeds and alignment with the runway. Once the flaps are set and landing gear is confirmed, begin your final descent to the runway.

Descent 52

Descent Final Approach Approach Runway 52

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 27, 2024

Well, for sure the training of pilots in swept-wing jets has improved dramatically, and the aircraft, runway environment, and approach aids have all made significant leaps forward. Some pilots soar like eagles to a smooth touchdown, and others settle to the runway like wounded turkeys. So, what happened? No pressure.

Stability 89

Stability Approach Runway Pilot 89

Flying Magazine

APRIL 26, 2024

The small aileron “tabs” were not doing a great job in crosswind ability. On the downwind to the westerly runway at LOWI, I experienced a lot of up and down drafts, shear, varying winds, and sloppy controls. As is often the case with swept-wing jets, sometimes extra drag is required beyond gear and flaps. This was in XP12.

Crosswind 105

Crosswind Weather Knot Aileron 105

Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

You can only begin improving the touchdown if you’ve mastered positioning your aircraft above the runway threshold correctly. For example, if you fly a high-wing aircraft such as a Cessna 172, you can use the point where the runway cuts the wing strut as a reference. See if the runway appears to move relative to the windshield.

Descent 52

Descent Weight-Shift-Control Crosswind Runway 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Not only must you fly unnervingly slow, but you also have to pick a spot on the runway and hit it. It’s a runway that is too short for a normal takeoff or landing but still usable with certain precautions. This allows them to safely operate into and out of these tight runways. You’re not alone.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Density Altitude Descent 52

Northstar VFR

JULY 21, 2024

TAKEOFF We’ve been cleared for takeoff, and now you’re lined up on the centerline of the runway. Correct rudder use here is evident, because if you don’t apply right rudder you’ll see how quickly your plane wants to travel left and off the runway. As you approach to land, your eyes look down the centerline to the end of the runway.

Rudder 52

Rudder Airplanes Pilot Stability 52

Pilot Institute

MARCH 26, 2024

Unlike paved runways, every soft landing surface is different. However, the increased drag might make it impossible to take off again. Obstructions: Ensure the runway is clear of obstacles, from stones to animals. You can walk down the length of the runway. If the runway is too wet, it might be temporarily closed.

NOTAMs 52

NOTAMs Runway Approach Descent 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

The reaction in the form of increased thrust allows the aircraft to overcome drag and accelerate or climb. Whenever aircraft encounter crosswinds, the most noticeable impact is felt in yaw. Thats because the tail has a large vertical surface that catches a lot of crosswind. The blades bite more air and throw more of it backward.

Lift 52

Lift Torque Thrust Aileron 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 5, 2024

When the wind is blowing across the runway instead of along it, things get more challenging. 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. A runway excursion can quickly follow.

Crosswind 52

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. Mayday STOL Drag Races, a slow-flight competition. Those lessons are all valid.

Final Approach 52

Final Approach Airplanes Drag Crosswind 52

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Closer to South Bass Island, the Put-In-Bay Airport (runways 3-21) appeared along the southeastern shore. However, the memorial is at least a mile from the end of the runway and once I could visualize the geometry of its placement, it was obvious that a normal pattern could be flown between the column and the airport without conflict.

Runway 89

Runway Approach Knot Drag 89

Pilot Institute

JUNE 26, 2024

These include a runway collision, porpoising, bouncing, or possible overrun. ATC can also ask for a go-around if the landing runway is unsafe or for spacing reasons. An approach is stabilized when: The aircraft is on the correct flight path, i.e., on runway centerline and glideslope. Airspeed is not less than 1.3Vso +10/-0.

Wind Shear 52

Wind Shear Runway Aeronautical Decision-Making Approach 52

Flight Training Central

JANUARY 15, 2024

All pre-takeoff checklist items should be completed before taxiing onto the runway for departure. All engine instruments should be checked for proper and usual indications, and all controls should be checked for free movement as you enter the departure runway. Set flaps as appropriate – ensure that flaps come down equally.

Density Altitude 52

Density Altitude Indicated Airspeed Lift Runway 52

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 7, 2025

Once youre used to those key differences, flying and landing a Stearman (without much crosswind, wink wink) is just as enjoyable, if not more, than a Cub. Imagine rolling down the runway, feeling like youre in a rocket ship, only to feel a metaphorical afterburner kick in that catapults you towards the sky.

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Tail Pilot Jet 98

Flying Magazine

MAY 6, 2025

Thats a big deal because a Husky weak spot had been its landing gear geometry, which resulted in the highest rate of flipping over during runway loss of control landing accidents among its tailwheel peers according to research done by FLYING sister publication The Aviation Consumer.

Gross Weight 78

Gross Weight Horizontal Stabilizer Airplanes Rudder 78

Plane and Pilot

DECEMBER 16, 2024

You might ask what happens with crosswind landings when you take away rudder authority. Flight Design rates the F2 with the same 16-knot demonstrated crosswind component as the previous CTs. Our flight was absent any crosswind, so its hard to know how the rudder/nosewheel gearing would work under those conditions.

Rudder 98

Rudder Airplanes Aileron Crosswind 98