Plane and Pilot

APRIL 1, 2025

I turned crosswind and attempted to shallow the climb. I felt I was strapped into a runaway jet. This time, I pulled out some power as I transitioned to the crosswind leg. I resisted pulling power back, knowing I needed to get to a safer altitude. I turned downwind, continuing to gain altitude. I was 200 feet too high.

Runway

Plane and Pilot

MAY 3, 2025

The rich can dream of jets and warbirds. You can see other Weick influences, such as the oil-damped tricycle landing gearall produced Cherokees are trikeswith a wide track to make crosswind landings more manageable. There were only five stall-related accidents, most on high density altitude takeoffs at or near gross weight.

Approach

AV Web

JULY 1, 2025

Before anything else, these are single-engine, unpressurized two-seat lightweights with a max gross weight of 1320 pounds. Check that against the max gross of a Piper Malibu at roughly 4300 pounds, or a Beech A36 Bonanza at around 3650 pounds or a Cessna 150 at 1600 pounds gross. Same for gliders.

Gross Weight

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

Combining the Gweduck’s advanced hull with its counter-rotating propellers means differential power allows crosswind water taxiing impossible in floatplanes along with higher hull-in-water taxiing speeds. “We But I have maintained 5000 feet at 6000 pounds gross weight,” notes Ross. A not so obvious advantage is taxiing.

Airplanes