Air Facts

JUNE 6, 2025

With a couple of strong backs pushing down on the tail, we raised the nose and found the culprit: the nose wheel had jammed in the wheel well due to a broken torque link bolt. A crosswind would have made things far more difficult. After a few phone calls—including one to Transport Canada—we were cleared to inspect the aircraft.

Runway 52

Runway Torque Groundspeed Tail 52

Flight Training Central

JANUARY 27, 2025

From misjudging the flare to battling crosswinds, these mistakes can challenge pilots of all experience levels. Remember that torque will be created as power is applied; therefore, it will be necessary to use rudder pressure to keep the airplane straight as it settles onto the runway.

Airplanes 89

Airplanes Runway Accelerated Stall Lift 89

Northstar VFR

JULY 21, 2024

These are called left turning tendencies and include P-factor, spiraling slipstream, torque, and gyroscopic precession. This is especially vital during crosswind landings. To counteract this, the pilot presses on the right rudder pedal to control the yaw of the nose back to the right until the longitudinal direction is straight again.

Rudder 52

Rudder Airplanes Pilot Stability 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

The rotational force thats needed to move an object about an axis is called torque. The simplest formula for torque is: Torque = F x L L is the distance between the object and the axis of rotation, also called the moment arm. Next, the aircraft designer needs to figure out where to place the aileron along the wingspan.

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

The complication with helicopters is that the main rotor is driven by an engine that applies a twisting force (torque) to spin it. This is called torque reaction, and if its left unchecked, the helicopter fuselage will spin in the opposite direction of the main rotor. These rotors create equal and opposite torques that cancel out.

Lift 52

Lift Torque Thrust Aileron 52

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 Another advantage of the counter-rotating props is the elimination of torque roll. A not so obvious advantage is taxiing.

Airplanes 79

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 79