Descent Ground Effect Rudder 
Plane and Pilot
JULY 1, 2025
A witness reported that they saw the airplane lift off from the runway and remain in ground effect until it crossed the departure end of the runway. The pilot applied right rudder in an attempt to correct this, resulting in a ground loop. The airplane then turned west back toward the airport and continued a slow descent.
Flight Training Central
DECEMBER 4, 2023
The major difference between the two is that a degree of power is used throughout the level-off and touchdown for the soft-field landing so as to control the descent rate all the way to touch down. This allows the airspeed to slowly dissipate while the airplane is flown just above the surface in ground effect.
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Pilot Institute
MARCH 29, 2024
Common mistakes include neglecting clearing turns, delaying stall recovery, and misusing the rudder. As you increase the throttle, anticipate the need to add more right rudder. Keep an eye on the turn coordinator and nudge the rudder in the direction it indicates. Use the rudder to stay coordinated. What Is Slow Flight?
Air Facts
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
An incomplete summary description of FASF is whether the airplane made it out of ground effect. This descent used the same technique that (would have) had value in many of the NTSB accidents involving engine failure after takeoff. Optimum” glide was not the issue here, and a visual AOA indicator would have had no value.
Chess In the Air
JUNE 24, 2022
Under normal circumstances Shmulik would have had sufficient altitude to delay the landing by several minutes: his glider’s minimum descent rate in still air was just 100 fpm. Even a more typical descent rate of 200 fpm would have allowed Shmulik to hold for about 5-7 minutes before he would have had to proceed with the landing.
Plane and Pilot
OCTOBER 3, 2024
An elegantly simple rope system inside the fuselage raises and lowers the Gweduck’s water rudder mounted inside the base of the main rudder (right). The only unconventional thing I noticed (as did the folks in back) was the rudder has a dead spot mid-travel. Overall, the controls were wonderful. The plane will fly itself off.
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