Drag Final Approach Rudder 
Pilot's Life Blog
JANUARY 5, 2025
Approach speeds typically range from 80 to 90 knots depending on weight and flap settings, while full flaps are often used to provide the necessary lift during landing. The aircrafts landing gear is retractable, which must be extended during the final approach. The final approach is a delicate balance of power, pitch, and speed.
Pilot's Life Blog
JUNE 18, 2025
A power-off 180 is a critical maneuver that simulates an engine failure on final approach, requiring pilots to glide the aircraft and execute a precise 180-degree turn to a safe landing spot. Use ailerons and rudder together to maintain coordinated flight. Deploying flaps prematurely increases drag and shortens glide distance.
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Pilot Institute
NOVEMBER 2, 2024
When the aircraft is in a high-drag configuration, a stall at a low altitude can be quite dangerous. On final approach, it can be the difference between recovering and crashing. Maintain Control and Increase Airspeed It’s important that you add right rudder to neutralize the aircraft’s left-turning tendencies.
Pilot Institute
MAY 8, 2025
You’re on your final approach and suddenly realize your landing gear isnt down. During certain phases of flight, you may retract the landing gear to reduce drag and improve climb performance. Later, as you approach your destination, you’ll need to extend the gear again for landing. But how does this happen?
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. Yet all indications are he succumbed to a simple stall on final approach.
Plane and Pilot
JULY 1, 2025
The pilot applied right rudder in an attempt to correct this, resulting in a ground loop. The student turned early onto the base leg of the airport traffic pattern, then turned onto final approach, resulting in the airplane being high and fast. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.
Pilot Institute
JULY 12, 2024
It’s tempting to increase the bank angle and add some rudder to rotate the aircraft. How to Improve the Final Approach After lining up with the extended centerline, assess if the aircraft is above or below the glidepath. Use the rudder pedals to maintain centerline. Anticipate the wind and stay sharp on the rudder.
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