Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 5, 2025

Full flaps provide maximum lift and stability, allowing the aircraft to fly slower without stalling. Managing the critical engine, which is the engine closest to the aircrafts wingtip, is key to reducing drag and maintaining control. Proper coordination of throttle, trim, and rudder inputs are critical during this phase of flight.

Descent

Flying Magazine

JUNE 30, 2025

Ailerons are actuated by pushrods that run through the wing struts, reducing aerodynamic drag and giving the responsive ailerons a solid feel. On takeoff, the NX fuselage is already level rather than in the high-drag, nose high position. The pushrod ailerons are solid and quick, and nicely harmonized with the elevator and rudder.

Gross Weight

Northstar VFR

JULY 21, 2024

More right rudder!!” The airplane rudder is one of the most misunderstood of the primary flight controls. Yet the rudder is one of the most important and one of the most under-utilized. The rudder’s most important function is controlling the yaw of the aircraft, which moves the nose of the plane left and right.

Rudder

Flying Magazine

MAY 14, 2024

The most significant visual differences were the T-46’s high wing and the “H” tail, with twin vertical stabilizers mounted to the ends of the horizontal stabilizer that strongly resembled those of the company’s previous jet, the A-10 Thunderbolt II. As outlined in a U.S.

Horizontal Stabilizer

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 7, 2024

The unique cylindrical design of the fuselage allowed for a streamlined profile and reduced drag, increasing the overall efficiency. The duct, as predicted by Stipa, had a profile similar to that of the airfoil, with a fairly small rudder and elevators mounted on the trailing edge of the duct. The Stipa-Caproni in flight. II Editore F.

Airfoil

Aerotime

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

This is the result of the flight crew performing a full and free movement check to ensure that all flight control surfaces (ailerons, rudder, elevators) are working correctly and the aircraft is fit to fly before taking to the air.

Cabin Crew

Pilot's Life Blog

MARCH 15, 2024

Below are other critical pieces of the wings that help give the plane additional lift, reduce drag, or achieve lower speeds in preparation for landing: Ailerons: A French word meaning “fin” or “little wing,” the aileron helps control the airplane’s roll. What are the basic parts of this section?

Horizontal Stabilizer

Pilot Institute

MARCH 29, 2024

Common mistakes include neglecting clearing turns, delaying stall recovery, and misusing the rudder. Drag : The aerodynamic force opposing the aircraft’s forward motion. This increases lift but comes at the cost of increased induced drag. Pilots must counteract the additional drag with more thrust to maintain altitude.

Lift

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 2, 2024

With a maximum takeoff weight of 2,400 pounds and a maximum gross weight that ensures stability, this aircraft is robust enough to handle a variety of flying conditions. The control yoke and rudder pedals offer precise control, contributing to the ease of flying.

Knot

Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

The easiest way to achieve this is by flying a stabilized approach. So, what is a stabilized approach? A stabilized approach requires the pilot to establish and maintain a constant angle glidepath towards an aiming point. It’s tempting to increase the bank angle and add some rudder to rotate the aircraft.

Descent

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

This gives you a safe buffer on the stall speed and plenty of time to stabilize. Full flaps are generally used since they lower approach speed and increase drag. The drag allows for a steeper descent, which is particularly helpful when avoiding obstacles. These stick and rudder skills will help you with crosswind landings.

Weight-Shift-Control

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

How an aircraft handles Dutch roll depends on its dynamic stability. The aircraft’s design influences its dynamic stability. Increased lift on the raised wing immediately creates more induced drag. What’s induced drag? The higher drag on the raised wing reduces its speed relative to the lower wing.

Stability

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 12, 2024

The turbulent air hits the horizontal stabilizer, which causes a vibration that can be felt throughout the aircraft. This requires rudder input to maintain directional control. While takeoff flaps improve performance, they also add unwanted drag. As the aircraft stabilizes at level attitude, reduce flaps to 10 degrees.

Stability

Flying Magazine

MAY 6, 2025

Now, release the brakes and feel yourself pressed into the seat as you discover less right rudder is needed than you expect. The Garmin glass lived up to its reputation for being easy to program, and the autopilot did as it was programmed, even in turbulence, with appropriate rudder input. Can an airplane feel excitement?

Gross Weight

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 5, 2025

Yet even then, the Imperial Japanese Army realized that as the war dragged on, a new fighter would be needed. US Army Air Force photo) When the Americans discovered s/n 1446, the aircraft had a red lightning bolt with white borders painted on its rudder and vertical stabilizer.

Pilot

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

Winging It Aside from the aforementioned desire for a greater aspect ratio for reduced drag, the one-piece Gweduck wing was developed for minimal weight, ease of construction and benign handling. Keeping drag corralled was emphasized as the Gweduck mission is foremost long-distance cruising. Maintenance room is generally very good.

Airplanes

Plane and Pilot

DECEMBER 16, 2024

The previous CTs had a stabilator for pitch, where the new F2 uses a more conventional elevator and fixed horizontal stabilizer. With the F2, the rudder and vertical stabilizer are changed, with the rudder becoming a much smaller surface than before. Out back, theres an entirely new tail. Well see about that.

Rudder