Northstar VFR

JUNE 8, 2025

Loss of control in flight (LOC-I) is one of the leading causes of general aviation accidents. Recovering from a Nose-High Unusual Attitude: Simultaneously apply full power, level the wings with correct aileron/rudder pressure, and push forward on the controls to allow the airspeed to increase.

Turbulence 52

Turbulence Wind Shear Aileron Rudder 52

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 21, 2024

Stalls are feared in general aviation for being a significant factor in a large proportion of accidents. After a thorough ground briefing, on the first power-on stall flight with a student, after clearing the air, I would have the learner do a stall with too much right rudder, enough that the ball was out one width.

Rudder 88

Rudder Airplanes Aileron Pilot 88

Inspire

AUGUST 22, 2024

Rossier, EAA 472091 This piece originally ran in Robert’s Stick and Rudder column in the July 2024 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine. By Robert N.

Rudder 71

Rudder Hangar Pilot Weather 71

Pilot Institute

JANUARY 27, 2025

The aircraft is in coordinated flight when the rudder input prevents the aircraft from slipping or skidding in a turn (similar to a car) or when its tailplane is aligned with its flight path during straight flight. For example, when the ball is displaced to the left, this informs the pilot that left rudder input is required.

Pitot Tube 52

Pitot Tube Altimeter Instrument Flight Rules Descent 52

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

What NTSB Reports Say About Impossible Turns and Angle of Attack—Part 2: Analysis, Questions Raised, and Next Steps The current emphasis in general aviation (GA) safety is on visual angle of attack (AOA) indicators and impossible turns (return to the airport following engine failure). for several general aviation airplanes.

Gross Weight 98

Gross Weight Runway Airplanes Pilot 98

Jetwhine

DECEMBER 25, 2023

Beholding the Champ’s etched outlines recalled some of my most cherished flight time and the teachers, Paul King and John Coplantz, who really taught me how to fly in December 1996, two decades after passing my private pilot practical test at Eagle Aviation in Long Beach, California. So, this was adverse yaw.

Rudder 52

Rudder Airplanes Tail Pilot in Command 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Adverse yaw is a side effect of aileron use, countered by rudder input. In recent times, composite materials have been introduced for flight controls even in small general aviation aircraft. Fly-by-wire is expensive, so you wont find it on most small general aviation aircraft. This is where the rudder comes in.

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 3, 2024

So back here in general aviation land, let’s take a look at where we might encounter unexpected stall conditions. Second, excessive bank and bottom rudder are not your friends. Slowing, increasing the bank angle, and adding bottom rudder to tighten the turn can all be hazardous to your health.

Airplanes 83

Airplanes Horizontal Stabilizer Approach Pilot 83

Flying Magazine

MAY 14, 2024

Is there anything more iconic in general aviation than a little yellow Piper J-3 Cub? Jim Stevenson] Vintage: Piper J-3 Cub Is there anything more iconic in general aviation than a little yellow Piper J-3 Cub? Free transition training with the experts is hard to come by and extraordinarily valuable, so don’t miss out.

Knot 105

Knot Pilot Cockpit Flight Deck 105

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 2, 2024

However, the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994 paved the way for its return, and production resumed in 1996. This legislation helped rejuvenate the general aviation market, and the Cessna 172 once again became a staple in flight schools and private ownership.

Knot 98

Knot Cockpit Pilot Gross Weight 98

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

The 172 has a steerable nosewheel, much heavier than the rudders on my RV-9A with a castering nosewheel. Having researched the topic professionally, the real question for general aviation is not whether the approach should be stable, but how long the approach should be stable?

Pitot Tube 85

Pitot Tube Approach Aileron Instrument Landing System 85

Air Facts

APRIL 10, 2024

Other logbook entries weave a story of the experiences only general aviation can bring. Other logbook entries weave a story of the experiences only general aviation can bring: Renting an old Luscombe to save money only to find out she was there to teach me how to be gentle on the stick. First loop in the Citabria.

General Aviation 52

General Aviation VOR Pilot Hangar 52

Air Facts

JANUARY 29, 2025

Without any squadron aircraft available yet, the challenge was revised to renting an aircraft at the local general aviation airporta Piper Cub! And there it was, a bracket with both hydraulic lines from the rudder pedals only about 1 apart and 8 of flexible line to the brakes.

Runway 52

Runway Airplanes Pilot Pilot in Command 52

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 16, 2024

Brief that you will use the right rudder to align the aircraft straight with the runway and the left aileron to counteract drift. In most general aviation aircraft, we tend to initiate the flare at 10 feet. Make sure to brief which way the aircraft will yaw, and which rudder you will use to counteract it. Good question.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Descent Approach Final Approach 52

iPad Pilot News

MAY 29, 2024

The Bravo throttle quadrant features a programmable annunciator panel, gear and flap levers, a backlit autopilot, and configurable throttle setup that can be interchanged between general aviation and commercial aviation setups. Redbird Simulations hardware is commonly used for FAA-approved Aviation Training devices.

Rudder 52

Rudder Approach Firewall Pilot 52

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

It’s as close to “evasive action” as you can get while flying a general aviation aircraft. Proper rudder use is required to counter adverse yaw to maintain coordinated flight. Apply the necessary rudder to maintain coordinated flight. Steep turns should be one of the most fun maneuvers pilots learn.

Lift 52

Lift Aileron Drag Pilot 52

iPad Pilot News

MARCH 27, 2025

FlightAware Flight Tracker This app allows you to track real-time flight status and tracking map of any commercial flight worldwide, and can also track general aviation flights in the US and Canada. Improve your stick and rudder skills as a private pilot go beyond the instrument checkride with these advanced courses.

Weather 91

Weather Pilot Flight Plan Airplanes 91

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 23, 2024

PARE: Power idle, Ailerons neutral, Rudder opposite, Elevator forward. Rudder: Full opposite input to the spin direction. R – Rudder The third step in the spin recovery procedure is to apply the opposite rudder to the direction of the turn. Once the spinning stops, make sure that you bring the rudder back to neutral.

Center of Gravity 98

Center of Gravity Weight-Shift-Control Aileron Rudder 98

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

High camber generally promotes more airflow deflection, thanks to something called Bernoullis Principle. This is why the typical airfoil shape has a curved top and a flat bottom, especially in slower-speed general aviation aircraft. This generates a downward force on the tail ( reaction ). It provides yaw control.

Lift 52

Lift Torque Thrust Aileron 52

Pilot Institute

JANUARY 8, 2025

Critical Angle of Attack As the AOA increases, the wing generates more lift, but only up to a specific point known as the critical angle of attack, typically around 15-20 degrees for general aviation aircraft (though this can vary depending on the wing design). Level the wings : Use coordinated rudder and aileron inputs.

Lift 98

Lift Accelerated Stall Pilot AGL 98

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

Pilots are taught to pitch for VMC, “the airspeed below which the rudder no longer has the authority to overcome the yaw caused by the critical engine being inoperative,” under specific criteria mandated by the FAA. When flying alone, general aviation pilots should follow the same rules.

Knot 92

Knot Pilot Airplanes Lift 92

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

The current emphasis in general aviation (GA) safety is on visual angle of attack (AOA) indicators and impossible turns (return to the airport following engine failure). The current emphasis in general aviation (GA) safety is on visual angle of attack (AOA) indicators.

General Aviation 98

General Aviation Pilot Approach Airplanes 98

Plane and Pilot

MAY 28, 2025

The next item on the list was a thorough walkaround to ensure the floats, water rudders, and cables were all in operational order. Rather than using a combination of power and rudder to steer the aircraft on the ground, I was more so relying on power and heel brakes to get to where I was going. Ah, a Cub after all, I thought.

Rudder 94

Rudder Airplanes Pilot Gross Weight 94

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

Alongside a nearby highway, some recognizable bits of airplane, the vertical stabilizer and rudder, a horizontal stabilizer and elevator, fell separately to Earth. The breakup started with rudder flutter. The pilot died instantly. This sequence of events was confirmed by further review of security camera footage.

True Airspeed 93

True Airspeed Indicated Airspeed Horizontal Stabilizer Aileron 93

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

Alongside a nearby highway, some recognizable bits of airplane, the vertical stabilizer and rudder, a horizontal stabilizer and elevator, fell separately to Earth. The breakup started with rudder flutter. The pilot died instantly. This sequence of events was confirmed by further review of security camera footage.

True Airspeed 92

True Airspeed Indicated Airspeed Horizontal Stabilizer Aileron 92

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

With the introduction of the Cirrus SR22T in 2010, general aviation had a truly modern, high-flying, personal airplane that could fly at over 200 mph and make reliable long-distance travel a reality for the single-engine piston set. The ailerons, elevators, and rudder featured fabric covering stretched over lightweight aluminum frames.

Rudder 86

Rudder Stability Airplanes Aileron 86

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 4, 2025

At that time, Citabrias and Decathlons were selling like hotcakes, and tailwheel aircraft were making a big resurgence in the general aviation market. Theres always a rudder dance on every takeoff and landing. I never really considered flying a general aviation aircraft in military markings, Nelson said.

Airplanes 85

Airplanes Pilot Airfoil General Aviation 85

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

Pilots are taught to pitch for VMC, “the airspeed below which the rudder no longer has the authority to overcome the yaw caused by the critical engine being inoperative,” under specific criteria mandated by the FAA. When flying alone, general aviation pilots should follow the same rules.

Knot 94

Knot Pilot Airplanes Lift 94

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

Most commercial and general aviation aircraft are designed to be dynamically stable. The Dutch roll generally only lasts for a few oscillations and dies out fairly quickly. To correct a Dutch roll, pilots should apply opposite rudder to the yaw direction to help dampen the motion. Is Dutch Roll Dangerous?

Stability 52

Stability Center of Gravity Aileron Rudder 52

Professional Pilot

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

“Twenty years ago, Garmin redefined the general aviation cockpit with the G1000, our first integrated flight deck. Additional safety tools such as Smart Glide , Smart Rudder Bias, Electronic Stability Protection (ESP ), Emergency Descent Mode (EDM) and Garmin Autothrottle further ensure confidence in every flight.

Flight Deck 52

Flight Deck Cockpit Runway Stability 52

Pilot Institute

JANUARY 15, 2025

In most General Aviation (GA) aircraft, VR is usually the same regardless of conditions. That being said, repeated full deflection of any flight controls (such as full right rudder and then full left rudder, for example) is not recommended, even below VA. You should not use full deflection of any flight control above VA.

V Speed 98

V Speed Runway Knot Pilot 98

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 26, 2024

He was heavily involved in general aviation, so the aviation bug is genetic for me. The chipped paint of a control console, the rudder pedals worn smooth through twenty years of turns, the control stick grips from which the little knurl diamonds have been rubbed away: these are the marks of a man upon his airplane.

Airplanes 105

Airplanes Aileron Tail Hangar 105

Pilot Institute

AUGUST 2, 2024

One of the leading causes of fatal general aviation accidents is the loss of aircraft control. Use rudder to check balance. Imagine you’re stuck in a spiral dive, hurtling toward the ground. Completely disoriented and unsure of which way is up. How did you find yourself in this dire situation? Then, restore cruise power.

Altimeter 52

Altimeter Descent Turbulence Lift 52

Fear of Landing

OCTOBER 18, 2024

Catalina Airport is open to general aviation from 08:00 to 17:00. My feet danced on the rudder pedals as I fought to keep the plane going straight down the runway. Needless to say, we lost. The airport does not offer night operations and there is no lighting. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be.

Runway 52

Runway Altimeter Pilot Lift 52

Photographic Logbook

JANUARY 25, 2025

The entire morning was a parade of general aviation airplanes swooping low (some lower than others) over the parking area before touching down on the ice. I countered with aggressive right rudder and barely succeeded in keeping the plane on the runway. I Love a Parade Back at the airport, I did what I always do at fly-ins.

Runway 75

Runway Threshold Airplanes Approach 75

Photographic Logbook

AUGUST 11, 2023

Finally, I called Hawthorne Aviation at the Cobb County Airport in Kennesaw, GA, a towered general aviation airport on the northwest quadrant of metropolitan Atlanta. As the asphalt expanded to fill my peripheral vision, I kicked the rudder, leveled the wings, and pitched the nose toward the horizon.

Descent 52

Descent Approach Airplanes Runway 52

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. So what would I fix?

Airplanes 79

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 79