Ground Effect Lift True Airspeed 
Plane and Pilot
JULY 10, 2025
Photo: Cayla McLeod Effects We learned in the private pilot course that increasing the density altitude reduces the effectiveness of the propeller, the lift produced by the wings, and the power output of the engine. However, there is an additional effect we do not often think about. OK, more on that later.
Chess In the Air
JUNE 24, 2022
There were some patches of moderate lift and sink as would be expected on a normal summer soaring day. Shmulik flew quite fast at ground speeds between 100 and 130 kt, carrying a lot of extra energy. At the high density altitude at Rifle a ground speed of 92 kt would have been equivalent to an indicated airspeed of less than 80 kt.
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