Photographic Logbook

JUNE 1, 2025

At the time, anticipation ran high for the Very Light Jet (VLJ) market segment, personal jets that could be used by private owners or for air taxi operations. The Vision went on to become the first certified single engine civilian jet and that achievement earned it the 2018 Collier Trophy.

Airplanes

Air Facts

JULY 15, 2024

Though wind is reported using such simple numbers like 270@15G20, I’ve come to believe that 20 knots here is not always the same as 20 knots there. I did a checkride in 30 knot winds in the flatlands of Kansas, almost straight down the runway. Then came the landing in 20 knots in the Hill Country of Texas, west of Austin.

Crosswind

Air Facts

MAY 24, 2024

With a little forward pressure on the yoke, I was able to keep the airplane on the runway to continue picking up airspeed as we arrived at my target of 60 knots for takeoff. As soon as we hit 60 knots indicated, I lightly pulled back on the yoke and the airplane popped right off the ground. No ceiling so no hold for us today!

Aileron

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

These were small pedals at the base of the rudder pedals that give the same differential control as toe brakes, but you push your heels in for brake application. As an airline first officer for the better part of the past 16 years, I didn’t do much with brakes on the jet. For that matter, we’re not all flying around with toe brakes.

Rudder

Flying Magazine

MAY 14, 2024

The latest version of the nonturbocharged SR22, the recently unveiled G7, boasts a top cruise speed of 181 knots, 1,169 nm range, and useful load of 1,326 pounds. The latest Skyhawk model has a top cruise speed of 124 knots, range of 640 nm, and useful load of 878 pounds. This isn’t the one for you.

Knot

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 18, 2024

. “Coming back around, I’m usually at about 60 knots. You have to use a lot of rudder—I mean you have to be rabid as far as using the rudder to control the airplane, and it wheel lands very nicely.” It’s the rudder that is doing everything. The landings are a little tricky, if you will.

Crosswind

Jetwhine

JANUARY 17, 2024

Because I want to fly jets, sir!” I’ve been flying jets for years as a corporate pilot, but not real jets to some … like fighter jets. My goal in these Gauntlet jet-training sessions? Down low, maximum speeds can easily exceed 425 knots. But good jet flying is still demanding. asks Foley.

Knot

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

The weather briefing we had reviewed a half hour earlier promised a 20-knot headwind that would require two fuel stops on the 130-mile trip from our home airport in Kennett, Missouri (KTKX), to Little Rock Air Force Base (KLRF) in Arkansas. The windsock promised that getting the little yellow bird into the air would be a white-knuckle affair.

Runway

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

These were small pedals at the base of the rudder pedals that give the same differential control as toe brakes, but you push your heels in for brake application. As an airline first officer for the better part of the past 16 years, I didn’t do much with brakes on the jet. For that matter, we’re not all flying around with toe brakes.

Rudder

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 3, 2024

One benefit of these aerodynamic tweaks is a vibration, or “initial buffet,” that is felt in the seat of the pants and flight controls, about 10-15 knots above stall speed. However, the real focus of this maneuver is avoiding situations that might place the jet anywhere near stall speed.

Horizontal Stabilizer

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

This 172 had a flap extension speed of 85 knots, and my old Cessna 172’s limit was 100 mph, or 87 knots. The 172 has a steerable nosewheel, much heavier than the rudders on my RV-9A with a castering nosewheel. The newer 172 (46 years old) did and had a 3-G limit with flaps extended.

Pitot Tube

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

READ MORE: Cirrus Adds Second Vision Jet Simulator In this scenario, the options are a 180-degree turn using only rudder to avoid overbanking—common when you lose the outside horizon reference—to get back to VFR conditions or contacting ATC to ask where the nearest VFR is. It might be no greater than 6 knots with gusts to 10 mph.

Crosswind

Flying Magazine

MAY 29, 2025

The Aerostar is the product of famed aircraft designer Ted Smith, whose name is attached to such classics as the A-20 twin-engine bomber and the Twin and Jet Commander lines. But when it all comes together, its an impressively capable go-places machine with a flying experience more like a small jet than a light piston twin.

Knot

Air Facts

OCTOBER 7, 2024

Navy primary flight training—the instructor had it coming Air Facts Journal Second Lieutenant Arnold Reiner Marine Corps recruitment brochures in the early ’60s described three pilot training pipelines: jets, transports and helicopters. With no money for flight instruction, my plan was for the military to pay for the training.

Cockpit

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

After we decided this, we heard a Challenger jet announce “Taxiing to 26 for takeoff”. It’s worth noting that Shmulik had a close call in the past: a jet pulled onto the runway in front of him with no radio call. This near miss was avoided only by the jet taking off immediately in front of him. He tried again, with no reply.

Pilot

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 7, 2025

She flew like a big, lumbering Cub of sorts, complete with a wooden rudder bar, tall wooden stick, and instruments that seemed like they were straight out of World War One. Cruising around 200 knots, the Rocket is a fantastic cross-country machine or around-the-patch sunset flier. Well, like a lot of the early jets, its fast.

Airplanes

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

We routinely taxi at 1200 rpm due to the low spray…[we] can cruise at 10 knots” in displacement mode, something a Goose can’t do. Early on a speed restriction of 130 knots was applied as a flutter issue. This was resolved on the kit version and led to cruising at 50% power and 120 knots, which proved to be the Gweduck’s sweet spot.

Airplanes

Air Facts

AUGUST 26, 2024

In business jets and airliners, the issue is usually being too fast, leading to a runway excursion and often substantial damage or even fatalities. Make this one of the key measures of your pilot proficiency: can you maintain a predetermined airspeed with a maximum deviation of +10/-5 knots (the Private Pilot ACS)?

Knot

Air Facts

JUNE 21, 2024

I let him have the controls again, my hands approximately one-sixteenth of an inch away away from the yoke, my feet surreptitiously on the rudders. One time, walking back to the FBO from the airplane after about what seemed like his hundreth dual flight, he turned and asked me “How fast is a knot?” And a knot is 1.15 He agreed.

Rudder