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. Full flaps provide maximum lift and stability, allowing the aircraft to fly slower without stalling. This is a critical step when learning how to land a Piper Seminole.

Descent

Plane and Pilot

MARCH 7, 2025

Noting that the application of fertilizer and other chemicals often corroded a conventional tail, Pellarini simply attached two tail booms that each carried its own horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The fuselage is 9 feet tall, just about even with the top of the twin rudders.

Tail

AV Web

JULY 1, 2025

The max stall speed is 45 knots and the max full-power cruising speed is 120 KCAS. That means using the right amount of coordinated differential braking because there won’t be much rudder authority at slow speeds, though the big rudder on the RV-12 can work to your favor in the breeze. GPH on 92 knots.

Gross Weight

Fear of Landing

MAY 9, 2025

During the take-off roll, the first officer noticed that although the Challenger 300 was accelerating normally, the right-side primary flight control had stopped showing acceleration above 40 knots. The captain slowed the aircraft from 104 knots and exited the runway onto a taxiway. He called out that he had no airspeed.

Turbulence

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. After reaching 100 knots, the aircraft will continue to accelerate to what is referred to as its V1 speed.

Cabin Crew

Fear of Landing

JUNE 28, 2024

In the event of an unintentional left yaw, the pilot must immediately apply right rudder, that is, firmly apply pressure on the right rudder pedal. The key is to respond swiftly and with rather more right rudder than might be expected from pilots without experience with Fenestron-equipped helicopters. The weather was clear.

Rudder

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. For instance, Knots 2U offers a Cessna 172 Cowl / Body Fairing Kit that improves aerodynamics and can increase cruise speed by 3-4 mph.

Knot

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 3, 2024

However, if you take a close look at the inboard upper wing surface of the B-52, you will see a neat row of vortex generators that correspond to the width of the horizontal stabilizer. These were added to manage the low speed air flow over the wings, stabilizer and elevators.

Horizontal Stabilizer

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

In order to be flown by a sport pilot, the resulting airplane must still meet the current regulations—1,320 pounds maximum gross weight, 120 knots max cruise speed, for example—but how it gets there is up to the builder. The rudder hardly calls attention to itself outside of having plenty of authority. Vso approach speed is 53 knots.

Airplanes

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. Flying at 60 knots? Most approaches use a 3:1 glidepath. Two key aspects make good approaches.

Descent

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 13, 2024

You should use the rudder to do this. For example, The Cessna 172 has an approach speed of 65 knots with full flaps. Stabilized Approach Ideally, the goal should be to achieve a stabilized condition with a constant rate of descent. Here’s a step-by-step guide to safely recover. Was it a small or a big bounce?

Descent

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. This allows you to configure appropriately and ensures a stabilized approach. Take your ground speed in knots and divide it by two. So if your Vso is 50 knots, then aim to fly 70 knots.

Airplanes

Pilot Institute

MARCH 29, 2024

Common mistakes include neglecting clearing turns, delaying stall recovery, and misusing the rudder. The stall warning horn sounds at least 5 knots above the actual stall speed. Since you need to fly without triggering the warning, select a target airspeed of about 2 to 5 knots more. Use the rudder to stay coordinated.

Lift

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

In the Cessna 172S Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH), the landing distance decreases by 10% for every 9 knots of headwind. For the Cessna 172, landing distance increases by 10% for every 2 knots of tailwind. This gives you a safe buffer on the stall speed and plenty of time to stabilize.

Weight-Shift-Control

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

No flying in winds exceeding 10 knots, no chance of obscuring precipitation, no use of runways shorter than 5,000 feet, no risk of encountering darkness or lowering ceilings. By doing so, a recognizable, firm input demonstrates that using all the aileron travel wasn’t the answer—those rudder pedals are not footrests.

Wind Shear

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

No flying in winds exceeding 10 knots, no chance of obscuring precipitation, no use of runways shorter than 5,000 feet, no risk of encountering darkness or lowering ceilings. By doing so, a recognizable, firm input demonstrates that using all the aileron travel wasn’t the answer—those rudder pedals are not footrests.

Wind Shear

Aerotime

JULY 19, 2024

The primary flight controls on the DC-10 (ailerons, rudder, elevators, spoilers) were all operated by hydraulic pressure and the first officer was quick to realize that his controls were unresponsive to his inputs. Upon his return, he reported that both right-hand and left-hand rear stabilizers had sustained damage.

Runway

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. But a review of the avionics data shows it was entered at the correct airspeed (placarded as between 104 and 165 knots), and the roll rate was constant.

True Airspeed

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. But a review of the avionics data shows it was entered at the correct airspeed (placarded as between 104 and 165 knots), and the roll rate was constant.

True Airspeed

Pilot Institute

JANUARY 15, 2025

V-speeds can be defined using any type of airspeed, such as knots or miles per hour, but the designation remains V unless a Mach number is used then it becomes M. VFC Maximum speed for stability characteristics. In the Cessna 172, you can fly with 10 degrees of flaps below 110 knots. VD Design diving speed.

V Speed

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

JUNE 10, 2024

That same day, 40467 was given the squadron code 19, which was applied in block letters to the engine cowling, landing gear covers, fuselage sides, and the vertical stabilizer, where it was underlined with a white bar. The Hellcat can definitely outmaneuver the Zero at speeds of 250 knots and better, so we began to follow them down.”

Cockpit

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

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. Stall Speed, Flaps Down: 39 knots Takeoff Distance: 460 ft.

Rudder

Air Facts

AUGUST 26, 2024

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)? For example, fly 65 knots level (+/-2 knots if you can), then fly 65 knots climbing, then 65 knots descending, then 65 knots descending and turning.

Knot

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

/hp Engine: Rotax 912iSC3, 4-cylinder, opposed, air and liquid cooled, normally aspirated, gear-reduction drive, fuel-injected, 100 hp Propeller: MT composite, two-blade, constant-speed Maximum Cruise Speed: 117 knots Range, Max Range Power: 950 nm Rate of Climb, Sea Level: 750 fpm Max operating Altitude: 13,000 ft. Takeoff Over 50-ft.

Knot