Pilot Institute

JULY 11, 2025

Key Takeaways Mach number is a dimensionless ratio of true airspeed to local speed of sound. Mach number is simply a ratio of your true airspeed to the local speed of sound. Since it’s a ratio, it doesn’t matter if you measure speed in knots, miles per hour, or meters per second. Here’s why. What Is Mach Number?

True Airspeed

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 23, 2025

After a shallow turn from downwind, the Bonanza was positioned on base at a proper altitude and airspeed and with a constant descent rate. The wind at the surface was reported as 220 degrees at 6 knots gusting 19 knots. Increasing true airspeed makes the turn radius wider, resulting in an overshoot. Fast or slow?

True Airspeed

Pilot's Life Blog

APRIL 9, 2024

Static vents that measure static pressures are usually on the lower side of the plane, where the air stream isn’t as turbulent. True Airspeed vs Indicated Airspeed VS Equivalent Airspeed Since airspeed indicators use air pressure to measure speed, the indicated airspeed can be less than the actual airspeed at higher altitudes.

Pitot Tube

Pilot's Life Blog

JULY 25, 2024

In addition to your personal minimums, remember what qualifies as no-fly weather according to your local guidelines.

Weather

Air

MAY 21, 2025

It is a particularly insidious phenomenon that can be a prime cause of turbulence. Can cause sudden losses or gains in indicated airspeed (IAS), directly affecting lift. Vf = Vw x cos() The result will give the intensity in knots (KT) and the sign will give the direction: – A positive value indicates headwind (headwind).

Crosswind

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

This is consistent with Rick’s report, which referenced 9 knots of wind. Note that a 43 knot gust from a direction of 190 degrees was measured at 17:39, one minute after the accident (provided that the time stamp is accurate). I was doing about 80 knots and all of a sudden I hit this tremendous sink.

Pilot