Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 12, 2025

He was proud of his little bird, with its unique split sliding canopy, no rudder pedals, and a delightful art deco instrument panel. The Ercoupe design featured an interconnect between the full-span ailerons, rudder, and steerable nosewheel. These included an F-1A model that featured conventional flight controls and rudder pedals.

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Rudder Tail Crosswind Airplanes 105

Flying Magazine

MAY 2, 2025

EDT, Holland was cleared to land on Runway 08 at Langley. According to witness statements given to the NTSB, “the airplane made a normal approach to the runway, and when it was over the end of the runway, it leveled off about 50 [feet] above the runway and flew straight down the runway for several hundred feet.

Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) 122

Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) Horizontal Stabilizer Aileron Airplanes 122

Vintage Aviation News

MARCH 19, 2025

image via AirCorps Aviation) The front seat frame, rudder pedals, and the tube connecting the front and rear control sticks are visible in this image. image via AirCorps Aviation) Control Linkages The restoration team recently installed the control cable linkages to the rudder and elevator, throttle controls, and fuel valve linkages.

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Horizontal Stabilizer Rudder Stability Runway 111

Plane and Pilot

MARCH 25, 2025

Although I havent spent much time around GB1s (except for drooling over them while they are on display and flying at airshows) I am always taken aback by how much larger the airplane appears to be in personparticularly, the tall, sweeping rudder that curves down to a sharp point with just enough ground clearance. Free and clear.

Knot 111

Knot Airplanes Runway Rudder 111

Fear of Landing

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

A poster on PPRuNe asked about the landing conditions: Is it pretty much standard for operators of this particular aircraft type in the UK to land in 35 knot crosswinds on 1800m wet runways? Just before touchdown, the captain used right rudder to “de-crab” the aircraft and landed smoothly in the touchdown area.

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Crosswind Rudder Knot Runway 52

Aerotime

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

Michael Derrer Fuchs / Shutterstock Once the pushback is complete and the engines are running, the crew will contact ATC again for taxi clearance, effectively asking the tower for the route they are required to follow and which taxiways to use to reach the active runway.

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Cabin Crew Runway Clearance Knot 271

Northstar VFR

MARCH 16, 2025

By Josh Page, CFI Ever heard your flight instructor say, More right rudder? If uncorrected, it can cause a yawing movement to the left, requiring the pilot to use right rudder to maintain coordinated control. By now you should be able to answer this quickly Applying right rudder! Right rudder is your best friend.

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Airplanes Rudder Torque Thrust 52

Inspire

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

Rossier, EAA 472091 This piece originally ran in Roberts Stick and Rudder column in the January 2025 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine. It was a blue sky morning at Westerly State Airport (KWST) in Rhode Island, a nontowered airport with two intersecting runways, 07/25 and 14/32. By Robert N.

Rudder 52

Rudder Runway Hangar Pilot 52

Plane and Pilot

APRIL 1, 2025

I lined up on Runway 27. The longest runway at Palm Beach County Park Airport (KLNA) is 3,500 feet, plus fields and open spaces would be ahead of me. Feet on rudder pedals. At 500 feet down the runway, the little airplane leaped into the air despite my plan to build more speed before taking off. First flight!

Runway 65

Runway Gross Weight Crosswind Airplanes 65

Northstar VFR

JULY 21, 2024

More right rudder!!” The airplane rudder is one of the most misunderstood of the primary flight controls. Yet the rudder is one of the most important and one of the most under-utilized. The rudder’s most important function is controlling the yaw of the aircraft, which moves the nose of the plane left and right.

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Rudder Airplanes Pilot Stability 52

Inspire

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Rossier, EAA 472091 This piece originally ran in Roberts Stick and Rudder column in the November 2024 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine. For a newly minted private pilot, the approach to Runway 35 at Sky Acres (44N) in New York looked pretty scary. By Robert N.

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Rudder Runway Approach Hangar 98

World Airline News

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

The National Transportation Safety Board Thursday issued urgent safety recommendations to The Boeing Company and the Federal Aviation Administration in response to the potential for a jammed or restricted rudder control system on some 737 airplanes. The NTSB is investigating a Feb. operators to do so until replacements are available.

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Rudder Airplanes Tail Runway 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Kentland has a 4,000-foot runway, east/west, with a crosswind straight out of the north. Nobody answered on unicom, and the facilities were at the west end of the airport, so I decided on left traffic for Runway 27. I turned base early, slipped the RV-9A as hard as it would go, landed halfway down the runway, and stood on the brakes.

Weather 79

Weather Runway Knot Rudder 79

Vintage Aviation News

JANUARY 30, 2025

This didnt correct the problem sufficiently, so the tail was completely revised, giving the horizontals dihedral and capping each with a large oval fin and rudder arrangement much like that of its Consolidated stablemate, the B-24 Liberator. It could operate in strange and foreign places without the need of land-based runways.”

Horizontal Stabilizer 111

Horizontal Stabilizer Final Approach Tail Runway 111

Inspire

APRIL 17, 2025

Rossier, EAA 472091 This piece originally ran in Roberts Stick and Rudder column in the March 2025 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine. The shroud of morning fog had just lifted as I taxied cautiously to Runway 07 at Westerly State Airport (KWST) in Rhode Island. By Robert N.

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Rudder Lift Runway Hangar 85

Plane and Pilot

DECEMBER 30, 2024

In addition to repairing the left gear leg, the right gear and rudder were removed for recovering. The ramp is empty, so I ask if hed like to taxi us to the departure end of the runway. The main road between the houses is the old runway. With the airplane up on blocks and tied down in the hangar, I sent Andrew a photo.

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Airplanes Hangar Runway Tarmac 98

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.

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Rudder Tail Lift Knot 111

Air Facts

JULY 15, 2024

I did a checkride in 30 knot winds in the flatlands of Kansas, almost straight down the runway. I’ve landed in strong winds enough times that 30 knots can seem routine, as long as it’s reasonably aligned with the runway. Until I was porpoising down the runway like a first-time student. The lower I got, the worse it became.

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Crosswind Knot Rudder Turbulence 98

Flying Magazine

JUNE 4, 2025

Instead of flipping through paper sectional charts while trying to fly a traffic pattern, a student pilot can tap a screen and see their aircrafts position relative to nearby airspace, terrain, or a runway. If not on day one, then soon after the basics of stick and rudder are mastered. For student pilots, that matters.

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Pilot Weather Flight Plan Cockpit 95

Plane and Pilot

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

Flight controls mean ailerons, elevator, and rudder, of course, but on some airplanes, if the trim is mis-set, the plane might be difficult or impossible to control. On my relatively high powered Vans RV-9A , flaps are not a critical item, unless the runway is short. Flight controls and engine controls are the obvious ones.

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Airplanes Cockpit Pilot Aileron 95

Flying Magazine

APRIL 29, 2025

To introduce the customer to taxiing, the CFI can demonstrate the rudders and brakes then have the customer fold their arms on their chest and use the pedals to taxi while the instructor controls the throttle. If the client is up to it, I coach them through some of the radio callsespecially the last one as we clear the active runway.

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Weather Airplanes Altimeter Rudder 79

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

We both had a good chuckle, then we lurched out of the parking spot as I tested the toe brakes for the first time and began to waddle our way to the runway in the mighty Cessna 150. How they came to a stop holding short of the runway generally gave a preview as to how they would handle a plane for the rest of the flight.

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Rudder Runway Altimeter Pilot 84

Inflight Pilot Training

MARCH 13, 2025

Example of a Proper Radio Call: Minneapolis Ground, Cessna 172, N12345 at Inflight Aviation, ready to taxi to Runway 12 for departure. Struggling with Crosswind Landings The Mistake: Many student pilots struggle with crosswind landings due to incorrect rudder use or improper control inputs.

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Pilot Crosswind Final Approach Cockpit 52

WayMan

MAY 25, 2025

Empennage: The Tail Assembly Located at the back of the aircraft, the empennage (or tail assembly ) includes the vertical stabilizer , horizontal stabilizer , rudder , and elevator. The rudder helps control yaw (left or right movement of the nose), while the elevator manages pitch (up or down movement of the nose).

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Lift Thrust Tail Horizontal Stabilizer 52

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 12, 2025

Primary Flight Controls The primary controls of a small plane are the yoke, rudder pedals, and throttle. Rudder pedals help manage yaw, which keeps the aircraft aligned during turns or crosswinds. Proper use of the throttle , maintaining alignment with the runway, and achieving the correct airspeed are essential steps.

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Weather Pilot Drag Rudder 52

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 5, 2025

Learning how to land a Piper Seminole means becoming comfortable with these avionics, which help guide the aircraft through the landing procedure, ensuring optimal approach speeds and alignment with the runway. Once the flaps are set and landing gear is confirmed, begin your final descent to the runway.

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Descent Final Approach Approach Runway 52

Plane and Pilot

MAY 3, 2025

Depressions in the vertical stabilizer and rudder, as well as stabilator skins and ailerons, all help increase panel stiffness while allowing less under-skin structure. At least the Cherokee gave the pilot a better view of the runway from the patternno wing in the wayand lacked the high-wing Cessnas pitch change with flap deployment.

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Approach Airplanes Stability Weight-Shift-Control 73

Air Facts

MAY 24, 2024

We started up the engine, got the weather, asked the tower for our instrument flight plan, and began to taxi from the T-hangars on the east side of the field down the familiar route of “Hotel, Echo” to runway 18 right for a departure to the north with a turn to the east. Destin Tower told me to expect a right base for a landing on Runway 12.

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Aileron Crosswind Knot Runway 98

Inflight Pilot Training

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

Your instructor will introduce you to the basic components of the aircraft, including the fuselage, wings, ailerons, rudder, elevator, and landing gear. In addition to learning about the aircraft itself, you will also review airport procedures, runway markings, and basic safety guidelines.

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Aileron Approach Visual Flight Rules Rudder 52

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 12, 2025

Aircraft Controls: Primary ControlsAilerons, Elevators, Rudder The three primary flight controls ailerons , elevators, and rudderare essential for piloting an aircraft. The rudder, also on the tail, adjusts yaw, which affects left and right turns. Ailerons, located on the wings, control the plane’s roll.

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Aileron Drag Rudder Descent 52

Chess In the Air

DECEMBER 6, 2024

In thermals the V3M is even easier and more stable than the V2 (which requires more rudder to remain coordinated). Upon landing I can clear the runway and steer the glider right into its parking position before getting out of the cockpit, usually without having to start the engine at all. Self-launch from high altitude airports.

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Density Altitude Cockpit Tail Runway 98

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 25, 2025

Landing the 727 at Meigs Field would be a challenge, as the runway there was just 3,900-feet (1,200 m), but the airline had a capable crew to take N7017U on its final flight, with Captain B.C. After a low pass for the public and the press that had gathered to watch, Captain Thomas made the approach on runway 36 north.

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Cockpit Pilot Ceiling Rudder 95

AV Web

MAY 11, 2025

Not much was noticed there except that on one aircraft, the cockpit floor carpeting was bunched up, restricting the travel of the rudder pedals, and on another airplane, the onboard fire extinguisher had gone out of date and had a weak charge. Nitpicking occurred as it should during the navel-gazing that a stand-down engenders.

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Air Traffic Control Hangar Rudder Pilot 68

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

Like most homebuilts and many SLSAs, the RV-12 steers on the ground via differential braking, but the good-sized rudder does contribute if you have a bit of wind. The rudder hardly calls attention to itself outside of having plenty of authority. A nuance, perhaps. Right until liftoff, takeoffs are fairly uneventful.

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Airplanes Knot Pitot Tube Gross Weight 98

One Mile at a Time

JUNE 13, 2024

The crew was able to regain control of the aircraft, and 55 minutes later, it landed safely on Oakland Airport’s runway 30. An inspection was performed on the aircraft upon landing, and damage was discovered with the PCU (the power control unit, which also controls the rudder).

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Rudder Tail Pilot Runway 135

Photographic Logbook

MAY 19, 2025

Don walked me through engine start and within minutes of bringing the fuel-injected 180 horsepower Lycoming to life, we were taxiing from the 700 Ramp to the departure end of runway 25. Compared to the J-3, I found the rudder of the Decathlon to be significantly heavier, which reduced the crispness of some of my turns. He was right.

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Rudder Crosswind Airplanes Runway 60

Flight Training Central

JANUARY 27, 2025

1) High Roundout Sometimes when the airplane appears to temporarily stop moving downward, the roundout has been made too rapidly and the airplane is flying level, too high above the runway. This would result in the airplane stalling and dropping hard onto the runway. Porpoising can also be caused by improper airspeed control.

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Airplanes Runway Accelerated Stall Lift 89