Flying Magazine
MAY 2, 2025
” The aircraft came to rest in a grass ditch about 100 feet from the left side of Runway 08 and 500 feet beyond the approach threshold. The rudder was intact, although the bottom of the control was crushed. The airplane then porpoised twice, pitched straight up, rolled 90 [degrees] to the left and descended to ground impact.”
Plane and Pilot
APRIL 1, 2025
Feet on rudder pedals. I crossed the runway threshold at 70 mph and let a little more speed bleed off as I attempted to stay a few inches off the runway with the nosewheel slightly up. Lantana Traffic, Pulsar Experimental Four-Five-Six-Lima-Tango taking off, two-seven, Lantana, will stay in the pattern. Throttle all the way in.
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Vintage Aviation News
OCTOBER 18, 2024
And then when you get down near the threshold, you just hold it off and gently let the wheels down. 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.
Plane and Pilot
SEPTEMBER 15, 2024
I watched the stick flutter to and fro in sync with the rudder pedals as Wilkins fought to maintain the centerline, all the while pushing in the throttle. The J-4’s cockpit is wider than the more common J-3, and the second generation brought about the replacement of the open cowl with exposed exhaust ports with a fully enclosed cowl.
Pilot Institute
JULY 12, 2024
Key Takeaways Start by setting up your approach correctly to ensure you arrive at the threshold perfectly every time. You can only begin improving the touchdown if you’ve mastered positioning your aircraft above the runway threshold correctly. It’s tempting to increase the bank angle and add some rudder to rotate the aircraft.
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. Descent Point Nominate a descent point that will give you a constant 3° profile to the threshold. Approach Speed When crossing the threshold, you must ensure you fly the correct approach speed.
Pilot Institute
OCTOBER 13, 2024
You should use the rudder to do this. You should follow the “3:1 rule” – for every 3 nautical miles distance from the runway threshold, you must be a thousand feet above the ground. Use the Rudder In case of a strong crosswind, you can use the crab control or side slip to keep the aircraft aligned with the runway.
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