Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 2, 2024

When the aircraft is in a high-drag configuration, a stall at a low altitude can be quite dangerous. The ACS states that recovery should be completed no lower than 1,500 ft AGL for single-engine aircraft and 3,000 ft AGL for multi-engine aircraft. The loss of lift causes the aircraft to stall and lose altitude.

Descent 52

Descent Approach AGL Lift 52

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 2, 2024

Your wings don’t create as much drag as they would at higher altitudes, which gives you extra lift. Key Takeaways Ground effect increases an aircraft’s lift and decreases drag. Secondly, drag decreases due to the ground disturbing the wingtip vortices, causing induced drag. It’s not magic—it’s ground effect.

Ground Effect 52

Ground Effect Drag Lift Runway 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 9, 2024

It’s just S-turns with climbs and descents, right? While the tilting lift vectors are an important source of adverse yaw, drag also plays a part. Any time a wing creates lift, it creates induced drag. In our example, the right wing has more lift, and thus more drag, than the left wing as the airplane rolls.

Rudder 52

Rudder Lift Aileron Drag 52

Pilot Institute

MARCH 29, 2024

Drag : The aerodynamic force opposing the aircraft’s forward motion. This increases lift but comes at the cost of increased induced drag. Pilots must counteract the additional drag with more thrust to maintain altitude. Fly at least 1,500 above ground level (AGL) to allow room for recovery in case you stall the aircraft.

Lift 52

Lift Rudder Drag Checkride 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Any substantial changes to speed and descent rate will destabilize the landing. x V SO (or POH recommendation) by around 500 feet AGL. Full flaps are generally used since they lower approach speed and increase drag. The drag allows for a steeper descent, which is particularly helpful when avoiding obstacles.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Approach Density Altitude 52

Pilot Institute

MARCH 26, 2024

However, the increased drag might make it impossible to take off again. If you’re not stabilized at 200 feet AGL, go around. On a normal landing, you’d pull the power over the threshold, begin your roundout, and flare around 10 feet AGL. High-wing aircraft might need more power or pitch to arrest the descent.

NOTAMs 52

NOTAMs Runway Approach Descent 52

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

Be familiar with what an idling engine and slow gliding speed sound and feel like, what the clean descent rate is, how much altitude is lost during a 180- or 360-degree turn, and what minimum agl altitude you’ll want to have when you arrive abeam of your landing spot.

Drag 52

Drag Descent AGL Runway 52