Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 23, 2024

PARE: Power idle, Ailerons neutral, Rudder opposite, Elevator forward. An aft center of gravity increases flat spin risk. A flat spin happens when the center of gravity shifts too far aft (toward the tail), and the aircraft’s rotation becomes more horizontal. Ailerons: Neutral. Ready to become a safer pilot?

Center of Gravity 98

Center of Gravity Weight-Shift-Control Aileron Rudder 98

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 9, 2025

Airplane wings vary in shape and size, but all have standard features like the chord line. It’s an imaginary straight line from the wings trailing edge to the center of the leading edge. Center of Gravity: Used to calculate and balance the aircraft’s center of gravity. Imagine a see-saw.

Center of Gravity 52

Center of Gravity Camber Lift Airfoil 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

At first glance, ailerons look like ordinary hinged panels on the wings, but don’t be fooledthey’re important for keeping an aircraft both stable and maneuverable. But theres much more to ailerons than just rolling left or right. Or how do modern airplanes reduce dangerous effects like aileron flutter or adverse yaw?

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 9, 2025

Airplane wings vary in shape and size, but all have standard features like the chord line. It’s an imaginary straight line from the wings trailing edge to the center of the leading edge. Center of Gravity: Used to calculate and balance the aircraft’s center of gravity. Imagine a see-saw.

Center of Gravity 59

Center of Gravity Camber Lift Airfoil 59

Plane and Pilot

MARCH 2, 2025

I had never heard of a Pierre Robin R2160 before, and why should I have known about an obscure GA airplane that only has eight (10, actually, but more on that later) examples in the U.S.? The Robin has a placard that reads: Rudder in fully opposed direction; Elevator control pulled fully back; Ailerons in neutral position.

Rudder 81

Rudder Pilot Airplanes Center of Gravity 81

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

If you’ve ever been on a flight and felt the airplane swaying side to side, you might’ve experienced a taste of what’s known as a Dutch roll. Learning about the Dutch roll can make your next flight feel a little more grounded, even when the airplane isn’t. It may feel alarming if you’re not sure what’s happening.

Stability 52

Stability Center of Gravity Aileron Rudder 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 5, 2024

Landing an airplane is not easy, even for experienced pilots. Your ailerons and rudder will be neutral once you’re in the crab position. Simultaneously, we apply ailerons opposite the rudder input. The ailerons control our lateral position over the runway. We call this de-crabbing.

Crosswind 52

Crosswind Longitudinal Axis Aileron Rudder 52