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

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

How did any given airplane sell? In order to be flown by a sport pilot, the resulting airplane must still meet the current regulations—1,320 pounds maximum gross weight, 120 knots max cruise speed, for example—but how it gets there is up to the builder. But successful? Not at all. Was it profitable for the company?

Airplanes 96

Airplanes Knot Pitot Tube Gross Weight 96

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. The trigger can be any external force such as a wind gust or turbulence.

Stability 52

Stability Center of Gravity Aileron Rudder 52

Photographic Logbook

FEBRUARY 2, 2025

At the airport, there was ice and snow to remove from in front of the hangar door, fuel to add to the Warrior now resting on three fully inflated tires (the left main had a new tube), and then there was the moment when I slipped on ice while pulling the airplane from the hangar and landed flat on my back. 164 airplanes.)

Runway 89

Runway Knot Weather Turbulence 89

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

Hearing no other traffic in the area, Wilkins opted for a relatively straight-in approach to Runway 22, once again dancing on the rudder pedals and wrestling the ailerons as the gusty winds threatened to shove us off the pavement. As the sun began its descent, we began the final leg of what would end up being a four-hour trek.

Runway 98

Runway Crosswind Rudder Pilot 98

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 12, 2024

A power-on stall occurs when the airplane’s nose rises too high, and the angle of attack becomes too steep, disrupting the airflow over the wings. The turbulent air hits the horizontal stabilizer, which causes a vibration that can be felt throughout the aircraft. They might feel scary at first, especially on your stomach.

Stability 52

Stability Horizontal Stabilizer Lift Airplanes 52

Pilot Institute

MARCH 29, 2024

Higher altitudes are also less prone to turbulence and have fewer birds. Turbulent air will require a larger airspeed margin. To fight this overbanking tendency, add light aileron pressure in the opposite direction. You’ll have to manage adverse yaw due to the ailerons and left yawing from the high power setting.

Lift 52

Lift Rudder Drag Checkride 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

While instructors idly watch, airplanes go off the runway, landings become too harsh, structure gets overstressed, and tolerances are exceeded. By doing so, a recognizable, firm input demonstrates that using all the aileron travel wasn’t the answer—those rudder pedals are not footrests. Who Has the Airplane?

Runway 52

Runway Wind Shear Crosswind Ceiling 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

While instructors idly watch, airplanes go off the runway, landings become too harsh, structure gets overstressed, and tolerances are exceeded. By doing so, a recognizable, firm input demonstrates that using all the aileron travel wasn’t the answer—those rudder pedals are not footrests. Who Has the Airplane?

Runway 52

Runway Wind Shear Crosswind Ceiling 52

AeroSavvy

AUGUST 20, 2021

A few years ago, I got the bug to fly small airplanes again. We fly our new-to-us Piper to Florida often (the airplane could probably find Orlando on its own), and we agreed it was time for something more adventurous. Our Aircraft Our family’s airplane is a 1976 Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six.

Density Altitude 52

Density Altitude OAT Airplanes Pilot 52