Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

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. 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.

Runway 82

Runway Crosswind Rudder Pilot 82

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

The dirt and gravel on the floor and the contents of the ashtray were now making their way to the top of the cockpit. Turning back to Lawson, I looked around the cockpit and checked the instruments for anything out of order. I then checked all the controls, elevator up and down, ailerons right and left, rudder right and left.

Descent 65

Descent Lift Runway Cockpit 65

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

When you’re starting to feel human again after major surgery, what’s a good plan for getting safely back into the cockpit? The 172 has a steerable nosewheel, much heavier than the rudders on my RV-9A with a castering nosewheel. I had a total knee replacement. Taxiing out, I experimented with the turn radius without using brakes.

Pitot Tube 59

Pitot Tube Approach Aileron Instrument Landing System 59

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 30, 2024

He replaced the two-cylinder, horizontally opposed Detroit Aero 25hp engine with a three-cylinder Szekely SR-3 45-hp radial engine, and in 1935, he changed out the wooden fuselage frame for a tubular steel one, and removed the pulleys and cables for wing warping and added ailerons to the wings.

Airplanes 105

Airplanes Jet Pilot Weather 105

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 16, 2024

When it’s your turn in the cockpit, you’ll know what to do—whether it’s a routine landing or something urgent. Brief that you will use the right rudder to align the aircraft straight with the runway and the left aileron to counteract drift. As a pilot, you will need time to master it.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Descent Approach Crosswind 52

Vintage Aviation News

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

The Libeccio was of mixed construction, featuring a metal monocoque cockpit section attached to a welded steel tube fuselage frame covered in doped fabric, with wooden bars and panels on its top and bottom. 310 which featured a “stepless” plexiglass cockpit and two 700 hp Piaggio Stella P.XVI RC-35 radial engines.

Aileron 122

Aileron Tail Horizontal Stabilizer Cockpit 122

Vintage Aviation News

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

Unlike traditional aircraft, the Puffin’s vertical stabilizer and rudder were mounted below the fuselage rather than atop it, providing an unconventional, inverted look. Both the upper and lower wings included ailerons, maximizing maneuverability. Toward the rear, the fuselage depth tapered as the lower longerons curved upward.

Stability 98

Stability Tail Aileron Rudder 98

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 6, 2024

In this new guise, with its cockpit pushed four feet further aft, N5111N was designated as a Boeing Model 299Z. We had several other donor aircraft, but we have now completely rebuilt the forward fuselage with the exception of the top of the cockpit. Between 1950 and 1965, the aircraft amassed 994 flight test hours.

Tail 126

Tail Airplanes Cockpit Firewall 126

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

It sported a supercharged 450 hp Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior and an enlarged vertical stabilizer and rudder to match. The ailerons, elevators, and rudder featured fabric covering stretched over lightweight aluminum frames. However, the Spartan’s belly flap was controlled separately from the wing flaps.

Rudder 61

Rudder Stability Airplanes Aileron 61

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

The wing’s dead-smooth surface plus the tight-fitting aileron and flap brackets plus aileron gap seals give the build a professional factory look (left). An elegantly simple rope system inside the fuselage raises and lowers the Gweduck’s water rudder mounted inside the base of the main rudder (right).

Airplanes 59

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 59

Plane and Pilot

DECEMBER 16, 2024

Planespotters note the F2’s separate ailerons and flaps, conventional tail. But you can see the change to separate ailerons and flaps is just one part of preparing the F2 to grow into a four-place airplanebuying aerodynamic benefits now to spend later on a heavier, more powerful model. Out back, theres an entirely new tail.

Rudder 83

Rudder Airplanes Aileron Crosswind 83

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 18, 2024

Although it is sort of heavy on the ailerons,” Storo said. “Sitting so high up and trying to look down inside the cockpit for the airspeed is nearly impossible. 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.”

Airplanes 124

Airplanes Crosswind Tail Cockpit 124