Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 12, 2025

The Ercoupe design featured an interconnect between the full-span ailerons, rudder, and steerable nosewheel. Ercoupe fans shouldnt feel slighted as this collapse happened across postwar general aviation. With the canopy open, the wind in your hair, and the leisurely 80-knot cruise, it is flying at its most basic best.

Rudder 105

Rudder Tail Crosswind Airplanes 105

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

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

“A few seconds later the airplane data showed a maneuver consistent with an aileron roll followed by a rapid descent about 1,000 feet before regaining its prior altitude and track above the highway.” I did my first aileron roll in an RV-4. The listed entry airspeed range is 87 to 97 knots. Nevertheless, the NTSB is clear.

True Airspeed 87

True Airspeed Indicated Airspeed Horizontal Stabilizer Aileron 87

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

“A few seconds later the airplane data showed a maneuver consistent with an aileron roll followed by a rapid descent about 1,000 feet before regaining its prior altitude and track above the highway.” I did my first aileron roll in an RV-4. The listed entry airspeed range is 87 to 97 knots. Nevertheless, the NTSB is clear.

True Airspeed 86

True Airspeed Indicated Airspeed Horizontal Stabilizer Aileron 86

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

This 172 had a flap extension speed of 85 knots, and my old Cessna 172’s limit was 100 mph, or 87 knots. Having researched the topic professionally, the real question for general aviation is not whether the approach should be stable, but how long the approach should be stable?

Pitot Tube 79

Pitot Tube Approach Aileron Instrument Landing System 79

Vintage Aviation News

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

In order to shorten development time and save costs, the aircraft featured components of two closely related aircraft of the Beech Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas: the wings, ailerons, and landing gear of aBeech Bonanza general aviation aircraft and the tail assemblyof a Beech T-34 Mentor military trainer.

Thrust 94

Thrust Center of Gravity Descent Cockpit 94

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

It’s as close to “evasive action” as you can get while flying a general aviation aircraft. In maintaining a properly coordinated steep turn, the pilot must use the opposite aileron to maintain bank. You may need to apply the opposite aileron to counter the overbanking tendency. Clear the area.

Lift 52

Lift Aileron Drag Pilot 52