Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 18, 2025

Set your power and speed for the maneuver, maintaining a steady airspeed typically 10-20 knots above stall speed to allow for a margin of safety. Initiating the Turn: Smoothly apply aileron input to roll into a 45-50 degree bank angle. Coordinate with the rudder to prevent adverse yaw and keep the turn balanced.

Pilot 52

Pilot Aileron Rudder Turbulence 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

Aerotime

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

You might spot the spoilers popping up from the top of the wing and the ailerons deflecting upwards and downwards on the rear of the wing. After reaching 100 knots, the aircraft will continue to accelerate to what is referred to as its V1 speed. This marks the most critical point of the take-off run.

Cabin Crew 273

Cabin Crew Runway Clearance Knot 273

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

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. On the walkaround, you doubtlessly noted the full-span flaperons (flaps plus ailerons as one unit).

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Knot Pitot Tube Gross Weight 98

Plane and Pilot

JULY 2, 2025

P-factor is then offset by holding right aileron to keep the heading constant, and the slip indicator is out of center by a quarter or half of the ball or marker, showing that the airplane is flying sideways in the climb. The resulting drag increase slows climb rate. Either way, you can put that hard-won altitude to work for you.

Descent 72

Descent Drag Lift Aileron 72

Air Facts

MAY 24, 2024

With a little forward pressure on the yoke, I was able to keep the airplane on the runway to continue picking up airspeed as we arrived at my target of 60 knots for takeoff. As soon as we hit 60 knots indicated, I lightly pulled back on the yoke and the airplane popped right off the ground. No ceiling so no hold for us today!

Aileron 98

Aileron Crosswind Knot Runway 98

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 18, 2024

Although it is sort of heavy on the ailerons,” Storo said. “Coming back around, I’m usually at about 60 knots. 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.”

Crosswind 124

Crosswind Airplanes Tail Cockpit 124

Photographic Logbook

MAY 19, 2025

Nevertheless, I was anxious about managing a 15 knot gusty crosswind for my first taildragger stick time in seven years. As with any taildragger, each rudder input required positive cancelation with opposite rudder to prevent the tail's momentum from yawing the airplane more than intended. He was right.

Rudder 83

Rudder Crosswind Airplanes Runway 83

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 25, 2025

The aircraft had to land into a 15-knot crosswind, and the plane landed at a speed of 115 mph, well below the standard landing speed of between 150-175 mph. (Historic Chicago) On September 28, 1992, the Boeing 727 took off from Chicagos OHare International Airport on the short flight to Meigs.

Cockpit 91

Cockpit Pilot Ceiling Rudder 91

Flight Training Central

MARCH 4, 2024

The bank angle should be reduced gradually with coordinated aileron and rudder input. The pilot should roll the airplane into a medium-banked turn with coordinated aileron and rudder input. Enter the rectangular course maneuvers on a 45 degree angle to the downwind leg.

Groundspeed 52

Groundspeed Crosswind Aileron Rudder 52

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. The 172 has a steerable nosewheel, much heavier than the rudders on my RV-9A with a castering nosewheel. The newer 172 (46 years old) did and had a 3-G limit with flaps extended.

Pitot Tube 79

Pitot Tube Approach Aileron Instrument Landing System 79

Aerotime

APRIL 3, 2025

. | Season 7, Episode 5: 'Operation Babylift' | : 2 December 2009 pic.twitter.com/W9hcTj7kSK — Air Crash Investigation (@AirCrash_) April 4, 2022 According to the BAAA, two of the aircrafts four hydraulic systems were out of order and control, and trim cables to the rudder and elevators were severed.

Aileron 248

Aileron Runway Rudder Descent 248

Pilot Institute

MAY 9, 2024

We correct for the overbanking tendency with aileron opposite the turn. The aileron on the right wing deflects down, increasing the camber and creating more lift. The left wing’s aileron deflects up, decreasing lift. We counteract adverse yaw by applying rudder in the direction of the turn.

Rudder 52

Rudder Lift Aileron Drag 52

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

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. On the walkaround, you doubtlessly noted the full-span flaperons (flaps plus ailerons as one unit).

Airplanes 96

Airplanes Knot Pitot Tube Gross Weight 96

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

The weather briefing we had reviewed a half hour earlier promised a 20-knot headwind that would require two fuel stops on the 130-mile trip from our home airport in Kennett, Missouri (KTKX), to Little Rock Air Force Base (KLRF) in Arkansas. The windsock promised that getting the little yellow bird into the air would be a white-knuckle affair.

Runway 98

Runway Crosswind Rudder Pilot 98

Photographic Logbook

FEBRUARY 2, 2025

A target moved across my traffic display at 450 knots (518 miles per hour). "I I slowed the Warrior down to better manage the turbulence and this, combined with the headwind, dropped our ground speed as low as 73 knots. Forecasts indicated that the wind at Sodus would be out of the southeast at ten knots gusting to the mid-teens.

Runway 96

Runway Knot Weather Turbulence 96

Pilot Institute

MARCH 29, 2024

Common mistakes include neglecting clearing turns, delaying stall recovery, and misusing the rudder. The stall warning horn sounds at least 5 knots above the actual stall speed. Since you need to fly without triggering the warning, select a target airspeed of about 2 to 5 knots more. Use the rudder to stay coordinated.

Lift 52

Lift Rudder Drag AGL 52

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

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. Adverse Yaw Adverse yaw is when an aircraft tends to yaw towards a raised wing due to the aerodynamic forces of an aileron deflected down.

Lift 52

Lift Aileron Drag Pilot 52

Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

Flying at 60 knots? For example, it’s good practice to add a few knots to V-ref when landing in gusty conditions. If you usually land at 50 knots but end up touching down at 55 knots, you might think the landing distance only increases slightly. Use the rudder pedals to maintain centerline.

Descent 52

Descent Weight-Shift-Control Crosswind Runway 52

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 16, 2024

Brief that you will use the right rudder to align the aircraft straight with the runway and the left aileron to counteract drift. Take your ground speed in knots and divide it by two. So if your Vso is 50 knots, then aim to fly 70 knots. So if our stall speed was 50 knots, our approach speed would be 65 knots.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Descent Approach Final Approach 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

In the Cessna 172S Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH), the landing distance decreases by 10% for every 9 knots of headwind. For the Cessna 172, landing distance increases by 10% for every 2 knots of tailwind. For the Cessna 172S, we fly a short-field approach with full flaps at 61 knots.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Density Altitude Descent 52

Air

MAY 21, 2025

Pilots must use specific techniques, applying rudder and aileron inputs, to maintain directional control and keep the aircraft aligned. Vf = Vw x cos() The result will give the intensity in knots (KT) and the sign will give the direction: – A positive value indicates headwind (headwind).

Crosswind 52

Crosswind Wind Shear Groundspeed Flight Computer 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

No flying in winds exceeding 10 knots, no chance of obscuring precipitation, no use of runways shorter than 5,000 feet, no risk of encountering darkness or lowering ceilings. By doing so, a recognizable, firm input demonstrates that using all the aileron travel wasn’t the answer—those rudder pedals are not footrests.

Runway 52

Runway Wind Shear Crosswind Airplanes 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

No flying in winds exceeding 10 knots, no chance of obscuring precipitation, no use of runways shorter than 5,000 feet, no risk of encountering darkness or lowering ceilings. By doing so, a recognizable, firm input demonstrates that using all the aileron travel wasn’t the answer—those rudder pedals are not footrests.

Runway 52

Runway Wind Shear Crosswind Airplanes 52

Aerotime

JULY 19, 2024

The primary flight controls on the DC-10 (ailerons, rudder, elevators, spoilers) were all operated by hydraulic pressure and the first officer was quick to realize that his controls were unresponsive to his inputs. On checking the hydraulic fluid pressure and quantity gauges, he noticed that they all read zero.

Runway 301

Runway Horizontal Stabilizer Airlines Airline 301

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

Alongside a nearby highway, some recognizable bits of airplane, the vertical stabilizer and rudder, a horizontal stabilizer and elevator, fell separately to Earth. I did my first aileron roll in an RV-4. The listed entry airspeed range is 87 to 97 knots. The breakup started with rudder flutter. The pilot died instantly.

True Airspeed 87

True Airspeed Indicated Airspeed Horizontal Stabilizer Aileron 87

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

Alongside a nearby highway, some recognizable bits of airplane, the vertical stabilizer and rudder, a horizontal stabilizer and elevator, fell separately to Earth. I did my first aileron roll in an RV-4. The listed entry airspeed range is 87 to 97 knots. The breakup started with rudder flutter. The pilot died instantly.

True Airspeed 85

True Airspeed Indicated Airspeed Horizontal Stabilizer Aileron 85

Air Facts

OCTOBER 7, 2024

Instrument panel of the T-34B With its 225-hp engine and constant speed prop, 240 knot maximum indicated airspeed, and built for positive 6 and negative 3Gs, it was both highly maneuverable and forgiving with no nasty characteristics that could get neophyte students in trouble. The Navy’s primary trainer was the T-34B.

Cockpit 98

Cockpit Rudder Tail Indicated Airspeed 98

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 7, 2024

Even at 60 knots over VY, we were still climbing at a rate that would shock the private students we’d just left below and behind in the pattern. Giant ailerons could whip the world around me with a 400-degree roll rate, and the thing would tolerate plus or minus 10 Gs, breaking yours truly long before any structure failed.

Aileron 52

Aileron Rudder Airplanes Knot 52

Flying Magazine

MAY 6, 2025

Now, release the brakes and feel yourself pressed into the seat as you discover less right rudder is needed than you expect. That required the creation of a redesigned, shorter span aileron that resulted in a markedly increased roll rate. The tail comes off the ground to a tail-low position and the airplane flies off at about 45 knots.

Gross Weight 78

Gross Weight Horizontal Stabilizer Airplanes Rudder 78

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

We routinely taxi at 1200 rpm due to the low spray…[we] can cruise at 10 knots” in displacement mode, something a Goose can’t do. Early on a speed restriction of 130 knots was applied as a flutter issue. This was resolved on the kit version and led to cruising at 50% power and 120 knots, which proved to be the Gweduck’s sweet spot.

Airplanes 77

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 77

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 98

Rudder Airplanes Aileron Crosswind 98

Air Facts

JUNE 21, 2024

I let him have the controls again, my hands approximately one-sixteenth of an inch away away from the yoke, my feet surreptitiously on the rudders. One time, walking back to the FBO from the airplane after about what seemed like his hundreth dual flight, he turned and asked me “How fast is a knot?” And a knot is 1.15 He agreed.

Rudder 75

Rudder Crosswind Knot Aileron 75

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

/hp Engine: Rotax 912iSC3, 4-cylinder, opposed, air and liquid cooled, normally aspirated, gear-reduction drive, fuel-injected, 100 hp Propeller: MT composite, two-blade, constant-speed Maximum Cruise Speed: 117 knots Range, Max Range Power: 950 nm Rate of Climb, Sea Level: 750 fpm Max operating Altitude: 13,000 ft. Takeoff Over 50-ft.

Knot 94

Knot Rudder Airplanes Gross Weight 94