Pilot Institute

MARCH 28, 2025

By far the strongest component of wake turbulence is the swirling air generated at the tips of the aircrafts wings. Key Takeaways Wingtip vortices, not engine exhaust, create the strongest wake turbulence. Wake turbulence can cause severe roll and structural damage to smaller aircraft. How Are Wingtip Vortices Formed?

Turbulence 97

Turbulence Lift Drag Runway 97

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. These control surfaces dictate the aircraft’s roll, and this allows it to bank smoothly through turns or even recover from turbulence. What Is an Aileron?

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

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

Flying Magazine

APRIL 26, 2024

The small aileron “tabs” were not doing a great job in crosswind ability. Left downwind on a blustery day with live weather actually shows a virga burst over the field, with local winds gusting 36 knots, making for some extreme conditions in such a tight canyon. Taking off in violent winds was a task.

Crosswind 105

Crosswind Weather Knot Aileron 105

Photographic Logbook

FEBRUARY 2, 2025

A target moved across my traffic display at 450 knots (518 miles per hour). "I An approaching cold front from the west was forecast to bring wind, turbulence, and snow with it that afternoon. 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.

Runway 89

Runway Knot Weather Turbulence 89

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 97

Airplanes Knot Pitot Tube Gross Weight 97

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