Pilot Institute

JULY 11, 2025

Key Takeaways Mach number is a dimensionless ratio of true airspeed to local speed of sound. Mach number is simply a ratio of your true airspeed to the local speed of sound. That’s the speed your airspeed indicator shows based on ram air pressure in the pitot tube. Here’s why. It varies with temperature.

Pilot 52

Pilot True Airspeed Indicated Airspeed Lift 52

Flying Magazine

MAY 1, 2024

Otto Lilienthal did it by shifting his weight, but for the much larger Wright Flyer the solution was to make one wing produce more lift than the other by twisting them in opposite directions. Despite the early invention of the aileron, wing warping continued to be used, even on some fighters, as late as 1916.

Aileron 110

Aileron Airfoil Weight-Shift-Control Airplanes 110

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 15, 2025

Witness statements and recorded video showed that during the takeoff roll from the 5,500-foot-long asphalt runway, the airplane accelerated slower than normal, used more runway than normal, and lifted off the runway in a nose-high attitude. The right aileron sustained substantial damage.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions 52

Instrument Meteorological Conditions Airplanes Runway Calibrated Airspeed 52

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 2, 2025

Witness statements and recorded video showed that during the takeoff roll from the 5,500-foot-long asphalt runway, the airplane accelerated slower than normal, used more runway than normal, and lifted off the runway in a nose-high attitude. The right aileron sustained substantial damage.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions 81

Instrument Meteorological Conditions Airplanes Runway Pilot 81

Air

MAY 21, 2025

Pilots must use specific techniques, applying rudder and aileron inputs, to maintain directional control and keep the aircraft aligned. Can cause sudden losses or gains in indicated airspeed (IAS), directly affecting lift. DC = arctan(TAS/Vc) Where TAS is the True Airspeed.

Crosswind 52

Crosswind Wind Shear Groundspeed Flight Computer 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Your aircraft will fly at a faster true airspeed at higher density altitudes. Reducing lift puts more weight on the wheels. Use the rudder to keep the aircraft in line with the runway and apply aileron into the wind. You will need more aileron input as you slow down as the controls become less effective.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Density Altitude Descent 52