Vintage Aviation News

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

The airplane, N130Q, was constructed by Douglas at Santa Monica, California in 1943 as a C-53D-DO with serial number 42-68834. For a very thorough and engaging read on the full history of the DC-3 floatplane, including wartime history and the details of the Folsom airplane, we encourage readers to pick up a copy of Jakob H.

Rudder 144

Rudder Airplanes Drag Pilot 144

Aerotime

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

In the case of certain passengers, a flight may represent the first time they have ever been onboard an airplane, generating feelings of excitement and trepidation in equal measure about what may lie ahead. After reaching 100 knots, the aircraft will continue to accelerate to what is referred to as its V1 speed.

Cabin Crew 269

Cabin Crew Runway Clearance Knot 269

Air Facts

JULY 15, 2024

Though wind is reported using such simple numbers like 270@15G20, I’ve come to believe that 20 knots here is not always the same as 20 knots there. I did a checkride in 30 knot winds in the flatlands of Kansas, almost straight down the runway. Then came the landing in 20 knots in the Hill Country of Texas, west of Austin.

Crosswind 98

Crosswind Knot Rudder Turbulence 98

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 7, 2025

All of which makes picking 10 airplanes for your fly-before-you-die list more than just a bit subjective. Meanwhile, Marc Cook, Plane & Pilot editor in chief, has 43 years in the left seat and had the good fortune to work a decade for AOPA and fly a bunch of interesting airplanes. A time capsule, indeed.

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Tail Pilot Jet 98

Aerotime

JULY 19, 2024

Unable to turn, climb, or descend the aircraft using conventional flight control inputs and effectively left to fly an unflyable airplane, the crew were forced to rely on engine power alone to find and reach a suitable airfield and attempt a landing. With 296 passengers and crew onboard that day, the stakes could not have been higher.

Runway 294

Runway Horizontal Stabilizer Airlines Airline 294

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Fussing with the avionics to keep tabs on the weather gave many more knob touches than the airplane itself. The FAA weather said a thunderstorm was forecast, gusts to 6 knots. And on short final at Knoxville, I got chirps from a flock of unrecognized electronic birds, telling me something but not in airplane-speak.

Weather 80

Weather Runway Knot Rudder 80

Air Facts

JANUARY 13, 2025

The pros and the cons: Cirrus SR22 Air Facts Journal A note on the title: Last time I wrote about a particular airplane (the Cessna 210 ), I titled it Why I love it, why I hate it. Richard Collins memorably wrote about Cirrus pilots in previous articlesboth what they do wrong and what they do right but here Ill focus on the airplane.

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Rudder Knot Pilot 98

Air Facts

MAY 24, 2024

As I went through the preflight inspection, my wife strapped my daughter into the car seat and climbed into the airplane herself. 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.

Aileron 98

Aileron Crosswind Knot Runway 98

AV Web

JANUARY 22, 2025

The airplane came to rest about 1600 feet from the Runway 31 threshold and about 250 feet right of the extended centerline. Winds were from 290 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The accident airplane was the last one among a group of five, and two landings had been performed without incident.

Final Approach 52

Final Approach Airplanes Drag Crosswind 52

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 16, 2024

Landing an airplane can be one of the most nerve-wracking tasks for a student pilot. Getting an airplane to fly is easy. 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. Good question.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Descent Approach Crosswind 52

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. The sole probable cause was the pilot’s ‘improper aerobatic maneuver…that exceeded the airplane’s design limits. The listed entry airspeed range is 87 to 97 knots.

True Airspeed 93

True Airspeed Indicated Airspeed Horizontal Stabilizer Aileron 93

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. The sole probable cause was the pilot’s ‘improper aerobatic maneuver…that exceeded the airplane’s design limits. The listed entry airspeed range is 87 to 97 knots.

True Airspeed 93

True Airspeed Indicated Airspeed Horizontal Stabilizer Aileron 93

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

It’s a bright sunny day, great visibility, some high stratus clouds, a bit windy maybe (050 at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots), and folks are wearing hoodies as the temperature is a brisk 38 degrees Fahrenheit. In the accident airplane, the left engine fuel valve assembly was found in off position. The ramp isn’t busy at all.

Pilot 94

Pilot Knot Airplanes Lift 94

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

How did any given airplane sell? 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. But successful? Not at all. Was it profitable for the company?

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Knot Pitot Tube Gross Weight 98

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

Many airplanes from the golden age of aviation came with heel brakes, such as Piper Cubs and Aeronca Champs. These were small pedals at the base of the rudder pedals that give the same differential control as toe brakes, but you push your heels in for brake application. For that matter, we’re not all flying around with toe brakes.

Rudder 85

Rudder Runway Altimeter Pilot 85

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

It can also be dangerous when the learner drops the airplane to fly the checklist or radio, so practice in the ATD is often a good way to learn procedures, as the ATD is a CFI-controlled environment. To get the most out of the scenario, the learner should use the same procedures in the airplane. It’s an ATD.

Crosswind 105

Crosswind Airplanes VOR Runway 105

Flying Magazine

MAY 14, 2024

The latest version of the nonturbocharged SR22, the recently unveiled G7, boasts a top cruise speed of 181 knots, 1,169 nm range, and useful load of 1,326 pounds. If you’re stepping up from a slower airplane, beware of falling behind the aircraft. Both have a top speed of 95 knots, a 427 nm range, and a useful load of 430 pounds.

Knot 101

Knot Pilot Cockpit Flight Deck 101

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 3, 2024

Is it to perfect the maneuver for the next check ride, learn how to recover the airplane after an inadvertent stall, or just avoid the whole thing in the first place? Initial Buffet How do you train for stall avoidance in an airplane that you should not stall? Why do we practice stalls? Each plane stalls a bit differently.

Airplanes 84

Airplanes Approach Horizontal Stabilizer Pilot 84

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

When I had the endurance to drive 20 miles to an appointment, had good situational awareness of all the cars around me on the freeway, and when driving didn’t take 100 percent concentration, I had passed the first challenge before getting in the airplane. The newer 172 (46 years old) did and had a 3-G limit with flaps extended.

Pitot Tube 86

Pitot Tube Approach Aileron Instrument Landing System 86

Pilot Institute

MAY 9, 2024

The higher speed creates extra lift, causing the airplane to bank further into the turn. The pilot’s job is to prevent the airplane from banking too quickly or too far. In our example, the right wing has more lift, and thus more drag, than the left wing as the airplane rolls. Let’s look at why this happens.

Rudder 52

Rudder Lift Aileron Drag 52

Flight Training Central

MARCH 4, 2024

The airplane will be flown at 1,000’ AGL parallel to and at an equal distance from the field boundaries – about ½ – ¾ miles from the boundary as you would fly a traffic pattern. As the airplane turns onto the following base leg, the tailwind will decrease and becomes a crosswind.

Groundspeed 52

Groundspeed Crosswind Aileron Rudder 52

Photographic Logbook

FEBRUARY 2, 2025

At the airport, there was ice and snow to remove from in front of the hangar door, fuel to add to the Warrior now resting on three fully inflated tires (the left main had a new tube), and then there was the moment when I slipped on ice while pulling the airplane from the hangar and landed flat on my back. 164 airplanes.)

Runway 89

Runway Knot Weather Turbulence 89

Jetwhine

JANUARY 17, 2024

Down low, maximum speeds can easily exceed 425 knots. However, this airplane is also designed with systems simple enough—and handling qualities docile enough—to allow no-jet-time aviators to confidently solo in as little as 15 hours. You’d think pilot problems would be all about stick-and-rudder skills here,” he said.

Knot 52

Knot Rudder Pilot Jet 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Or how do modern airplanes reduce dangerous effects like aileron flutter or adverse yaw? Adverse yaw is a side effect of aileron use, countered by rudder input. Unstable aircraft designs are better suited for high-maneuverability aircraft like aerobatic stunt airplanes or military fighters. This is where the rudder comes in.

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

Air Facts

MARCH 26, 2025

Those familiar phrases more right rudder, watch your airspeed, flare, flare, flare! The airspeed indicator registered 55 knots, close to the Cessna 172s stall speed. Just before touching down, I checked my airspeed and the pit in my stomach deepened: 85 knots far above the 172s normal landing speed of 65 knots.

Knot 52

Knot Runway Pilot Tail 52

Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

Flying at 60 knots? You’ll have to determine the correct point for your particular airplane, but once you do, you can set up your downwind leg perfectly for any runway. For example, it’s good practice to add a few knots to V-ref when landing in gusty conditions. 60 x 5 = 300 feet per minute is your recommended descent rate.

Descent 52

Descent Weight-Shift-Control Crosswind Runway 52

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

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 13, 2024

The wheels touch down too hard, and before you know it, the airplane is bouncing right back into the air. Common Aircraft Types Bounced landings can occur in different airplane models, including the popular Cessna 172. You should use the rudder to do this. What do you do? The real challenge comes down to how you handle it.

Descent 52

Descent Runway Rudder Pilot 52

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

Many airplanes from the golden age of aviation came with heel brakes, such as Piper Cubs and Aeronca Champs. These were small pedals at the base of the rudder pedals that give the same differential control as toe brakes, but you push your heels in for brake application. For that matter, we’re not all flying around with toe brakes.

Rudder 52

Rudder Runway Altimeter Pilot 52

Photographic Logbook

MARCH 10, 2024

Twenty years ago today, I bought an airplane. I'm in Oklahoma and I just bought an airplane." Compared to the tired, 100 horsepower, 2-seat Cessna I did my training in, this airplane was a veritable beast and it had a great paintjob, too. Also, weak batteries cannot start airplanes. Bill admonished out of embarrassment.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Knot Avionics Master Switch Runway 52

Northstar VFR

AUGUST 11, 2024

There are phases of flight when it’s critical that you know how to handle the airplane at slower speeds. Departure and arrival are two of the most critical phases of a flight and involves flying the airplane slow while being very close to the ground. When an airplane exceeds its critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall happens.

Checkride 52

Checkride Airplanes Pilot AGL 52

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. With each wiggle and movement, the airplane bobbed accordingly, just dying to do something other than the relatively gentle climb I’d commanded for the last three minutes.

Aileron 52

Aileron Rudder Airplanes Pilot 52

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 Checkride 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 Approach Density Altitude 52

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

To learn all the maneuvers you’ll need to perform on your practical test, check out Airplane Maneuvers Mastery for more. Proper rudder use is required to counter adverse yaw to maintain coordinated flight. The Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) for your airplane will list V A , typically for maximum gross weight. Clear the area.

Lift 52

Lift Aileron Drag Pilot 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Fussing with the avionics to keep tabs on the weather gave many more knob touches than the airplane itself. The FAA weather said a thunderstorm was forecast, gusts to 6 knots. And on short final at Knoxville, I got chirps from a flock of unrecognized electronic birds, telling me something but not in airplane-speak.

Weather 52

Weather Runway Knot Rudder 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

While instructors idly watch, airplanes go off the runway, landings become too harsh, structure gets overstressed, and tolerances are exceeded. 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.

Runway 52

Runway Wind Shear Crosswind Ceiling 52