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

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 Runway Avionics Master Switch 52

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

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

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 Descent 52

Air Facts

AUGUST 26, 2024

Now it’s time to look at VFR pilots, and to spare you the suspense, the answer is similarly prosaic: loss of control on landing damages more airplanes than any other accident scenario. That means every day in the summer somewhere between two and five airplanes are damaged—just on landing! What can be done? First, some perspective.

Knot 86

Knot Runway Airplanes Pilot 86

Air Facts

JUNE 21, 2024

This school owned no airplanes—all the aircraft were “lease-backs,” by owners. On my one and only flight with the young flight school co-founder, he suddenly slammed the airplane into a 60-degree left bank and pulled aggressively, saying “What do you think of this ?’’ And a knot is 1.15 I looked at him. He looked greenish.

Rudder 76

Rudder Crosswind Knot Aileron 76

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 72

Aileron Crosswind Knot Runway 72

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

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

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

The many analyses and videos on these topics have been done in what can best be described as laboratory conditions, carefully selected optimum conditions of pilot, airplane, and environment. An incomplete summary description of FASF is whether the airplane made it out of ground effect. No math required.

General Aviation 73

General Aviation Pilot Approach Runway 73

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

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

This is a hard one to gain insight from other than this: Some atmospheric events are bigger than our plastic airplanes. This is consistent with Rick’s report, which referenced 9 knots of wind. A sudden gust of 50 knots would have caused a stall unless he had been flying at about 100 knots indicated.

Pilot 52

Pilot AGL Wind Shear 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 70

Runway Crosswind Rudder Approach 70

Pilot Institute

APRIL 19, 2024

You’re at a high pitch attitude and are counteracting the left-turning tendencies with rudder. Increasing the angle of attack will cause the airplane to slow below best glide speed. The airplane will be closer to the critical AOA in the turn. A spin at such low altitudes guarantees a crash. The reason for this is twofold.

AGL 52

AGL Runway Descent Lift 52