Plane and Pilot

APRIL 1, 2025

Airplane ready. I lined up on Runway 27. The longest runway at Palm Beach County Park Airport (KLNA) is 3,500 feet, plus fields and open spaces would be ahead of me. Feet on rudder pedals. At 500 feet down the runway, the little airplane leaped into the air despite my plan to build more speed before taking off.

Runway 70

Runway Gross Weight Airplanes Crosswind 70

Plane and Pilot

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

Flight controls mean ailerons, elevator, and rudder, of course, but on some airplanes, if the trim is mis-set, the plane might be difficult or impossible to control. That flap retraction was not performed, and although the airplane made it into the air, it did not maintain sustained flight. Your airplane may be different.

Airplanes 97

Airplanes Cockpit Pilot Aileron 97

Plane and Pilot

DECEMBER 30, 2024

What stupid airplane antics have I recently participated in that would warrant the query? My name is Andrew, and I used to fly that airplane in the early 2000s. Its a great airplane. Both of us had neighbors who owned airplanes and took us flying when we were not yet teens. I find myself staring at the phone in disbelief.

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Hangar Runway Tarmac 98

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. One of the first items on before taxi checklists is to set the take-off flaps well before the aircraft approaches the runway.

Cabin Crew 265

Cabin Crew Runway Clearance Knot 265

Northstar VFR

JULY 21, 2024

More right rudder!!” The airplane rudder is one of the most misunderstood of the primary flight controls. Yet the rudder is one of the most important and one of the most under-utilized. The rudder’s most important function is controlling the yaw of the aircraft, which moves the nose of the plane left and right.

Rudder 52

Rudder Airplanes Pilot Stability 52

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

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Fussing with the avionics to keep tabs on the weather gave many more knob touches than the airplane itself. Kentland has a 4,000-foot runway, east/west, with a crosswind straight out of the north. Nobody answered on unicom, and the facilities were at the west end of the airport, so I decided on left traffic for Runway 27.

Weather 85

Weather Runway Knot Rudder 85

World Airline News

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

The National Transportation Safety Board Thursday issued urgent safety recommendations to The Boeing Company and the Federal Aviation Administration in response to the potential for a jammed or restricted rudder control system on some 737 airplanes. The NTSB is investigating a Feb.

Rudder 52

Rudder Airplanes Tail Runway 52

Air Facts

JULY 15, 2024

I did a checkride in 30 knot winds in the flatlands of Kansas, almost straight down the runway. It felt like pushing it for that airplane, but checkrides are so hard to schedule I went. I’ve landed in strong winds enough times that 30 knots can seem routine, as long as it’s reasonably aligned with the runway. How do you know?

Crosswind 98

Crosswind Knot Rudder Turbulence 98

Flight Training Central

JANUARY 27, 2025

1) High Roundout Sometimes when the airplane appears to temporarily stop moving downward, the roundout has been made too rapidly and the airplane is flying level, too high above the runway. This would result in the airplane stalling and dropping hard onto the runway.

Airplanes 89

Airplanes Runway Accelerated Stall Lift 89

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. After one last check to my left to make sure there weren’t any yahoos on an unapproved short final (old habit), I took the runway then pressed the throttle in to full power. Approach switched me to Tower.

Aileron 98

Aileron Crosswind Knot Runway 98

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 18, 2024

It actually flew fine, and it flies like a normal airplane. “If you view the video of the first flight on YouTube ( LINK ), you’ll see the airplane does some wiggling around, but most of that was done on purpose as I was trying to get the feel of it as fast as I could.” It’s the rudder that is doing everything.

Airplanes 124

Airplanes Crosswind Tail Cockpit 124

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. But landing it safely on the runway is a skill. Brief that you will use the right rudder to align the aircraft straight with the runway and the left aileron to counteract drift.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Descent Approach Runway 52

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

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

We both had a good chuckle, then we lurched out of the parking spot as I tested the toe brakes for the first time and began to waddle our way to the runway in the mighty Cessna 150. How they came to a stop holding short of the runway generally gave a preview as to how they would handle a plane for the rest of the flight.

Rudder 90

Rudder Runway Altimeter Pilot 90

Chess In the Air

DECEMBER 6, 2024

In thermals the V3M is even easier and more stable than the V2 (which requires more rudder to remain coordinated). There’s nothing that can beat it except for highly powered airplanes without glider in tow. While some of this may be due to continued pilot improvements, a more than 8% improvement is remarkable!

Density Altitude 98

Density Altitude Cockpit Tail Runway 98

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

The many analyses and videos on these topics have been done in what can best be described as laboratory conditions—carefully selected ideal conditions of pilot, airplane, and environment. The instructor was able to complete the turn, but the airplane overshot the runway.

Gross Weight 98

Gross Weight Runway Airplanes Pilot 98

Inflight Pilot Training

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

Your instructor will introduce you to the basic components of the aircraft, including the fuselage, wings, ailerons, rudder, elevator, and landing gear. In addition to learning about the aircraft itself, you will also review airport procedures, runway markings, and basic safety guidelines.

Approach 52

Approach Aileron Visual Flight Rules Rudder 52

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

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 23, 2025

It had been over 15 years since I was last in a small airplane, and to say I was excited is quite the understatement. Once we were ready, we started up, and the instructor radioed the tower before taxiing to the runway. Taxiing procedures: Moving the aircraft to the runway involves steering with your feet using the rudder pedals.

Rudder 98

Rudder Descent Pilot Runway 98

Photographic Logbook

FEBRUARY 2, 2025

Over the last three years, The Bear has expressed great interest in visiting Alton Bay, the only FAA-authorized ice runway in the continental United States. A very brief 2022 season for the ice runway eliminated opportunities to return that year. The Bear was furious that she missed out. The Bear and me flying to Alton Bay!

Runway 89

Runway Knot Weather Turbulence 89

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

I watched the stick flutter to and fro in sync with the rudder pedals as Wilkins fought to maintain the centerline, all the while pushing in the throttle. The little plane leapt into the air almost immediately as the wind seemingly swirled from every direction along the 5,000-foot runway. The remainder of our flight would follow U.S.

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. A bounced landing is a condition where the aircraft lands on the runway, but instead of rolling on the surface after touchdown, it rebounds/bounces off the ground. You should use the rudder to do this. What do you do?

Descent 52

Descent Runway Rudder Pilot 52

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

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 264

Aileron Runway Rudder Descent 264

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 18, 2024

We would launch from the paved runway, retract the gear, and head out to one of the nearby waterways to practice takeoffs and landings. Sometimes we would beach the airplane on a sandy shoreline for a brief period while we reviewed our maneuvers, grabbed a bite to eat, and simply enjoyed the experience.

Airplanes 91

Airplanes Torque Tail Pilot 91

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. Then off to the other runway for a full stop. So what did I observe?

Pitot Tube 91

Pitot Tube Approach Aileron Instrument Landing System 91

Pilot's Life Blog

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

Aerodynamic Differences Fixed-Wing Aircraft (Airplanes) Airplanes , or fixed-wing aircraft, generate lift through their stationary wings as they move forward. Control Mechanisms Airplane Controls In airplanes, pilots manage flight using three primary controls: the ailerons, elevator, and rudder.

Torque 52

Torque Lift Airplanes Stability 52

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 18, 2024

We would launch from the paved runway, retract the gear, and head out to one of the nearby waterways to practice takeoffs and landings. Sometimes we would beach the airplane on a sandy shoreline for a brief period while we reviewed our maneuvers, grabbed a bite to eat, and simply enjoyed the experience.

Airplanes 89

Airplanes Torque Tail Pilot 89

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

The mechanic flew the airplane he’d flown back as well. I was hoping for one of the PA-18s, but the only airplane available was the PA-12. I called Lawson Tower and was cleared for taxi and mid-runway takeoff on Runway 15. The mechanic asked me to tell no one about what had happened. On Thursday, I had nothing to do.

Descent 96

Descent Lift Runway Cockpit 96

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

We both had a good chuckle, then we lurched out of the parking spot as I tested the toe brakes for the first time and began to waddle our way to the runway in the mighty Cessna 150. How they came to a stop holding short of the runway generally gave a preview as to how they would handle a plane for the rest of the flight.

Rudder 52

Rudder Runway Altimeter Pilot 52

Air Facts

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Aviation, for me, began when I was a small child, my father taking me to airports and setting me on, in, and around all manner of small airplanes. The movie featured dad’s favorite airplane, the Travel Air 4000. A few years later, one of the pilots in the movie brought his airplane to town and gave rides at the county fair.

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Pilot Checkride Rudder 98

Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

You can only begin improving the touchdown if you’ve mastered positioning your aircraft above the runway threshold correctly. For example, if you fly a high-wing aircraft such as a Cessna 172, you can use the point where the runway cuts the wing strut as a reference. See if the runway appears to move relative to the windshield.

Descent 52

Descent Weight-Shift-Control Crosswind Runway 52

Flight Training Central

DECEMBER 4, 2023

A pilot needs to control the airplane in a manner that the wings support the weight of the airplane as long as practical to minimize stresses imposed on the landing gear by a rough surface or to prevent sinking into a soft surface. The approach for the soft-field landing is similar to the normal approach.

Approach 52

Approach Ground Effect Final Approach Airplanes 52

Air Facts

JANUARY 29, 2025

The squadron now has two newly minted naval aviators, one retread and no airplanes. We know that our new airplanes will be the F2H-3 Banshee night fighter. In the turn there is no problem, but when rolling out on the runway centerline, the view is reduced even more. The view from the rear seat is mostly out the side window.

Runway 52

Runway Airplanes Pilot Pilot in Command 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 4, 2024

Beyond that, likely with an instructor, you can learn fun, new skills in the same airplane. If you have access to both low- and high-wing airplanes, you can practice till you’re really good in both. Every now and again, planes go off the side of the runway. And only focus on aligning the center of the airplane.

Crosswind 52

Crosswind Aileron Runway Gross Weight 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Not only must you fly unnervingly slow, but you also have to pick a spot on the runway and hit it. It’s a runway that is too short for a normal takeoff or landing but still usable with certain precautions. This allows them to safely operate into and out of these tight runways. You’re not alone.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Approach Density Altitude 52