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What Is a Flat Spin?

Pilot Institute

A flat spin is a thrilling (and potentially dangerous) flight phenomenon that pilots must prepare for. In reality, flat spins can challenge even experienced pilots, making it important for you to understand what they are and how to handle them. Ready to become a safer pilot? An aft center of gravity increases flat spin risk.

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What Is a Dutch Roll, and Is It Dangerous?

Pilot Institute

Large aircraft use yaw dampers while small aircraft rely on piloting techniques to counter Dutch roll. For example, if a statically stable aircraft gets blown off course by a gust of wind, it tries to return to its original heading without pilot input. Longitudinal Stability Longitudinal stability exists about the pitch axis.

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The Hazards of Aircraft Icing: Explained

Pilot Institute

Additional Dangers of Ice Accumulation Icing also makes your aircraft heavier and can even change the position of the center of gravity. It most commonly forms on the leading edges of your aircraft, including the wings, tail, and horizontal stabilizer, as well as on the propeller blades and pitot tubes.

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Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Grumman X-29

Vintage Aviation News

It was certainly a most unusual aircraft, distinguished by its forward swept wing and canard horizontal stabilizers. One of the biggest challenges for the X-29 was the unusual center of gravity, which was affected by the rear-mounting of the forward-swept wings and made the X-29 inherently unstable.

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Nothing Small About It

Plane and Pilot

When spelled geoduck it represents a grotesque, oversized mollusk, or clam to we pilot simpletons. Much depends on the aircraft’s weight, pilot skill and, surprisingly, “how much abuse you want to experience. Checking the oil is the main attraction to the pilot. The airplane will handle more than you want to.”