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The Easy Way to Start Your Journey as a Pilot

Pilot Institute

Private Pilot License : Take a checkride to receive your license. During training, you’ll learn about Newton’s laws of motion, Bernoulli’s principle, and aerodynamic forces, including lift, thrust, and drag. Checkride : $400-$600. Solo flight: Getting the experience to fly the aircraft on your own.

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What Is Ground Effect?

Pilot Institute

Your wings don’t create as much drag as they would at higher altitudes, which gives you extra lift. Key Takeaways Ground effect increases an aircraft’s lift and decreases drag. Lift increases due to the high-pressure area created by the compressed air beneath the wings. It’s not magic—it’s ground effect.

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How to Master Slow Flight (Step-By-Step)

Pilot Institute

Additionally, both private and commercial pilot checkrides require the demonstration of slow flight. Lift : The aerodynamic force generated due to airflow over the wings. Drag : The aerodynamic force opposing the aircraft’s forward motion. The aircraft’s deceleration reduces the airflow over the wings, which reduces lift.

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How to Make Perfect Steep Turns (Step-By-Step)

Pilot Institute

A smaller bank angle will result in more lift, while an increased bank angle will reduce the lift. As an aircraft banks, lift is divided into horizontal and vertical components. The horizontal component of lift causes the aircraft to turn. Combining both components of lift, the total lift required increases.

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How to Fly Perfect Lazy Eights

Pilot Institute

Lazy eights sound like the least challenging commercial checkride maneuver to learn. The higher speed creates extra lift, causing the airplane to bank further into the turn. The aileron on the right wing deflects down, increasing the camber and creating more lift. The left wing’s aileron deflects up, decreasing lift.

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How to Make a Perfect Soft Field Landing Every Time

Pilot Institute

Going into a checkride (or a grass strip) without solid soft field skills is asking for trouble. However, the increased drag might make it impossible to take off again. This does two things: it keeps the load on the wings and increases drag. The sudden loss of lift can cause the wheels to dig into the ground.

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Mastering Short Field Landings (A Step-by-Step Guide)

Pilot Institute

They are also one of the most feared maneuvers during the private pilot checkride. Full flaps are generally used since they lower approach speed and increase drag. The drag allows for a steeper descent, which is particularly helpful when avoiding obstacles. Reducing lift puts more weight on the wheels. Consult your POH.