Air Facts

MARCH 5, 2025

The power reduction, the induced drag of the level turn (2 Gs necessary to maintain level flight), and the parasitic drag of the speed-brakes slows the aircraft below the gear-limiting speed of 240 knots. NOTE: Those speeds are the basic speeds when the fuel remaining onboard our T-38s was 1000 pounds or less.

Pilot 98

Pilot Knot AGL Approach 98

Pilot Institute

MARCH 26, 2024

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. On a normal landing, you’d pull the power over the threshold, begin your roundout, and flare around 10 feet AGL. Soft field landings are widely misunderstood.

NOTAMs 52

NOTAMs Runway Approach Descent 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

They are also one of the most feared maneuvers during the private pilot checkride. If it prevents you from landing close to the threshold, a short runway becomes even shorter. Full flaps are generally used since they lower approach speed and increase drag. Short field landings are a true test of a pilot’s skill.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Approach Density Altitude 52

AV Web

JANUARY 22, 2025

Most accounts point outcorrectlyhow decisions about spacing and glide path management, and even whether it was wise to hold the pick-up game contest in winds that caused cancellation of a larger, planned STOL Drag event, may have contributed to this crash. Mayday STOL Drag Races, a slow-flight competition. Those lessons are all valid.

Final Approach 52

Final Approach Airplanes Drag Crosswind 52