Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 12, 2025

Understanding the Basics of Flight Principles of Flight: Lift, Weight, Thrust, and Drag Flying a plane for the first time requires a basic understanding of the forces that make flight possible. Lift is generated by the wings, counteracting the force of weight, which pulls the plane down. Ready to experience the skies with us?

Aileron 52

Aileron Drag Rudder Descent 52

Northstar VFR

OCTOBER 27, 2024

Under VFR, the MEF guarantees 100’ obstacle/terrain clearance within that quadrant. When the aileron is deflected up on one side, lift is decreased on that wing. At the same time, the opposite aileron is lowered, thus increasing lift on that wing, causing the plane to roll.

Longitudinal Axis 59

Longitudinal Axis Pitot Tube Checkride Pilot 59

One Mile at a Time

MARCH 9, 2025

While I appreciate the huge size of the tray, I found the tray to be positioned rather low in comparison to the seat, as theres not much clearance for most people. Cathay Pacific business class seat tray table A321neo If you then flip it over, youll get the full tray, which youll want to use if youre enjoying a meal.

Narrow-Body Aircraft 96

Narrow-Body Aircraft Approach Wide-Body Aircraft Runway 96

Plane and Pilot

MARCH 25, 2025

Although I havent spent much time around GB1s (except for drooling over them while they are on display and flying at airshows) I am always taken aback by how much larger the airplane appears to be in personparticularly, the tall, sweeping rudder that curves down to a sharp point with just enough ground clearance. Sounds good.

Knot 111

Knot Airplanes Runway Rudder 111

Pilot Institute

MARCH 26, 2025

Key Takeaways Air density affects aircraft performance, including lift, engine power, and propeller effectiveness. These include lift, propeller thrust, and engine combustion. This increased density increases airflow over the wings, generating more lift. Fewer air molecules result in less dense air, which means less lift.

Density Altitude 52

Density Altitude Pilot True Airspeed Lift 52

Pilot's Life Blog

JULY 10, 2024

Contrary to popular belief, airplane taxiing does not include the moments right before takeoff where the plane’s speed continues to accelerate until it lifts off the ground or touchdown as the plane slows to a halt after landing. It uses a propulsion system comprising propellers or jet engines to navigate at a certain set speed limit.

Clearance 52

Clearance Runway Air Traffic Control Pilot 52

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

Usually that limitation is lifted as the learner gains more experience as a pilot. Remind the learners that GPS is much more than the “Direct To” key, because the direct key and the magenta line will put them through a mountainside or airspace requiring a clearance, so they best have their wits about them and maintain situational awareness.

Crosswind 105

Crosswind Airplanes VOR Runway 105

ABEAM

JULY 5, 2024

Finally they vectored us again onto the localiser and we received a very late landing clearance from Kuwait Tower about 2 miles out. I questioned ATC because of this and they made us descend parallel and 2 miles to the east of the 33R approach course so an airliner could descend next to us at our left: very unusual ! Screenshot

VOR 52

VOR Density Altitude Approach Final Approach 52

ABEAM

AUGUST 26, 2023

IFR clearance was direct to DEVBI while we knew we could pick up our oceanic clearance (my first ever !) After passing DEVBI, Scottish Control passed us to Reykjavik Control who told us to pick up our Oceanic Clearance with Iceland Radio on 127.850. after DEVBI with Iceland Radio.

Weather 52

Weather Clearance Knot Airplanes 52

Photographic Logbook

JULY 11, 2024

But I accepted the clearance knowing that I could change it with a local Approach control like Syracuse. Once on with Syracuse, I decided to rectify the inefficient routing at the end of my instrument clearance and requested direct to Sodus from the Syracuse VOR. The ceiling lifted to 900 feet and even began to break up over Rochester.

Ceiling 52

Ceiling Approach Weather Runway 52

AeroSavvy

AUGUST 20, 2021

More air molecules in engine cylinders allow the engine to produce more power; more air molecules moving across the propellor blades and wings means more efficient thrust and lift. As altitude increases, air molecules spread out, resulting in less power and lift. It was rewarding to see the aircraft perform exactly as expected.

Density Altitude 52

Density Altitude OAT Airplanes Fixed Base Operator 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

This can greatly impact landing performance and obstacle clearance. Reducing lift puts more weight on the wheels. The Flight Safety Foundation suggests increasing landing distance by 10% for every 1% of downhill slope. Optical Illusions Optical illusions can cause pilots to fly higher or lower on the approach than they should.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Approach Descent 52

Charles Ryan's Flying Adventure

JULY 17, 2024

This is the electronic controlled armrest which can be lifted up with a click of a button and you can pushed it down to get rid of the arm rests. Finally we were given the clearance to land. This seat also comes with reading light of 3 different positions, useful when the cabin lights are turned off and window shades are closed.

Airlines 59

Airlines Airline Cabin Crew Weather 59

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

The brothers believed that their lift was coming from smoke, which they could clearly see rising in the air. In letters to an English scientist, Sir Joseph Banks, dated December 1, 1783 and January 16, 1784, he described the balloon, and attributed the lift to “air rarified by heat”.

Lift 98

Lift Density Altitude AGL Pilot 98

Fear of Landing

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

The Chipmunk continued to runway 24L where the pilot was given clearance to take off. The aircraft started its take-off roll and lifted off about halfway down the runway. A person on the southern apron took photographs of the Chipmunk as it taxied past. Runway 06R/24L is 1,150 metres long (3,770 feet).

Runway 81

Runway Cockpit Pilot Descent 81

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 6, 2024

It offered the promise of range, lift, freight, and passenger capacity beyond that possible using contemporary biplane aircraft. The sheds offered only 25 feet clearance for each airship leaving through the doors. In 1924 the British government launched an audacious ‘Imperial Airship Scheme’, investing £1.35

Hangar 52

Hangar Clearance Lift Weather 52

Photographic Logbook

AUGUST 13, 2023

A Dunkin' in Jasper, GA made for makeshift flight planning space as we waited on fog to lift at Pickens County Airport. The weather was visibly lifting and he assured them that their chartered aircraft would return. The NetJet pilot read the clearance back haltingly because it didn't make any sense to him. Where was NetJets?

Approach 52

Approach Ceiling Runway Clearance 52

Air Facts

APRIL 29, 2024

I queried ATC about when to expect the approach clearance and was informed that the Saratoga had appeared to land but the pilot hadn’t contacted ATC to close his IFR flight plan. During the updraft, I distinctly remember thinking “the hand of God is lifting the plane upwards”, along with a feeling of joy, and relief.

Descent 98

Descent Approach Weather AGL 98

Photographic Logbook

JANUARY 25, 2025

As Warrior 481 lifted us to a cruise altitude of 7,500 feet, the first hint of the sunrise came in the form of a massive fireball turned vermillion by miles of low haze between us and the horizon. Gilead and I, both trailing Ed, ran into dramatically lowering visibility and requested pop-up IFR clearances.

Runway 68

Runway Airplanes Threshold Approach 68

Photographic Logbook

AUGUST 3, 2024

We departed from Sodus VFR, picked up our IFR clearances in the air, and proceeded direct to St Clair County Airport (KPHN) just on the Michigan side of the border with Canada. Unless the weather lifted before we arrived, there would be no getting into Port Huron. Cruising New York State somewhere near Rochester after departing Sodus.

Airplanes 86

Airplanes Runway Weather Approach 86

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

The airfoil is a Harry Riblett shape, giving modernized flow separation on the leading edge for a soft stall yet with good lift and drag performance. The takeoff technique is conventional taildragger—add full power, let the tail come up, then lift off when you get above Vmc. Overall, the controls were wonderful.

Airplanes 79

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 79

Aerotime

DECEMBER 27, 2024

Inflight icing was heavily suspected as the cause of the accident, causing a loss of lift and a stall-induced spin. According to the Aviation Safety Database, the CRJ was holding short of the runway waiting for take-off clearance, as the A350 taxied along an intersecting taxiway.

Runway 258

Runway Airlines Airline Horizontal Stabilizer 258

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 5, 2025

Approach speeds typically range from 80 to 90 knots depending on weight and flap settings, while full flaps are often used to provide the necessary lift during landing. Clear communication with air traffic control (ATC) is essential at this stage to receive landing clearance and avoid conflicts with other aircraft.

Descent 52

Descent Final Approach Approach Runway 52

Charles Ryan's Flying Adventure

JULY 22, 2024

Window view photos (Take off to Landing) The rainy condition caused some delays in departure and arrival but fortunately for us, we didn't wait long to obtain the clearance to push back and depart. We lifted off effortless towards the grumpy skies. We taxied to runway 27 for departure. Soon, it was our turn.

Cabin Crew 59

Cabin Crew Runway Weather Ceiling 59

Plane and Pilot

MARCH 4, 2025

The rest is just lift, drag, thrust, weather, and navigation. I rarely received an entire clearance when requesting IFR while en route. Of course, he had spent several hours in the Everglades waiting to be rescued from the alligators, so I was sympathetic. Oh, and some money. When the skies are largely empty, its easy.

Flight Plan 75

Flight Plan Weather True Airspeed Airplanes 75