Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 7, 2025

Originally used as a trainer in World War II, the Stearman features a tandem, open cockpit with forgiving, yet challenging flight characteristics. Once youre used to those key differences, flying and landing a Stearman (without much crosswind, wink wink) is just as enjoyable, if not more, than a Cub. Whats not to love?

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Tail Pilot Jet 98

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

When you’re starting to feel human again after major surgery, what’s a good plan for getting safely back into the cockpit? This 172 had a flap extension speed of 85 knots, and my old Cessna 172’s limit was 100 mph, or 87 knots. I had a total knee replacement. These discrepancies helped me get my head back in the game.

Pitot Tube 59

Pitot Tube Approach Aileron Instrument Landing System 59

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 5, 2025

Cockpit Layout and Avionics The cockpit of the Piper Seminole is designed for ease of use and accessibility, with flight instruments arranged for quick scanning. 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.

Descent 52

Descent Final Approach Approach Runway 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 29, 2024

The glass cockpit overshadows the cooperative, complacent RV-9A’s character. Kentland has a 4,000-foot runway, east/west, with a crosswind straight out of the north. The FAA weather said a thunderstorm was forecast, gusts to 6 knots. Full flaps and 80 knots, trimmed, the airplane asked, is this what I really wanted?

Weather 58

Weather Runway Knot Rudder 58

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 29, 2024

The glass cockpit overshadows the cooperative, complacent RV-9A’s character. Kentland has a 4,000-foot runway, east/west, with a crosswind straight out of the north. The FAA weather said a thunderstorm was forecast, gusts to 6 knots. Full flaps and 80 knots, trimmed, the airplane asked, is this what I really wanted?

Weather 52

Weather Runway Knot Rudder 52

Fear of Landing

OCTOBER 4, 2024

Surface Wind South-west 7-12 knots (kt). He briefed the pilot on the cockpit instruments and best speeds for take-off, climb and glide. The pilot applied some aileron to compensate for the crosswind and then applied full power. The airspeed was between 50 and 55 knots and was not increasing. They were finally good to go.

Runway 52

Runway Pilot Knot Weather 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

Combining the Gweduck’s advanced hull with its counter-rotating propellers means differential power allows crosswind water taxiing impossible in floatplanes along with higher hull-in-water taxiing speeds. “We We routinely taxi at 1200 rpm due to the low spray…[we] can cruise at 10 knots” in displacement mode, something a Goose can’t do.

Airplanes 59

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 59

Plane and Pilot

DECEMBER 16, 2024

You might ask what happens with crosswind landings when you take away rudder authority. Flight Design rates the F2 with the same 16-knot demonstrated crosswind component as the previous CTs. In most ways, the cockpit is conventional, with twin center sticks and a prominent throttle lever on the center console.

Rudder 83

Rudder Airplanes Aileron Crosswind 83

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 18, 2024

“Sitting so high up and trying to look down inside the cockpit for the airspeed is nearly impossible. “Coming back around, I’m usually at about 60 knots. I have actually taxied out with a semi-crosswind where I just turned around and came back in because I could not control the airplane with the earlier brakes.

Airplanes 124

Airplanes Crosswind Tail Cockpit 124