Pilot Institute

JANUARY 3, 2025

Standard FAA aviation windsocks are calibrated to fully extend at a wind speed of 15 knots. A windsock is an essential aviation tool that helps pilots make safe decisions. Non-Towered Airports Compared to commercial airports that have tower services, many general aviation airports are uncontrolled.

Knot 98

Knot Weather Weight-Shift-Control Wind Shear 98

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 12, 2025

The main landing gear featured a swiveling trailing link design to allow landings in a crab, a simple version of the crosswind crab system in the mighty B-52 Stratofortress. In a crosswind, you fly an Ercoupe down the runway with whatever crab angle you need to track the centerline and let the gear figure it out upon touchdown.

Rudder 105

Rudder Tail Crosswind Airplanes 105

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 2, 2024

Another interesting model is the 172RG Cutlass RG, which features retractable landing gear and a more powerful Lycoming O-360-F1A6 engine, offering a cruise speed of 140 knots. However, the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994 paved the way for its return, and production resumed in 1996.

Knot 98

Knot Cockpit Pilot Gross Weight 98

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 19, 2024

About this time, the Bellanca Aircraft Company of Alexandria, Minnesota, was in the throes of financial distress, an unfortunately common occurrence for legacy general aviation companies of the period. Initial climb rate is around 1,200 feet per minute, and cruise speed is in the 170 knot range.

Tail 98

Tail Airplanes Crosswind Knot 98

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

This 172 had a flap extension speed of 85 knots, and my old Cessna 172’s limit was 100 mph, or 87 knots. There was a nice crosswind, and I demonstrated landing on a concrete expansion joint, offset from the runway centerline. The newer 172 (46 years old) did and had a 3-G limit with flaps extended.

Pitot Tube 84

Pitot Tube Approach Aileron Instrument Landing System 84

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 16, 2024

If there is a crosswind at the airport, you should mention this in your brief. Discuss your nominated crosswind technique. Explain what aircraft input you will require to land the aircraft in the crosswind. For example, the crosswind is from left to right. Take your ground speed in knots and divide it by two.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Descent Approach Runway 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Proper angle of attack management also maintains safety during slow flight, crosswind landings, and when encountering wake turbulence. Lets say your stall speed was 60 knots. 60 X 1.4 = a new stall speed of 84 knots! For many general aviation aircraft, the critical AOA is in the range of 15-18 degrees.

Lift 52

Lift Turbulence Drag Pilot 52