Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

Your next-door hangar neighbor says, “probably needs new spark plugs ,” and the CFI at the flight school tells you to try a favorite trick that always works on his E-series Continental. The engine was idling, but the propeller is unrepairable, despite being able to propel the airplane back to the hangar. Why Can’t I…?

Stability 52

Stability Annual Inspection Crosswind Runway 52

Professional Pilot

JULY 3, 2024

High-level significant weather prognostic chart over the Pacific Ocean. Mechanical (shear) turbulence can form in the lee of any obstacle, from hangars and towers to massive mountain ranges. Of course, if the addition of gust speed will take you over your crosswind limits, you should consider diverting to a different runway or airport.

Turbulence 40

Turbulence Weather Jet Pilot 40

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

The first flight got weathered out, with broken clouds at 1,500 feet. There was a nice crosswind, and I demonstrated landing on a concrete expansion joint, offset from the runway centerline. It had undergone some repair work done after experiencing soot and smoke damage from a fire in a nearby hangar.

Pitot Tube 61

Pitot Tube Approach Aileron Instrument Landing System 61

Fear of Landing

OCTOBER 4, 2024

Weather Cloudy with patchy rain and drizzle. He went to the hangar and did a pre-flight walkaround of the 172, including checking the fuel. Satisfied, he pulled the 172 out of the hangar and started the engine. The pilot applied some aileron to compensate for the crosswind and then applied full power.

Runway 52

Runway Pilot Knot Weather 52

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 16, 2024

With warm sunny weather and a fantastic line-up of aircraft, we were really in for a treat. There was a fickle crosswind and it was interesting to see Dodge’s first landing attempt given away when caught by a gust just before touchdown and to come back and make a perfect landing the second time.

Crosswind 52

Crosswind Jet Weather Tail 52

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 11, 2024

With gusty winds forecast along the eastern seaboard on October 11, I let the weather prognostic chart suggest a different course. I was intrigued by what appeared to be a grass crosswind runway at North Bass Island, but no such runway is listed in official publications. This airport is a mere 1.4 Must be the bootlegger's strip.

Runway 98

Runway Approach Knot Drag 98

Air Facts

AUGUST 21, 2024

In fact, we have a window over the stove that looks into the hangar. Given good weather, there is no excuse not to go fly. A cruise climb as I make my crosswind turn, then downwind, more radio calls on the way. The grin on my face seems permanent these days. We live at an airpark, and the airplanes are steps from my kitchen.

Groundspeed 97

Groundspeed Runway Approach Crosswind 97

Plane and Pilot

JULY 2, 2024

You should go only if the weather is as benign as forecast, good alternates exist, and you feel good about doing it. I have one airplane in my hangar that can only carry 500 pounds of payload with the fuel tanks topped off—that’s it, if I’m going to respect the max-takeoff-weight limit, and I will.

Density Altitude 53

Density Altitude Airplanes Pilot Wind Shear 53