Crosswind Knot Turbulence 
Pilot Institute
MARCH 28, 2025
By far the strongest component of wake turbulence is the swirling air generated at the tips of the aircrafts wings. Key Takeaways Wingtip vortices, not engine exhaust, create the strongest wake turbulence. Wake turbulence can cause severe roll and structural damage to smaller aircraft. How Are Wingtip Vortices Formed?
Pilot Institute
JANUARY 3, 2025
Standard FAA aviation windsocks are calibrated to fully extend at a wind speed of 15 knots. These aircraft have lower crosswind limitations and are more affected by gusts and wind shear. How To Read a Windsock Hanging limp : Winds are under 3 knots. Extended halfway: Winds are around 7-8 knots. Why does this matter?
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Air Facts
JULY 15, 2024
Though wind is reported using such simple numbers like 270@15G20, I’ve come to believe that 20 knots here is not always the same as 20 knots there. Subjective factors such as terrain, turbulence, and gust direction are as important as the numbers. Then came the landing in 20 knots in the Hill Country of Texas, west of Austin.
Plane and Pilot
NOVEMBER 10, 2024
In order to be flown by a sport pilot, the resulting airplane must still meet the current regulations—1,320 pounds maximum gross weight, 120 knots max cruise speed, for example—but how it gets there is up to the builder. Airplanes in the LSA category have some performance limitations, so the RV-12 gets right to the 120-knot max cruise figure.
Flying Magazine
APRIL 26, 2024
The small aileron “tabs” were not doing a great job in crosswind ability. Left downwind on a blustery day with live weather actually shows a virga burst over the field, with local winds gusting 36 knots, making for some extreme conditions in such a tight canyon. Taking off in violent winds was a task. This was in XP12.
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. For instance, Knots 2U offers a Cessna 172 Cowl / Body Fairing Kit that improves aerodynamics and can increase cruise speed by 3-4 mph.
Photographic Logbook
FEBRUARY 2, 2025
A target moved across my traffic display at 450 knots (518 miles per hour). "I An approaching cold front from the west was forecast to bring wind, turbulence, and snow with it that afternoon. I slowed the Warrior down to better manage the turbulence and this, combined with the headwind, dropped our ground speed as low as 73 knots.
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