Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Kentland has a 4,000-foot runway, east/west, with a crosswind straight out of the north. I lamented that there was no tail tie-down until I remembered that I had brought three welded rebar tie-downs and a heavy hammer to drive them in. The upper Midwest scenery can be spectacular. As I got on downwind, the ADS-B went totally nuts.

Weather 74

Weather Runway Knot Rudder 74

Flight Training Central

JANUARY 27, 2025

From misjudging the flare to battling crosswinds, these mistakes can challenge pilots of all experience levels. As the airplane contacts the ground, the tail will be forced down very rapidly by the back-elevator pressure and by inertia acting downward on the tail.

Airplanes 89

Airplanes Runway Accelerated Stall Lift 89

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Adverse yaw is a side effect of aileron use, countered by rudder input. Unlike the elevators and rudder mounted close to the fuselage, the ailerons location at the end of the long, thin, and flexible wings makes them much more prone to flutter. Most of the ailerons mass lies behind the hinge, making it tail-heavy.

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 2, 2024

Notable design changes included the introduction of a swept tail design in 1960 and a new cowl design in 1961, which improved aerodynamics and performance. Micro vortex generators are also a popular upgrade, optimizing airflow over the wing and tail surfaces to enhance control.

Knot 98

Knot Cockpit Pilot Gross Weight 98

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Kentland has a 4,000-foot runway, east/west, with a crosswind straight out of the north. I lamented that there was no tail tie-down until I remembered that I had brought three welded rebar tie-downs and a heavy hammer to drive them in. The upper Midwest scenery can be spectacular. As I got on downwind, the ADS-B went totally nuts.

Weather 52

Weather Runway Knot Rudder 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

Helicopters use a small rotor mounted on the tail that produces sideways thrust to counter the main rotors torque reaction. The tail rotor pushes air to one side ( action ), and the tail moves the other way ( reaction ). Other Designs The tail rotor is not the only way to solve the torque reaction problem.

Lift 52

Lift Torque Thrust Aileron 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 5, 2024

In this article, we’ll cover all you need to know to confidently master crosswind landings. Key Takeaways Manage crosswind landing challenges using the crab and sideslip techniques. Plan for crosswind conditions with step-by-step procedures. Your ailerons and rudder will be neutral once you’re in the crab position.

Crosswind 52

Crosswind Longitudinal Axis Aileron Rudder 52

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

However, if the aircraft has an oversized tail but not enough dihedral in the wings, it becomes vulnerable to spiral instability. Tail Design Larger, more effective stabilizers provide stronger restoring forces. A jolt from the side can trigger a Dutch roll when flying in gusty crosswinds or heavy turbulence.

Stability 52

Stability Center of Gravity Aileron Rudder 52

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

In 1998, I joined a venerable flying club, Stick and Rudder Flying Club of Waukegan National Airport (KUGN). I chose runway 14 (the UGN crosswind runway) and the crash and resuce vehicles moved onto the adjacent taxiway. Hopefully you can acquire that experience without injury or damage. And she was not kidding.

Pilot 98

Pilot Descent Runway Crosswind 98

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 7, 2025

She flew like a big, lumbering Cub of sorts, complete with a wooden rudder bar, tall wooden stick, and instruments that seemed like they were straight out of World War One. 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.

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Tail Pilot Jet 98

Photographic Logbook

JANUARY 25, 2025

Thaws, rain, snow, and strong crosswinds can temporarily close the airport. More vintage cred: a V-tailed Beechcraft Bonanza! I countered with aggressive right rudder and barely succeeded in keeping the plane on the runway. Despite its acclaim, the ephemeral airport leads a finicky existence. Oh, because of the purple.

Runway 68

Runway Airplanes Threshold Approach 68

Plane and Pilot

DECEMBER 16, 2024

Planespotters note the F2’s separate ailerons and flaps, conventional tail. Out back, theres an entirely new tail. Theres an unusual duck tail between the two elevator halves that provides a measure of anti-stall behavior. You might ask what happens with crosswind landings when you take away rudder authority.

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Rudder Aileron Crosswind 98

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

True, a slightly higher aspect ratio wing was desired, which in turn required a larger vertical tail and thus a little extra mass, but the size, approximately 20% larger than a Widgeon, was set. The Mallard—it’s a trike—has a tail stinger because it otherwise falls on its tail when loading.”

Airplanes 77

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 77