Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 27, 2024

Well, for sure the training of pilots in swept-wing jets has improved dramatically, and the aircraft, runway environment, and approach aids have all made significant leaps forward. However, the capstone of all these efforts was the adoption of stabilized approach criteria and procedures on every approach and landing.

Stability 79

Stability Approach Runway Pilot 79

Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

You can only begin improving the touchdown if you’ve mastered positioning your aircraft above the runway threshold correctly. The easiest way to achieve this is by flying a stabilized approach. So, what is a stabilized approach? This lets you set the distance between the aircraft and the runway on the downwind leg.

Descent 52

Descent Weight-Shift-Control Crosswind Runway 52

Flight Training Central

MARCH 29, 2024

Quartering tailwind Quartering headwind Direct crosswind Correct! What is the difference between a normal landing and a crosswind landing? What is likely to occur if you lift off the runway before reaching rotation speed due to ground effect? In your logbook (paper or electronic).

Aileron 52

Aileron Crosswind Ground Effect Thrust 52

Northstar VFR

JULY 21, 2024

The rudder is a movable flight control which is mounted on the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer on the back of the airplane. Some new student pilots think the rudder and vertical stabilizer are the same thing. The vertical stabilizer is a vertical fixed part of the plane’s empennage. Why is the rudder so important?

Rudder 52

Rudder Airplanes Pilot Stability 52

Flying Magazine

APRIL 26, 2024

The small aileron “tabs” were not doing a great job in crosswind ability. On the downwind to the westerly runway at LOWI, I experienced a lot of up and down drafts, shear, varying winds, and sloppy controls. Landing was wild, leading to the aircraft’s big wings striking the ground at times in the crosswinds approaching 35 knots.

Crosswind 105

Crosswind Weather Knot Aileron 105

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

The Old Prop Strike A friend of mine had the misfortune to suffer a prop strike, one of those aw-shucks moments when the plane was allowed to stray off the runway and chew up a frangible runway light. As far as steep turns go, practice makes perfect, taking care to stabilize on the proper attitude.

Stability 80

Stability Annual Inspection Crosswind Runway 80

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Not only must you fly unnervingly slow, but you also have to pick a spot on the runway and hit it. It’s a runway that is too short for a normal takeoff or landing but still usable with certain precautions. This allows them to safely operate into and out of these tight runways. You’re not alone.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Approach Descent 52