Plane and Pilot

JULY 1, 2025

After arriving at the destination airstrip the student entered left downwind for Runway 13, resulting in a right quartering tailwind of about 5 knots. The airplane made a slow descent toward the east for about nine minutes, away from the destination airport. The flight instructor told the student to perform a short field landing.

Density Altitude 54

Density Altitude Airplanes Runway Pilot 54

Fear of Landing

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

The flight crew adjusted the icing bug to 165 knots. The temperature at their cruising altitude was around -9° with westerly winds at 46 knots. The ATR’s airspeed was 191 knots. The crew acknowledged and said that they were at the ideal point of descent and waiting for clearance. The flight crew confirmed SANPA.

Knot 104

Knot Descent Approach Weather 104

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 2, 2024

This system includes modes for: roll pitch heading vertical speed altitude hold approach These modes allow for a steady rate of descent, ascent, and consistent speed and altitude ranges. For instance, Knots 2U offers a Cessna 172 Cowl / Body Fairing Kit that improves aerodynamics and can increase cruise speed by 3-4 mph.

Knot 98

Knot Cockpit Pilot Gross Weight 98

Air Facts

JULY 1, 2024

Upon reaching five knots before the rotation speed, I merely tugged on the manual trim slightly and the aircraft rose without hesitation. I put the gear down one dot above the glideslope and let the drag bring the aircraft down at its 550 foot-per-minute descent rate. You can lose up to five knots or more.

Knot 97

Knot Approach Pilot Runway 97

Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

Learn to use aircraft references to establish a stable descent rate and pitch, ending up in a smooth roundout and flare. A quick way to estimate the correct descent rate for a 3-degree glidepath is to multiply your groundspeed by five. Flying at 60 knots? 60 x 5 = 300 feet per minute is your recommended descent rate.

Descent 52

Descent Weight-Shift-Control Crosswind Runway 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

In the Cessna 172S Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH), the landing distance decreases by 10% for every 9 knots of headwind. For the Cessna 172, landing distance increases by 10% for every 2 knots of tailwind. Any substantial changes to speed and descent rate will destabilize the landing.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Density Altitude Descent 52

Pilot Institute

MARCH 29, 2024

Drag : The aerodynamic force opposing the aircraft’s forward motion. This increases lift but comes at the cost of increased induced drag. Pilots must counteract the additional drag with more thrust to maintain altitude. The stall warning horn sounds at least 5 knots above the actual stall speed.

Lift 52

Lift Rudder Drag AGL 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 9, 2024

It’s just S-turns with climbs and descents, right? While the tilting lift vectors are an important source of adverse yaw, drag also plays a part. Any time a wing creates lift, it creates induced drag. In our example, the right wing has more lift, and thus more drag, than the left wing as the airplane rolls.

Rudder 52

Rudder Lift Aileron Drag 52

Pilot Institute

MARCH 26, 2024

However, the increased drag might make it impossible to take off again. High-wing aircraft might need more power or pitch to arrest the descent. This does two things: it keeps the load on the wings and increases drag. Overcorrecting for a high descent rate will cause the aircraft to balloon.

NOTAMs 52

NOTAMs Runway Descent Approach 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

The problem is that the aileron can only be deflected to a point after which the drag becomes significant. Increasing The Aircraft Speed Small, light, and low-powered aircraft such as the Cessna 172 have a relatively narrow operational speed range ranging from 40 knots up to about 160 knots. This is called having a wing drop.

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

Plane and Pilot

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

With skill (and some luck) the hook catches, the plane roars up to not drag the fabric along the ground, and the whole assembly is hoisted into the air. The plane is tugging a lot of extra drag, resulting in flying near full power, just above stall speed, all at low altitude. The single-seat Pawnee is a great match.

Drag 72

Drag Airplanes Pilot Rudder 72

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 11, 2024

As I passed Kelley's Island, wind streaks in the water out of the southwest indicated a wind of six to eight knots, exactly as forecast. Because the north end of the dragstrip and the east end of runway 28 were so close together, I wondered if the drag strip was a former runway, but could not find any evidence of that being the case.

Runway 92

Runway Approach Knot Drag 92

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

Be familiar with what an idling engine and slow gliding speed sound and feel like, what the clean descent rate is, how much altitude is lost during a 180- or 360-degree turn, and what minimum agl altitude you’ll want to have when you arrive abeam of your landing spot.

Drag 52

Drag Descent AGL Runway 52

Pilot Institute

JUNE 26, 2024

The aircraft was 44 knots higher than its target landing speed, which resulted in a runway overrun. It helps reduce the chances of a stall and puts you in a better position to arrest the descent and start your climb out. Pitch for Climb The next immediate action is to arrest the descent. Many passengers were injured.

Wind Shear 52

Wind Shear Runway Aeronautical Decision-Making Approach 52

Vintage Aviation News

AUGUST 22, 2024

Descent check!” Landing on a short field required full flaps and the slowest possible safe airspeed, a couple of knots above stall. That was about 89 knots, as I recall. I was dragging tail. Besides, we had our hands full, fighting to maintain control of the airplane. I called, setting up to land.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Tail Cargo Airplanes 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

Horizontal wind speeds near the surface can be as fast as 45 knots, resulting in a 90-knot wind shear from headwind to tailwind across the microburst. In seconds, an aircraft can be forced into an uncontrollable descent, leaving you with barely any time to react. Keep wings level to prevent unnecessary drag or instability.

Wind Shear 66

Wind Shear Weather Descent Approach 66

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

We routinely taxi at 1200 rpm due to the low spray…[we] can cruise at 10 knots” in displacement mode, something a Goose can’t do. Winging It Aside from the aforementioned desire for a greater aspect ratio for reduced drag, the one-piece Gweduck wing was developed for minimal weight, ease of construction and benign handling.

Airplanes 77

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 77