Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 12, 2025

Understanding the Basics of Flight Principles of Flight: Lift, Weight, Thrust, and Drag Flying a plane for the first time requires a basic understanding of the forces that make flight possible. Thrust, produced by the engines, moves the plane forward, while drag, or air resistance, slows it down.

Aileron 52

Aileron Drag Rudder Descent 52

Vintage Aviation News

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

Around this time, the USAAF was also developing its first jet fighters, but knew that all-jet aircraft at this time were short-ranged and burned fuel quicker than propeller-driven aircraft, and so the optimal design was to feature a propeller-driven engine in the front for long range performance and a jet engine in the tail for high speed in combat.

Thrust 52

Thrust Tail Jet Drag 52

Fear of Landing

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

Flying in clouds of cold and warm fronts can lead to very small supercooled water droplets which build up as rime ice on the parts of the aircraft exposed to the wind: probes, antennas, and the leading edges of the wings and tail. The crew acknowledged and said that they were at the ideal point of descent and waiting for clearance.

Knot 104

Knot Approach Descent 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. 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.

Knot 98

Knot Cockpit Pilot Gross Weight 98

Air Facts

JULY 1, 2024

He was in his forties when we flew together in his V-tail Bonanza. 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. The Power Jockey. I could tell he was a good pilot. His skills were excellent, and his anticipation was admirable.

Knot 97

Knot Approach Pilot Runway 97

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

And ice doesn’t just make things slippery, it messes with the airflow over the wings, cuts down on lift, and ramps up drag. Remember that wings, propeller blades, and tail surfaces are airfoil-shaped. This leads to a serious loss of lift and an increase in drag. If you don’t act quickly, you’ll soon feel its effects.

Pitot Tube 52

Pitot Tube Drag Lift Airfoil 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. Most of the ailerons mass lies behind the hinge, making it tail-heavy. Tail-heavy ailerons droop downwards when they arent being pulled by the control system. potentially reverting the aileron back into a tail-heavy state.

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90