Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Aircraft Weight and Limitations An aircraft’s weight affects inertia and stopping distance. The POH lists landing distances for specific gross weights. Smaller aircraft may only have short field landing distances for maximum gross weight. Any substantial changes to speed and descent rate will destabilize the landing.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Approach Density Altitude 52

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 12, 2025

Flying a small plane at lower altitudes allows pilots to navigate visually and avoid the complexities of high-altitude air traffic control. When flying a small plane, staying within the appropriate altitude ensures better control and a more comfortable experience, especially in turbulent weather.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Air Traffic Control Turbulence Weather 52

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. Watch out for some common mistakes, such as over-controlling and reacting incorrectly to visual cues. A quick way to estimate the correct descent rate for a 3-degree glidepath is to multiply your groundspeed by five.

Descent 52

Descent Weight-Shift-Control Crosswind Runway 52

Vintage Aviation News

AUGUST 22, 2024

Otherwise, our maintenance guys’ corrosion control team would rip me a new one. Besides, we had our hands full, fighting to maintain control of the airplane. Descent check!” That meant balancing aerodynamic forces on the flight controls with a large “trim wheel” linked by cables to tabs on the aft edge of our horizontal tail.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Tail Cargo Airplanes 52