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Wingtip Vortices and Wake Turbulence

Pilot Institute

Pilots avoid vortices by maintaining safe separation and adjusting flight paths. As seen from the aircrafts tail, the vortex rotates in the anti-clockwise direction on the right wingtip and the clockwise direction on the left wingtip. Vortex size is also affected by proximity to the ground. How Are Wingtip Vortices Formed?

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High Wing or Low Wing – Which Trainer Should I Choose?

Flight Training Central

Because birds were designed by God and he created them with high wings”- quote by the late John Frank, Cessna Pilots Association. You don’t have to hang around airports, airplanes or pilots very long until someone will crank up the high wing versus low wing debate. “Low wing airplanes were designed by the very devil himself.

Lift 97
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2025 Richard Collins Writing Prize Runner-Up: Tailstrikes and Tiedowns

Air Facts

2025 Richard Collins Writing Prize Runner-Up: Tailstrikes and Tiedowns Air Facts Journal Editors note: This article was the runner-up entry in the 2025 Richard Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots. Time seemed to freeze as I floated in ground effect. How could I be a pilot if I made mistakes like this?

Knot 52
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Tow Plane Flies Too Slow – Glider Heavy with Water Ballast

Chess In the Air

Here is the video: The comments indicate that these incidents are relatively common and occur most frequently when the tow pilot is used to pulling very light gliders that only require a low tow speed. A clear and deliberate briefing of the tow pilot before the flight is essential. In Boulder we definitely have enough space available.

Knot 52
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Invisible Trap Kills Glider Pilot – How To Avoid Microbursts

Chess In the Air

About 90% of accidents could have been prevented by the pilot. Most can be avoided by diligent pre-flight preparations; by paying attention to what’s happening around us; by staying disciplined and flying within one’s margins; and by avoiding basic piloting mistakes through regular practice.

Pilot 52
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How to Make a Perfect Soft Field Landing Every Time

Pilot Institute

A soft field landing is a technique pilots use when landing on unpaved surfaces. Why Do Pilots Perform Soft Field Landings? Crowd Source Information The next best resource for information about runway conditions is other pilots. Calculate your landing and takeoff distances using the pilot’s operating handbook (POH).

NOTAMs 52
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Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Convair F-106 Delta Dart

Vintage Aviation News

On December 26, 1956, Convair’s chief test pilot Richard Lowe Johnson took in 56-451 for the F-106’s maiden flight. On December 15, 1959, Air Force test pilot Major Joseph W. At that point, the third pilot in the air, Major James Jim Lowe, called out to Foust over the radio, “Gary, youd better get back in it.”