Air Facts

MARCH 26, 2025

Those familiar phrases more right rudder, watch your airspeed, flare, flare, flare! Time seemed to freeze as I floated in ground effect. The aircraft had sustained little damage the tail tie-down was knocked off and no one had been hurt. There in his hand, hung elegantly from a necklace chain, was the tail tie-down.

Knot 52

Knot Runway Pilot Tail 52

Photographic Logbook

JANUARY 25, 2025

More vintage cred: a V-tailed Beechcraft Bonanza! A Deflating Experience On short final, I clicked off the autopilot and brought Warrior 481 into ground effect, pulling the yoke back until she settled softly to the runway. I countered with aggressive right rudder and barely succeeded in keeping the plane on the runway.

Runway 68

Runway Airplanes Threshold Approach 68

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

There was no opportunity to recover and it hit the ground hard, thankfully just out of camera view. The Rifle ASOS recorded a gust of 43 mph from the south: a 100-degree shift in direction, putting it right on his tail. There was no opportunity to recover and it hit the ground hard, thankfully just out of camera view.

Pilot 52

Pilot AGL Wind Shear Runway 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

True, a slightly higher aspect ratio wing was desired, which in turn required a larger vertical tail and thus a little extra mass, but the size, approximately 20% larger than a Widgeon, was set. Otherwise the traditional high-wing, twin-engine flying boat layout suggested itself on practical grounds.

Airplanes 77

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 77

Photographic Logbook

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

He's at full takeoff power and he's got the tail up! ORA does not fly their pioneer era aircraft above the treetops, but the Pusher climbed out of ground effect and flew along the runway before setting back to the turf at the far end. However, turning the wheel actuates the rudder (instead of the ailerons).

Airplanes 56

Airplanes Runway Pilot Aileron 56