Pilot Institute
OCTOBER 2, 2024
But, as you near the runway, the airplane starts to float. It’s not magic—it’s ground effect. When you’re flying near the ground, within one wingspan, the aerodynamic forces start to change. Ground effect is a phenomenon that every pilot must master. What Is Ground Effect in Aviation?
Pilot Institute
MARCH 28, 2025
Vortex size is also affected by proximity to the ground. If youre flying low enough to be in ground effect, the vortex isnt able to fully develop. After one aircraft lands, the tailwind pushes the vortices forward into the runways touchdown zone. This phenomenon is called Ground Effect.
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Flight Training Central
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
What is ground effect? What is the headwind component for a landing on Runway 18 if the tower reports the wind as 215° at 30 knots? Ground effect is most likely to result in which problem? Among the performance elements are takeoff and landing distances, rate of climb, ceiling, speed, payload, and fuel economy.
Fear of Landing
JANUARY 17, 2025
On the 29th of December 2024, a Boeing 737-800 operated by a low-cost South Korean airline crashed after an emergency landing and overshooting the runway at Muan International Airport in South Korea. They turned and attempted to land in the opposite direction of the runways operation that day, going north to south.
Flight Training Central
MAY 6, 2024
Short field landings can be shorter because the drag robbing ground effect is lessened by the greater distance between the wing and ground. Some complain the view of the airport is blocked during the base to final turn in a high wing and this is true, but I haven’t experienced a runway moving during this turn.
Fear of Landing
MAY 3, 2024
On the 9th of August 2023, a VX4 crashed at Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire during a test flight over the runway. Once stable in ground effect, the pilot shut down EPU1 (left-side outboard) to simulate the performance in the case of an engine failure. Then the pilot carefully climbed to 30 feet above the runway.
Flight Training Central
DECEMBER 4, 2023
This allows the airspeed to slowly dissipate while the airplane is flown just above the surface in ground effect. When the wheels first touch the ground, the proper technique allows the wings to continue supporting much of the weight of the airplane.
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