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Wingtip Vortices and Wake Turbulence

Pilot Institute

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. If youre flying low enough to be in ground effect, the vortex isnt able to fully develop.

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

Flight Training Central

Then in 1956 Cessna moved the tail-wheel on the 170 to the nose and the resulting high wing 172, with well over 40,000 copies, became the best-selling civilian aircraft in history. Short field landings can be shorter because the drag robbing ground effect is lessened by the greater distance between the wing and ground.

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

Air Facts

Time seemed to freeze as I floated in ground effect. The main gear struck the runway with surprising force, causing me to balloon far above the runway. Bouncing violently, I thought I would go off the runway, but I managed to come to a halt right before the last turn-off. I had failed my instructor.

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

Chess In the Air

However, perhaps the safest response for everyone involved would have been the following: Rather than trying to climb with the tow plane, I should have stayed in ground effect while communicating the request for a greater airspeed. Staying in ground effect protects the glider from a stall because of lower induced drag.

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

Pilot Institute

Unlike paved runways, every soft landing surface is different. Obstructions: Ensure the runway is clear of obstacles, from stones to animals. Ground Inspection The best way to check the field’s condition is by inspecting it in person. You can walk down the length of the runway.

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

Chess In the Air

I was listening intently to the ASOS for wind or gusts, letting it repeat 5 or 6 times with the exact same report: 9 kts straight down the runway; no gusts. That was the runway we would use to land. It’s worth noting that Shmulik had a close call in the past: a jet pulled onto the runway in front of him with no radio call.

Pilot 52
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Alton Bay's "Excellent Water"

Photographic Logbook

When bay ice consistently thickens to over 12 inches, a team of dedicated volunteers collaborates with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation to open the Alton Bay Ice Runway. Over the years, its coveted status as the only FAA-authorized ice runway in the continental United States has endeared it to aviators seeking novelty.

Runway 68