Air Facts

JULY 15, 2024

Though wind is reported using such simple numbers like 270@15G20, I’ve come to believe that 20 knots here is not always the same as 20 knots there. I did a checkride in 30 knot winds in the flatlands of Kansas, almost straight down the runway. Then came the landing in 20 knots in the Hill Country of Texas, west of Austin.

Knot 75

Knot Crosswind Rudder Runway 75

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 23, 2024

Fifteen hundred feet past the end of the runway, a pilot was trapped in the cockpit of an Extra NG. Around halfway, cruising at 3,000 feet at 180 knots, onboard avionics data indicates increasing temperature in one of the cylinder heads lasting about five minutes. Data shows a constant high-speed descent straight toward the runway.

Knot 84

Knot Runway Pilot Air Traffic Control 84

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 23, 2024

Fifteen hundred feet past the end of the runway, a pilot was trapped in the cockpit of an Extra NG. Around halfway, cruising at 3,000 feet at 180 knots, onboard avionics data indicates increasing temperature in one of the cylinder heads lasting about five minutes. Data shows a constant high-speed descent straight toward the runway.

Knot 52

Knot Runway Pilot Air Traffic Control 52

Air Facts

JULY 17, 2024

With groundspeed above 185 kts., With a 20+ knot headwind straight down the runway, my touchdown was slow and thankfully smooth. And YES, the flight home was far worse as I was flying low to keep the groundspeed in positive numbers and thinking the truck drivers were going to beat me home.

Groundspeed 81

Groundspeed Turbulence Knot Pilot 81

Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

You can only begin improving the touchdown if you’ve mastered positioning your aircraft above the runway threshold correctly. A quick way to estimate the correct descent rate for a 3-degree glidepath is to multiply your groundspeed by five. Flying at 60 knots? See if the runway appears to move relative to the windshield.

Descent 52

Descent Weight-Shift-Control Crosswind Runway 52

Flying Magazine

APRIL 25, 2024

We asked Potomac Approach to change our destination to Richmond (KRIC) and received a clearance for vectors to final to the ILS Runway 2. The current observation included a gusty northeast wind in heavy rain with a visibility less than 2 miles and a runway visual range (RVR) that varied from 6,000 feet to better than 6,000 feet.

Weather 108

Weather Wind Shear Clearance Turbulence 108

Air Facts

AUGUST 5, 2024

Next you look at NOTAM’s once again and notice that Runways 8R and 26L are closed. And a quick check of the ATIS on your trusty Sporty’s handheld VHF radio reveals that Runways 35 is currently in use. Assuming the mighty Warrior can produce a groundspeed of 90 knots, you take that number, divide it by 60, and you’ll end up with 1.5.

Density Altitude 74

Density Altitude Ceiling Runway Weather 74