Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

In the Cessna 172S Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH), the landing distance decreases by 10% for every 9 knots of headwind. For the Cessna 172, landing distance increases by 10% for every 2 knots of tailwind. For the Cessna 172S, we fly a short-field approach with full flaps at 61 knots.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Approach Descent 52

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 3, 2024

One benefit of these aerodynamic tweaks is a vibration, or “initial buffet,” that is felt in the seat of the pants and flight controls, about 10-15 knots above stall speed. Second, excessive bank and bottom rudder are not your friends. These were added to manage the low speed air flow over the wings, stabilizer and elevators.

Approach 77

Approach Airplanes Horizontal Stabilizer Pilot 77

Northstar VFR

AUGUST 11, 2024

The standards for slow flight on a Private Pilot checkride are: maintain the specified altitude, ±100 feet; specified heading, ±10°; airspeed, +10/-0 knots; and specified angle of bank, ±10°. Right rudder input will be necessary to maintain coordination. If you’re in choppy air, make the target airspeed a little more.

Checkride 52

Checkride Airplanes Pilot AGL 52

Aerotime

JULY 19, 2024

The primary flight controls on the DC-10 (ailerons, rudder, elevators, spoilers) were all operated by hydraulic pressure and the first officer was quick to realize that his controls were unresponsive to his inputs. On checking the hydraulic fluid pressure and quantity gauges, he noticed that they all read zero.

Runway 301

Runway Horizontal Stabilizer Airlines Airline 301

Photographic Logbook

MARCH 10, 2024

According to the official Cherokee Warrior II Information Manual, the recommended approach speed with full flaps is 63 knots. However, on the flight home from Guthrie, I made my approach at exactly 63 knots to the Kentland Municipal Airport (50I) in the midst of a windswept Indiana cornfield.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Knot Runway Avionics Master Switch 52

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

READ MORE: Cirrus Adds Second Vision Jet Simulator In this scenario, the options are a 180-degree turn using only rudder to avoid overbanking—common when you lose the outside horizon reference—to get back to VFR conditions or contacting ATC to ask where the nearest VFR is. It might be no greater than 6 knots with gusts to 10 mph.

Crosswind 105

Crosswind Airplanes VOR Runway 105

Air Facts

JUNE 21, 2024

I let him have the controls again, my hands approximately one-sixteenth of an inch away away from the yoke, my feet surreptitiously on the rudders. One time, walking back to the FBO from the airplane after about what seemed like his hundreth dual flight, he turned and asked me “How fast is a knot?” And a knot is 1.15 He agreed.

Rudder 76

Rudder Crosswind Knot Aileron 76

Air Facts

AUGUST 26, 2024

Make this one of the key measures of your pilot proficiency: can you maintain a predetermined airspeed with a maximum deviation of +10/-5 knots (the Private Pilot ACS)? For example, fly 65 knots level (+/-2 knots if you can), then fly 65 knots climbing, then 65 knots descending, then 65 knots descending and turning.

Knot 86

Knot Runway Airplanes Pilot 86

Air Facts

MAY 24, 2024

With a little forward pressure on the yoke, I was able to keep the airplane on the runway to continue picking up airspeed as we arrived at my target of 60 knots for takeoff. As soon as we hit 60 knots indicated, I lightly pulled back on the yoke and the airplane popped right off the ground. No ceiling so no hold for us today!

Aileron 72

Aileron Crosswind Knot Runway 72

Pilot Institute

MARCH 29, 2024

Common mistakes include neglecting clearing turns, delaying stall recovery, and misusing the rudder. The stall warning horn sounds at least 5 knots above the actual stall speed. Since you need to fly without triggering the warning, select a target airspeed of about 2 to 5 knots more. Use the rudder to stay coordinated.

Lift 52

Lift Rudder Drag AGL 52

Jetwhine

JANUARY 17, 2024

Down low, maximum speeds can easily exceed 425 knots. You’d think pilot problems would be all about stick-and-rudder skills here,” he said. Steering happens through coordinated use of brakeless rudder pedals augmented by a handbrake, which looks like it was swiped from a 10-speed bike, attached to the control stick.

Knot 52

Knot Rudder Pilot Jet 52

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

This is consistent with Rick’s report, which referenced 9 knots of wind. Note that a 43 knot gust from a direction of 190 degrees was measured at 17:39, one minute after the accident (provided that the time stamp is accurate). I was doing about 80 knots and all of a sudden I hit this tremendous sink.

Pilot 52

Pilot AGL Wind Shear Runway 52

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

Proper rudder use is required to counter adverse yaw to maintain coordinated flight. Apply the necessary rudder to maintain coordinated flight. Maintain the entry altitude ±100 feet, airspeed ±10 knots, bank ±5°, and roll out on the entry heading ±10°. Adverse yaw is most apparent during the entry and exit of steep turns.

Lift 52

Lift Aileron Drag Pilot 52

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

The weather briefing we had reviewed a half hour earlier promised a 20-knot headwind that would require two fuel stops on the 130-mile trip from our home airport in Kennett, Missouri (KTKX), to Little Rock Air Force Base (KLRF) in Arkansas. The windsock promised that getting the little yellow bird into the air would be a white-knuckle affair.

Runway 72

Runway Crosswind Rudder Approach 72

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

Airspeed variations with weight in light general aviation aircraft are only a handful of knots, so it’s easy to fly the published slow speed when light, the faster speed when heavy, and something in the middle when the aircraft weight is something in the middle. No math required. That variety may require multiple initiatives.

General Aviation 73

General Aviation Pilot Approach Runway 73

Pilot Institute

APRIL 19, 2024

You’re at a high pitch attitude and are counteracting the left-turning tendencies with rudder. A 60-degree bank increases stall speed by 20 knots, three knots above the best glide speed. At a typical ground speed of 70 knots, your turn diameter will be approximately 0.7 Because of the turn radius.

AGL 52

AGL Runway Descent Lift 52

Vintage Aviation News

JUNE 10, 2024

The Hellcat can definitely outmaneuver the Zero at speeds of 250 knots and better, so we began to follow them down.” One torpedo found its mark on USS Intrepid at 2211 hours, killing 11 sailors and wounding a further 17, causing flooding in several of the ship’s compartments and jamming the Intrepid ’s rudder hard to port.

Cockpit 128

Cockpit Tail Pilot Stability 128

Flying Magazine

APRIL 26, 2024

Viceroy is designed to combine the speed of an aircraft (cruising at 180 mph or 156 knots) with the functionality and low operating cost of a boat. And so much of pilot training is learning the feel, the stick and rudder, the takeoff, the flare,” Thalheimer told FLYING at DriftX. I’m a pilot.

Ground Effect 115

Ground Effect Rudder Knot Pilot 115