Fear of Landing

JUNE 28, 2024

The weather was clear. The flight plan referenced the current weather, specifically noting a westerly wind at 15 knots at 5,000 feet above mean sea level, with gusts up to 25 knots at higher altitudes. Reducing the lift and decreasing the torque effect helped to stabilize the helicopter.

Rudder 111

Rudder Tail Lift Knot 111

Fear of Landing

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

The weather was overcast for the flight route, with cloud tops reaching temperatures forecast from 0° to -35°C (32° to -31°F). The flight crew adjusted the icing bug to 165 knots. The temperature at their cruising altitude was around -9° with westerly winds at 46 knots. The ATR’s airspeed was 191 knots.

Knot 104

Knot Approach Descent Weather 104

Air Facts

JANUARY 13, 2025

Even the normally aspirated version (which is less popular than the turbo) climbs to 11,000 feet pretty easily, where it will cruise at over 160 knots on less than 15 gallons per hour. Just open up FlightAware and see how many Cirrus are flying, all over the country in all kinds of weather. Passengers love it. No rudder trim.

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Rudder Knot Pilot 98

Vintage Aviation News

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

In a T-6, I don’t care what you do, realistically, normal conditions, you might get 140 knots. That P-64 will cruise around all day at 180, 190 knots. On September 23, 1953, ‘827 and 41 other aircraft were nearly lost when they were launched into marginal weather conditions at 1330hrs. It’s a rocket. It was that fast.”

Pilot 105

Pilot Airplanes Runway Cockpit 105