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

Vintage Aviation News

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

On September 23, 1953, ‘827 and 41 other aircraft were nearly lost when they were launched into marginal weather conditions at 1330hrs. As soon as the weather gets right,’ because during the winter months down there, that runway gets soft. Once I knew the airplane inside and out, I just had to wait on the runway.”

Pilot 105

Pilot Airplanes Runway Cockpit 105

Pilot's Life Blog

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

Helicopter Controls Helicopter pilots utilize three main controls: the cyclic, collective, and anti-torque pedals. Anti-torque pedals manage the tail rotor’s thrust, countering the main rotor’s torque to maintain directional control and stability. Why is helicopter flight control more challenging?

Torque 52

Torque Lift Airplanes Stability 52

Air Facts

JANUARY 13, 2025

Just open up FlightAware and see how many Cirrus are flying, all over the country in all kinds of weather. I love to fly a Citabria at 500 feet with the window open as much as any pilot, but in a high performance IFR airplane does anyone seriously want to fly without moving maps, datalink weather, and a good autopilot? No rudder trim.

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Rudder Knot Pilot 98

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 18, 2024

We would launch from the paved runway, retract the gear, and head out to one of the nearby waterways to practice takeoffs and landings. The weather had cleared after our arrival, offering warmer temperatures and occasional sunshine, which is rare for this part of Alaska in summer. To put it mildly, it is a very risky maneuver.

Airplanes 84

Airplanes Torque Tail Pilot 84

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 18, 2024

We would launch from the paved runway, retract the gear, and head out to one of the nearby waterways to practice takeoffs and landings. The weather had cleared after our arrival, offering warmer temperatures and occasional sunshine, which is rare for this part of Alaska in summer. To put it mildly, it is a very risky maneuver.

Airplanes 82

Airplanes Torque Tail Pilot 82

Photographic Logbook

SEPTEMBER 16, 2023

The chirping we heard was due to excess torque-related motion of the powerplant in the engine compartment. Ray later found that the nuts securing the remaining three mounts were insufficiently torqued by whomever mounted that engine before the Williamson Flying Club bought the airplane in 2021. It was undamaged, it just came apart.

Torque 52

Torque Airplanes Clearance Horizontal Stabilizer 52