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 110

Rudder Tail Lift Knot 110

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 captain made a passenger announcement to give the Guarulhos weather information and estimated time left in the flight. The estimated flight time was an hour and forty-five minutes for the flight of 735 km.

Knot 98

Knot Approach Descent Weather 98

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

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 18, 2024

The weather had cleared after our arrival, offering warmer temperatures and occasional sunshine, which is rare for this part of Alaska in summer. The combination of poor weather and challenging terrain has led many a floatplane pilot to disaster. To put it mildly, it is a very risky maneuver. Back to the shore of Heckman Lake.

Airplanes 81

Airplanes Torque Tail Pilot 81

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 18, 2024

The weather had cleared after our arrival, offering warmer temperatures and occasional sunshine, which is rare for this part of Alaska in summer. The combination of poor weather and challenging terrain has led many a floatplane pilot to disaster. To put it mildly, it is a very risky maneuver. Back to the shore of Heckman Lake.

Airplanes 79

Airplanes Torque Tail Pilot 79

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

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