Justin, a student pilot in Florida, writes: I’ve been studying the performance charts in my Cessna 172’s POH and was surprised to see a note on the short field landing table that said to add 45% to the figures for landing on grass. Why do you need more landing distance on a soft field? Shouldn’t the surface friction slow the plane down more than on pavement?
Opinion
70 Airports For His 70th Birthday
To celebrate his 70th birthday, Oregon pilot Ray Phelan embarked on an ambitious mission: Landing his 1971 Beechcraft Bonanza at 70 different airports in a single day.
The Most Important Documents in Aviation
Slash the 80% flight training dropout rate. Discover how a simple syllabus saves student pilots time and money while ensuring checkride success.
Why The 2030 Deadline For Unleaded Avgas Is Final
Many pilots believe the 2030 deadline to phase out leaded 100LL avgas is just another government suggestion. However, environmental regulations and the harsh realities of tetraethyl lead manufacturing mean this transition is actually unavoidable. Discover why general aviation must prepare for a permanently unleaded future.
The Difference Between Anvils and Life Jackets
Arrogant social media responses hinder flight student success. Learn why seasoned aviators must abandon gatekeeping and prioritize pilot mentorship.
Triple Tail Aircraft: Why Classic Airliners Used Three Fins
During the late 1930s and early 1940s, several pioneering airliners like the Boeing Clipper and Lockheed Constellation embraced an unusual design feature: The triple tail. Of Wings & Things columnist Frederick A. Johnsen tells us about the fascinating engineering challenges, aerodynamic secrets, and hangar size limitations that inspired these iconic aviation masterpieces.
Why Choosing the Right Aviation Grease Matters
Grease is one of the most essential yet frequently misunderstood aviation lubricants. Our lubricants expert shows you how to properly select the exact grease for your specific aircraft, understand critical thickener compatibility issues, and learn the best practices for repacking wheel bearings to keep your airplane airworthy.
Is A Picture Really Worth A Thousand Words?
Discover how Airborne Hotspots uses ADS-B data to visualize airspace traffic, resolve local airport conflicts, and track loss-of-separation events.
There Are Stories to Tell and Stories to Remember
For all my interest in aircraft and my absolute love of being airborne, those affections pale in comparison to the thing that really kept me interested in aviation all these years: The people.