How to Takeoff and Land an Airplane

After doing the before takeoff checks, taxi the airplane onto the runway. Line up with the center line using the rudder pedals to steer, put the yoke in the neutral position, and slowly add full power. Check the engine instruments to be sure you have achieved full power, and continue tracking the center line. Once the airspeed indicator shows 50 knots, slowly pull back on the yoke. As the nose wheel lifts of the ground adjust the pitch of the airplane using the elevator to maintain 70 knots in the climb. Using coordinated aileron and rudder, try to keep the wings level as you climb to traffic pattern altitude. When the engine is running at high power, and the airplane is in a climb, forces on the propeller make the airplane want to yaw to the left. This left turning tendency must be corrected for using appropriate rudder inputs.

Congratulations! You just took off! Now turn left to fly the crosswind leg, and then left again for the downwind, then left again for the base, and left again for the final leg of the pattern. Now it’s time to land. Are you ready!?

During the landing phase of flight the most important aspects are airspeed control and coordination. Forgetting about either one of these can lead bad endings. During the end of your downwind leg slowly reduce power to about 1500 rpm, and slow down to 70 knots. Once the airplane is below 85 knots you can add 10 degrees of flaps, and pitch the aircraft down to maintain 70. When the end of the runway makes a 45 degree angle with your line of sight of the airport, turn left into the base leg. Once established add 10 more degrees of flaps, and slow down to 65 knots. This will be the final speed at which you will land.

As you get closer to the extended centerline of the runway, turn left to intercept the final leg. Be sure to keep all turns in the pattern coordinated, and remember to correct for any wind drift. When you are sure you will make the runway (if the engine quits), you can set the flaps to 30 degrees. Continue adjusting pitch and power to maintain an adequate glide slope and 65 knots. During the landing phase of flight it is helpful if you associate power with altitude and pitch (elevator) with airspeed. If you change one, the other must also be changed (i.e. if you fall below the glide slope you must both pitch up and increase power) so that the airspeed does not get too low or too high.

As you near the end of the runway, continue tracking the extended centerline, and aim for the numbers that are painted on the runway. As you fly over the end of the runway pull the power to idle, and pull back on the yoke so that you level off a foot or so over the runway. As the airspeed slows, gradually increase the back pressure on the yoke, so that the nose of the aircraft is in a climb attitude. This will ensure that the main wheels touch down first, avoiding damage to the nose wheel and firewall.

This phase of landing is called the “flare,” because the airplane is continually being pitched up until the wings can no longer produce enough lift, and the wheels gently kiss the runway. During this process you should look down the runway about as far as you would if you were driving around the same speed. If you look at the runway too close to the airplane, or too far away, then this will lead to you level off and flare either too high or too low. Both of these conditions will result in unfavorable endings.

And now you are slowing down, the airplane is flaring, and you are just inches above the pavement. Then you hear this beautiful chirp as the wheels gently touch the runway, and you are now truly a pilot. You just landed! Congratulations!

I hope this article has been a helpful look into the world of flying, but please seek professional instruction prior to leaving the ground.