Useful Rules of Thumb

[FlyingMonkey]

I love the science and math aspect of aviation and am a big fan of rules of thumb (that involve some easy math). I thought I'd share some of my favorite ones in video form. Hope you find this useful. Would love to discuss any other useful ones and learn more!

 

[nauga]

One of mine is "Never eat anything bigger than your head."
Another is "If it smells like cologne, leave it alone."

Nauga,
who doesn't have a youtube channel.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

One of mine is "Never eat anything bigger than your head."
Another is "If it smells like cologne, leave it alone."

Nauga,
who doesn't have a youtube channel.

Those are both good and could be equally applied in the cockpit. LOL

 

[Cogito]

Rule of Thumb #6, never make your wife puke in your airplane.
Rule of Thumb #6b, if you do make your wife puke in your airplane, never post it in a video on-line.

Just joshing a fellow WHP flyer. Nice video.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Rule of Thumb #6, never make your wife puke in your airplane.
Rule of Thumb #6b, if you do make your wife puke in your airplane, never post it in a video on-line.

Just joshing a fellow WHP flyer. Nice video.

Haha. she thought it was funny. Rule of Thumb #7 - marry a cool girl.

 

[Jim K]

@FlyingMonkey did your wife open the back door and puke outside in flight?

We backed it up and watched it again, and that's certainly what it looks like.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

@FlyingMonkey did your wife open the back door and puke outside in flight?

We backed it up and watched it again, and that's certainly what it looks like.

No we were on a taxiway after landing....and turning...Out the windows it does almost look like we are in the air.

 

[Jim K]

No we were on a taxiway after landing....and turning...Out the windows it does almost look like we are in the air.

That makes more sense. I was really admiring her dedication to not making a mess in the plane! Lol

 

[FlyingMonkey]

That makes more sense. I was really admiring her dedication to not making a mess in the plane! Lol

we have barf bags in the seat pocket for when we are in the air. No one has ever used them (yet).

 

[flyingron]

Never put your rear-end over your head.

 

[Zeldman]

One of mine is "Never eat anything bigger than your head."
Another is "If it smells like cologne, leave it alone."

If it's green it's trouble,
If it's fried get double....

 

[SoonerAviator]

Rule of thumb, might go well in the "sexism in Aviation" thread, lol

 

[denverpilot]

Haha. she thought it was funny. Rule of Thumb #7 - marry a cool girl.

Should be #1.

 

[smv]

I love the science and math aspect of aviation and am a big fan of rules of thumb (that involve some easy math). I thought I'd share some of my favorite ones in video form. Hope you find this useful. Would love to discuss any other useful ones and learn more!

When learning new processes, I usually take them to the extremes to test their veracity. I did this with your cross-wind calculator. I was especially keen to learn a new ROT to teach folks how to easily calculate crosswind.

Wind: 090 @ 20 kts
RWY: 36
Diff: 90°

9/6 of 20 = 30 kts of crosswind.

Darn it...

Did I misunderstand your method?

 

[RyanB]

Dude, I don’t care what anybody says, the editing in your videos is on point! I can’t imagine how long it must take you to put these videos together, but kudos to you for making such great quality videos!

 

[smv]

Dude, I don’t care what anybody says, the editing in your videos is on point! I can’t imagine how long it must take you to put these videos together, but kudos to you for making such great quality videos!

Agreed. Found myself thinking "How long did this take?"

 

[catmandu]

Jaysus, you convinced your family to fly in reindeer onesies! I could only get them to do that for a Christmas card! (Same onesies, BTW, you cheap bastid!) Bravo.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

When learning new processes, I usually take them to the extremes to test their veracity. I did this with your cross-wind calculator. I was especially keen to learn a new ROT to teach folks how to easily calculate crosswind.

Wind: 090 @ 20 kts
RWY: 36
Diff: 90°

9/6 of 20 = 30 kts of crosswind.

Darn it...

Did I misunderstand your method?

I should have specified that once the crosswind is 60 or above the crosswind component is the full wind strength. Differences greater than 60 degrees don't work and the rule assumes you have picked the runway for headwind and that it's not a tailwind at all.

Dude, I don’t care what anybody says, the editing in your videos is on point! I can’t imagine how long it must take you to put these videos together, but kudos to you for making such great quality videos!

Agreed. Found myself thinking "How long did this take?"

Yeah it takes a long time but I am getting faster with more practice. I wouldn't be happy with myself if I took shortcuts. I compromise enough creatively in work shooting commercials and this project is all about my own creative satisfaction and connection with others. So I'll just take my time and make them as good as I can to make myself happy!

Jaysus, you convinced your family to fly in reindeer onesies! I could only get them to do that for a Christmas card! (Same onesies, BTW, you cheap bastid!) Bravo.

It was tough to get the teenager on board at first but she came around. Wouldn't wear it around town after we landed and on a hike but the rest of us did. I have never been more comfortable in the airplane than wearing that thing. Makes me think I should get a monkey one and have that be my flight suit.... LOL

 

[smv]

I should have specified that once the crosswind is 60 or above the crosswind component is the full wind strength.

...or practically close enough anyway. Somehow I have made it this far without learning many RoT. Kind of a bummer, actually. They can be very handy, so to speak.

Differences greater than 60 degrees don't work and the rule assumes you have picked the runway for headwind and that it's not a tailwind at all.

Seems lately around here we have had two choices... 90° left or 90° right. Since they shut down the grass strip, we do not have a "crosswind" runway anymore.

 

[denverpilot]

The other PoA monkey needs to meet @FlyingMonkey ...

 

[eman1200]

this might be the only thing I use the fltplan go app for, the crosswind calculator. the whole math thing hurts my head.

 

[Cogito]

this might be the only thing I use the fltplan go app for, the crosswind calculator. the whole math thing hurts my head.

View attachment 91843

Yeah, G3X in plane or Foreflight tell crosswind for each runway, otherwise rule of thumb is 30 degree crosswind is half wind speed, anything over 60 degrees its 100% of wind speed. Stolen from Bold Method:

 

[IK04]

My favorite is regarding emergency landings:

1. Pick a spot and plan the approach.
2. Make only one change to the plan.

 

[WDD]

Sloping runway

Land Uphill
Take off Downhill

 

[frfly172]

Nothing is more useless than the runway behind you, the sky above you and the gas you didn’t take.

 

[danhagan]

These ALL fail ... wind may be 90*, but you'll absolutely GREASE it if solo ... however, if you have at least one passenger and more than 2 planes holding short, the landing will probably require a dentist to reinsert your fillings

 

[WDD]

When flying with your wife and about to round out on landing - don’t yell “Brace for Impact”

 

[Dana]

Yeah, G3X in plane or Foreflight tell crosswind for each runway, otherwise rule of thumb is 30 degree crosswind is half wind speed, anything over 60 degrees its 100% of wind speed. Stolen from Bold Method:

View attachment 91844

To be strictly correct, 71% at 45°, 87% at 60° (for those who don't remember anything of trigonometry).

But I don't think I've ever calculated a crosswind component. If it's windy enough that I have to calculate it, it's probably too windy to fly, period.