Using Ground Effect

The lack of respect many pilots give to ground effect sort of makes it the Rodney Dangerfield of aerodynamics. Its that momentary sag right after takeoff, and that little bit of float on landing. We know about it, but its often an afterthought: Oh, thats how I screwed up that flare. We all should know ground effect is only encountered...well, close to a flat surface, be it liquid or solid, but sometimes we forget.

Editorial Staff

Friday, September 25, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Ground effect is an aerodynamic phenomenon occurring close to a surface, which reduces induced drag and thereby improves aircraft performance due to deflected downwash.
Pilots strategically leverage ground effect for operations like soft-field takeoffs, enabling the aircraft to become airborne at lower airspeeds and accelerate more efficiently before climbing.
Conversely, ground effect causes a float on landing, helping to reduce touchdown speeds, and creates performance changes (e.g., increased drag) when transitioning out of it during climb.
Mastering ground effect involves precise control inputs, particularly a light touch on pitch, to manage performance changes and maintain desired altitude while accelerating or decelerating within its influence.

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The lack of respect many pilots give to ground effect sort of makes it the Rodney Dangerfield of aerodynamics. It’s that momentary sag right after takeoff, and that little bit of float on landing. We know about it, but it’s often an afterthought: “Oh, that’s how I screwed up that flare.” We all should know ground effect is only encountered…well, close to a flat surface, be it liquid or solid, but sometimes we forget.

Ground effect is a result of an airfoil’s so-called “downwash” changing velocity when a solid surface is close by. But how do we use it, and why? Any instructor worth his or her E-6B teaches students how to use ground effect on takeoff, especially from soft fields, so we all should know the basics. We can use it for other operations, too, and for other purposes.