Operation "Use More Rudder" - Learning To Fly With Rudder

On their journey to becoming a pilot, every student has pass phase checks and check rides. These are great opportunities for both the student and the instructor to learn what's going well and what's not. In this video, you join Austin and me as we work to correct what his pre-solo phase check pilot called "insufficient use of rudder". This is so common in flying it's pretty much a cliche and I am determined that my students don't go down like that. I developed a 3 step strategy to fix the problem that I think you'll benefit from regardless of which seat you're sitting in. Please enjoy!
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*Special Thanks to Michael Bizar for providing music. Most of the music in this video is composed and performed by Michael.

[@erictaylor5462]

From the day my dad brought me home from the hospital he knew that reading to your kids was good, even if they are too young to understand. So dad started reading his CFI books out loud to me. I don't know how much sunk in in those early days, but when was 3 or 4 dad banged on on kind of hard, then he hears from the back seat, "Too much rudder, Daddy." So that has been a joke in our family now for many many years.

[@DomAviationChannel]

Damn, you are such a great CFI! GA would be much safer, when all CFIs would take teaching so serious as you do.

[@dockedoar]

I am at the end of my PPl journey, I have been through 4 CFI’s. I would have given my right arm if I could have done the whole journey with you! It is a shame all CFI’s do not truly care about the end product as much as you! Thank you sooooo much for your VERY informative videos! You literally ARE the bomb!

[@JB-ym2yy]

I too am an old fart on my third CFI, when i mentioned I would like to practice the "feet only" turning, he said he had never heard of this teaching technique. Who is teaching whom?

[@mojo7618]

Specially when you don’t need your right arm for turns since you will be great at using the rudder ;). I Feel your pain

[@alexcampbell7634]

Watching this makes me realize how poorly my flight instructor actually teaches.

[@lovelylofer]

You are not alone there.

[@CharGorilla]

Couldn't agree more... I can't afford to pay for more than a 4 hours a week, but would you consider doing a stint in Australia? You're an amazing CFI... The care and personalization you put into your training is something I've never seen before. Not just so the student can pass his or her check flight, but to make them a genuinely safe, competent and confident pilot.

[@mekowgli]

Couldn't agree more. I either had the "whatever..." / almost sleeping or the constantly yelling types.

[@youduarf]

@@CharGorilla in fairness in Australia very few pilots want to do an extra lesson if they are licensing standard just to get good at xwind technique/aileron & rudder co ordination.

[@noeblaze2650]

instaBlaster

[@juansebastianaraque3646]

The passion you put into instructing really makes me look forward to becoming a CFI.

[@TheFinerPoints]

That is a huge compliment, thank you

[@christianjforbes]

I totally agree. I’m going for my CFII ticket after being idle since 2001, videos like this certainly keep me excited to take on students in the coming months after nearly 20 years away from flying. Thanks Jason for these videos

[@BigglesAviator]

As an instructor for sports aircraft I have to say that session was a great takeaway that I'll use with students. I use the rolling around a point often but your added exercises were magic. Thanks

[@Winglet520]

Finer Points. I'm an airline pilot with 10,000hrs flying and just want to say thank you for your videos. Reviewing the basics keeps your safety feet planted on the ground. Good regular review of the basics is always good. Appreciate it.

[@TheFinerPoints]

Thanks! It's great to hear that, especially from an experienced aviator.

[@ibgarrett]

I'm 600+ hrs into being a pilot with an instrument rating and recently started working on my tailwheel endorsement. I knew (or thought) I was fair with the rudder, but nothing like tacking on the tailwheel endorsement to hand you a huge slice of humble pie regarding the rudder.

[@TheFinerPoints]

Agreed. There is nothing like a tailwheel to perfect your rudder usage.

[@samuel-jq9wl]

I’ve never even had the thought of using the rudder for that. Definitely will go and practice this. Great teaching moment!

[@ericsd55]

Thank you so very much for this! So much "old school" flying has been lost over the years and it is music to my ears to see this!!

[@StudioRV8]

The best exercise for Austin for instinctive rudder control is... fly a tail wheel!

[@nathanwhitfield8517]

Your videos have been very helpful. First CFI was brand new, and after too many hours I abandoned my over loyal nature for a better, second CFI. Awaiting my checkride in 6 weeks. Looking forward to NEVER flying again! It took dedication like learning a second job, and no established 50 year old should want that. To be proficient, I'm imagining one must fly regularly, almost every 10 days. To be good, you might as well get more certifications. I learned one valuable lesson in all this. Anything life-and-death AND costs a car AND will pay bookoo bucks of you're career worthy AND requires intense effort more than 50% of time for learning is NOT a hobby and NEVER will be a hobby. My advice is leave the flying to the real pilots (ie: Commercial Piloting).

[@motogirlz101]

Wow, somebody actually said it. There is such a stigma for quitting but it really is a stressful thing, learning to fly, especially,while working full time. Thank you for what no one is saying on here. The struggle is real. And it doesn’t end with the checkride.

[@hefeibao]

I like how you are focusing on a specific skill and just nailing that before moving on. Great CFI

[@xJonnybx100]

rudder skills are so important. Going from training in a 172 to now having many hours in a cub, stearman, p-51, etc, you never know how important it really is until hoping in a tailwheel

[@Pip2andahalf]

Can you elaborate as to why rudder is even more important in a tail dragger? Thanks!

[@markhathaway9456]

I see subtlety in these lessons which don't appear much (if at all) with other instructors. Terrific stuff!

[@birds_eye_view]

Awesome video and great ideas how to address that kind of issue. Had and partly still have the same weakness and my instructor started to get desperate about it. Now I'm hopefully one flight away from my license, but I think, I will try those excersises even after that to improve my rudder techniques. One thing what helped me at least a bit to get on the right path with my feet was slow speed flight practice. Rudder becomes a lot more important there and the closer you come to stall speed the more I felt like balancing the plane on my feet.

[@spencerneilsen7047]

This is awesome! This is a topic that most pilot channels don’t address and it’s super helpful! I’ll be going over these rudder exercises with my CFI for sure!

[@azychek]

That camera setup yielded some of the best shots of effects like adverse yaw and Dutch Rolls I've ever seen. BRAVO and THANK YOU!!!!

[@midlifeflyer]

Love that landing exercise, Jason. Will definitely use it!

[@DerickMasai]

This is what I love so much about this platform. It gives a platform to such incredible educators like yourself to share their hard-earned knowledge with those who would not be able to get access to them otherwise. Your students are very lucky to have you as a teacher. I'm yet to start my PPL but fully understand all your lessons. Keep being awesome and have a blessed, prosperous and happy new year!

[@jeremykendrick8959]

Thanks Jason!!!

[@JC-mt4vr]

Superb instruction. Realizing how much I don't know. Please keep posting these videos.

[@MSchwartzNWV]

I just wanted to say thank-you for your video. I've been returning back to flying and bought an aircraft that is more rudder-sensitive than I was previously accustomed. I've been having a lot of trouble with coordination, especially slow and on short final. I'm going to try some of your exercises with the instructor who's been helping me return to the left seat and knock the rust off.

[@ClayCaviness]

These are fantastic exercises.

[@andreanguyen3756]

Awesome exercise! Great CFI! I'll try these manoeuvres next flight.

[@TJFlyingAdventures]

Great video👍 I am a cirrus pilot and definitely don’t practice rudder enough!

[@awhooley]

this stuff is so inspiring - I am 31, working as a musician but all my life I had a massive want to learn to fly (even though i am scared of heights!) and seeing videos like this is making me look forward to my first lesson :) due to start in November 2020 :D.. Thanks for the great videos

[@ashleymeyer1366]

How's it going?

[@smokewizard666]

Wow I really wish I received instruction like this in my training. This is the first video of yours I’ve seen and I’m happy to find your channel

[@moonshade99]

Most instructors, forget pilots don't much care about rudders, cause they haven't been shown how smooth they can fly with rudder. Thank you for showing!

[@MichaelLloyd]

Bring him to FMN this spring. You can't forget the rudder here. Last weekend my instructor (for BFR) and I landed on 25, 90 degree x wind from the left at 10kts and the wind sock at the other end of the runway the wind was 90 degrees to the runway from the right. On approach the wind was almost on the nose. Toughest place I've ever flown and I love ever second of it :o) I though that he did great. He's blessed to have you for an instructor.

[@BoB4jjjjs]

Amazing teaching tips, this is excellent training.

[@mauricecayon8529]

Want you to know you have the gift of teaching and breaking down every part of the technique so that your students and us the viewers can learn from it and go practice it with our instructors. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!!

[@chrisfowler6278]

Great tips Jason! Fantastic job sir!

[@georgiaflyer8702]

Awesome vid! I have some students struggling with rudder as well so next time we hop in the plane i’ll give some of this a shot. Ive done dutch rolls with them which has also helped pretty well

[@maxson1988]

I am so glad I have you to add to my flight training, otherwise I would be left with poor/incomplete instructions. My CFI introduced me to slow flight without even mentioning the rudder.

[@kylekendall1587]

Another Great lesson Jason! Thanks!

[@brandonb86]

love it, your lesson with Paul from a while ago was great. I have used it many times in my training so far. Thanks Jason and thanks for Austin for allowing his training for the video

[@TheFinerPoints]

Huge thanks to Austin for being cool with this. He's very trusting ... when I ask he just says "you can publish anything with me in it". Big thanks to him for allowing this.

[@stevengarner4596]

Wish I could give this more than one thumbs up....thank you!

[@iesikhaty]

Great exercise doing dutch rolls sans rudder to feel the sensations of uncoordinated turns, then measuring in rudder to stop it - stupid simple idea that teaches so much. Rudder flying comes in handy when hands are full with sectional charts trying to set up a vfr diversion. Great tips, thanks

[@Cessna8057F]

Excellent training and review videos!!

[@donaldschomer6616]

Love your teaching style.

[@HitsOutdoors]

Love your training style.

[@jessesass5209]

That whole rolling out of the turn. I've been overshooting final slightly in calm winds. So simply explained.

[@BravoLima170B]

Learned in a C170. I wish people could spend their first 10 hours of dual in a taildragger. Even following on the controls with someone who lands properly is a huge help to learning the rudder.

[@pilotjake1834]

This tremendously helps me with my landings!!

[@nickhart5332]

Thanks for the informative video! Helpful for this student pilot for sure. 😎

[@0doubledseven589]

Thank you so much that there is no background music playing and no ATC traffic. Good stuff.

[@TheFinerPoints]

You bet! FYI -- there are a lot of "raw" lessons that go up to Patreon. Full lessons, pretty much unedited. No music etc.

[@willworknow]

@11:22...that's stooopid!!! Great stuff!!!

[@Veritas1992]

A couple of my favorite drills I had my students do since day one was just a simple wing rock (10 or so times) at different speeds as well as a bank ascending pyramid (10° right, 10° left, 20° right, 20 left etc up to 45°). That way the hands and feet are constantly moving & going both directions. It was a great way to build that dexterity & a warm up before starting the primary maneuvers.

[@TheFinerPoints]

I like that, thanks!

[@Pilotguy788]

Such a great video Jason! This is a concept that private pilots including myself forget all the time and requires almost constant practice and upkeep to keep sharp. Loved the detail on this one :)

[@TheFinerPoints]

Thanks Sai!

[@FleetTech97]

Wish you were my cfi man you do great work! Truly passionate and care about keeping GA going

[@davegrundgeiger9063]

This is great! Can't wait to try it!

[@michaeldaily1277]

This makes it look so easy. I can’t wait to try it.

[@PersonNotperson-gu1wf]

This was so helpful! I love my instructor but rudder use has been an issue of of my own recently and his explanations were a bit confusing an contradictory, I’ll try some of these out the next time I go up thanks a ton!

[@sullo1117]

wow that was a really informational video. Thank You!

[@skippingguy]

This is great! I am 20 hours into PPL training. I searched this up deliberately--use more rudder--because I struggle with it. So this is spot on. But the student seemed a bit overwhelmed by the jump to landing with drift (to simulate a crosswind) from the air exercises like drawing a shape, doing dutch rolls, etc.. Might there be an intermediate step to take what was taught in the air to a level of ground-relative precision before actually landing the airplane? I find most things near the ground and relative to fixed mother earth to be orders of magnitude more difficult than the same maneuver at altitude.

[@kimberlywentworth9160]

I like how you hold the checklist up. That is a good idea. I am a student pilot.

[@martyb6903]

Great lesson! Thx

[@farmgene]

Nice! Loved his answers! “Yep.” Reminded me of myself sometimes with my CFI.

[@denisrhodes54]

not a substitute for roger, wilco, or affirmative

[@TenMinuteTrips]

@@denisrhodes54 I have not said Roger, Wilco or Affirmative to my flight instructor. Nor have I said, “Yep” every time my instructor says something. A good rule of thumb is to shut up and listen. There is no “correct” phraseology for student and instructor or pilot and copilot conversation. Do we understand each other? Awesome.

[@sufysprojects2689]

awesome video!! thank you very much!!

[@linknewton1199]

Getting back into flying after many years. I was wondering if you had any information on the tall slim reference checklist you all are using in the video around ~4:01. Would like to create my own or modify existing for our aircraft. Thanks, really enjoying your videos - very helpful.

[@kimberlywentworth9160]

This is so good. I am having the same issue. Rudder Rudder Rudder. Learning how to use that rudder automatically and having the rudder part of my feet.

[@victoryautmotive1582]

Man, I would love to come spend a week with you! Or maybe if you want to make a trip home to Missouri, you could come here. I applied for the AOPA primary flight training. I’ll keep in touch.

[@freedom4u18]

OMG I do the same , can’t wait to ask my instructor to do this

[@tadbarker7082]

you are a fantastic tutor !

[@projectcontrols]

great video. you guys rock!!

[@kieranrichmond5864]

I tried hard to find fault with this but could not. For what it's worth, all I can add are 3 points: 1) There are only 2 reasons an airplane yaws: you make it yaw or you allow it to yaw. 2) On feeling slip/skid, whichever leg needs a push to center yourself in the seat is the correct one. 3) Cessna rudder cables are slack and tend to sag. A modest pre-load on each pedal transforms response from sloppy and vague to tight and precise. Keep up the good work!

[@tommieders]

Thank You. Really good exercises! Greets from austria.

[@TheFinerPoints]

tommieders thanks! 🙌

[@ManNomad]

I always did progressively more aggressive dutch rolls in any airplane to get a feel for what kept the nose exactly where I wanted it to go. Like entering an aileron roll only level and at slow speeds.

[@michaelmike5709]

wow that was great with the drawing on the windshield , then having the pilot perform the exercise.

[@jonathanshadmi3208]

Great one! (As usual)

[@trevorbrooke4653]

Enjoy your videos....very informative and educational!! Where did you get that small airplane training tool?

[@lovelylofer]

I am also struggling with same feedback. Less rudder on landing specially, which is making landings very inconsistent. Will try these with my cfi. Big fan of all your video tutorials 👍👍👍.

[@billmoran3812]

Good exercises!

[@anushreemohan5433]

Wish I could fly with you !!! I am right in the middle of my ppl journey and the rudder control is still one of the issues I am facing.

[@jasonjason3776]

Buddy…. You are an amazing Instructor…..

[@faisalsultan892]

Funny - I had the SAME issue on my very first phase check = no rudder on turns haha. This really hit home.

[@tonyodonnell9655]

This was why I quit taking lessons. I had no idea how to straighten the plane just before touchdown. Wish the internet was around back then.

[@B33SON1]

I was doing this near byron today. Had to really get my feet in the game in the 172 after flying the 152. Gotta add in that square drawing exercise

[@jameslindner2490]

During WW2 P51 pilots would do the same exercise drawing circles on the ground with their guns.

[@realrussclarke]

Great Video!

I think that students must have experience in as many different planes as possible ! I did all my training on the experimental Kolb. When I bought my Conquest 180 I was surprised to realize that it need much more rudder during take-offs ! Don´t you think that these differences should be more emphasised during traininga ?

[@aztecwarrior1421]

Damn !! Going to try this with the marker

[@GalenCop9]

Thanks for posting...would love to do a lesson with you sometime..Great video!

[@Anshuman566]

I tried the trick .. feel under your seat when using ailerons and just take that feet on rudder … and I just remembered that today and was able to use rudder along with ailerons … perfect if you can only just remember ..it was on glider ..

[@csmihaly]

Wow! Enough said.

[@curvs4me]

Great lessons, I remember my first instructor just yelling at me every time I turned. RUDDER!! Okay now make a left bank here over the mall, RUDDER!!! lol. That started on day 1, I got it, but I can't say it was pleasant.

[@highmarkrich]

Flying a tailwheel is what finally cemented the importance of rudder. I'm a much better pilot after getting my conventional endorsement. Even when flying nose draggers.

[@davidwhite8633]

Preston Rich I’ve never quite understood why so many pilots say that . You certainly learn how to use the rudder on the ground, or just about to contact the ground , but in the air conventionals fly the same way as trikes .

[@nicholasvalera1298]

I am 20 hours in and I have yet to hear someone explain use of the rudder so clearly . Thanks

[@TheFinerPoints]

That makes me happy. Not the part about you not hearing this before ... but the other part. Thanks for the comment.

[@stevespra1]

Jason Miller is a great instructor!

[@TheFinerPoints]

Thanks Steven!

[@heelstothefloor3390]

Very awesome, wish i had done more exercises like this in training. Could working on something like this with a CFI count towards Wings credits? Looking forward to asking a CFI to work with me on this!

[@TheFinerPoints]

Yes, absolutely. You could satisfy all three skill requirements in this one flight. Glad you enjoyed! Go try them and let me know what you think

[@toddjohnson9528]

Jason, Great video. I have learned so much from you and appreciate what you are doing for aviation. I have a thought for video content. I am getting close to my solo and I am struggling with my landings. It is not exactly my landings. It is everything from the instant my wheels hit the ground. I "land" straight in the middle of the runway. The issue I am having is at the moment from landing to transitioning to the ground. Taking off is easy - Hold right rudder. Once the wheels touch down, how much effect does the wind have? Are any of the 4 right forces at play here? Since I am at idle, I assume I don't need right rudder? I find myself getting sideways loaded after my wheels touchdown towards the left and then panic correcting to the right. I noticed there are not that many videos that focus on the moment a plane first touches ground center of the runway ( other than site views and where to look), what should I be thinking about as I transition from high speed roll to my taxi back? What should I be thinking about to be as ahead of the plane on takeoff as I need to be for landing? Thanks again for all the great work for aviation, Todd

[@TheFinerPoints]

Thanks Todd! Great questions, let me think about the best way to answer this ... a new video, or what. Thanks.

[@CptGartz]

Great job.... yep!

[@cn9936]

Awesome!

[@4hockeyskate]

WOOOOO NEW VID!!

[@TheFinerPoints]

I know, it's been awhile ... Sun and Fun had me on the road. Pedaling fast to catch up. There is bonus content going up to Patreon today also

[@jdrscomplaintdepartment2374]

I love that video. I'm learning to take off. I get her in the air fine,but how do I keep her in the air? She immediatly kips left,or right. Next thing I know I crash. What am I doing wrong?

[@kieranrichmond5864]

Many students don't have much idea about rudder because many instructors (quite wrongly) teach it as an 'afterthought' - when their students have already wasted hundreds of dollars trying to 'drive' it like a car. Rudder needs to be taught as an integral part, right from the discovery flight and every lesson thereafter, period. Also, I've never seen any instructor mention that the rudder cables on Cessna training aircraft sag, are naturally slack and give a sloppy response unless a modest pre-load is maintained on both pedals to keep the cables taut. Try it if you don't believe me - the difference in responsiveness is astonishing! Apart from those two points, well done!

[@jonathanmuller1741]

So simple and yet so effective exercises. Thank you for taking the time

[@anthonyhayes3366]

Hi Jason, after you roll into a turn with aileron and rudder do you continue to hold rudder throughout the turn or just when you start the initial turn?

[@SokratisFreeman]

Flying gliders for more than 30 years made me use my feet and rudder pedals very good. so now to fly planes is very easy for me

[@bj2benn93]

Did you attend orange coast college down in Orange County?