A first installment of Jeff Pardo’s trivia testers. Remember: What your friends don’t know only makes you look smarter. continued»

Old Man Winter is here, and he’s brought his little bag of tricks with him -- here are some simple strategies that could save you a bloody fortune... continued»

A second installment of Jeff Pardo’s Trivia Testers: When we’re talking “degrees” it’s not always about the weather... continued»

Some Things You Probably Didn’t Know: Chances are that if some nine year-old asks you just how high up can clouds be, you'd probably think about those wispy cirrus clouds or towering cumulonimbus. continued»

Stuff you probably didn’t know, take three... continued»

Most problems are of our own making and most solutions begin as numbers. continued»

This year, several aspirants to the edge of space will each consummate years of preparation and sacrifice to compete against the past (and each other), to shatter several high-altitude records and set one for longest free-fall. continued»

Where did 'Zulu' time come from, anyway? continued»

Why a hurricane and bathwater always spins counter-clockwise ... er, one of those, anyway. continued»

Many highly instrumented aircraft and very capable crews have flown their aircraft right into the ground during seemingly safe night visual approaches -- here's why. continued»

WHERE'S THE ENGINE!? There are probably as many ways to rationalize why we fly as there are pilots, but it’s hard to argue with the beauty, simplicity, and performance of soaring. continued»

Driving to Distraction: We've all noticed greater coverage in the media lately regarding the increasing number of automotive accidents attributed to the use of cell phones while driving -- so what about talking while flying? continued»

WORDS TO LIVE BY: Don't play cards with someone whose first name is a city, don't mess with mama, and don't fly near thunderstorms. continued»

A circling approach can be an uneventful VFR circle-to-land, or it can be the dicey, high-stakes IFR ordeal that some pilots won’t go near -- and that's what we're talking about. continued»

The FAA is working on a new set of rules that could make flying a lot more accessible -- and a lot cheaper -- for many more people. continued»

Imagine helplessly watching as your airplane wrenches itself (and you with it) into an unusual attitude, rolls over on its back and points (nose down and inverted) at a schoolyard. continued»

The Sport Pilot proposal is coming and it will establish a new subpart (“J”) under Part 61 of the Federal Aviation Regulations but it also promises to introduce nothing less than a new concept of airman certification. continued»

Problem: The Federal Aviation Regulations cover two-way communication failure quite nicely, but a total electrical failure can give you a nice front row seat in purgatory. continued»

Back in aviation's formative years, spins were widely accepted as being non-habit forming -- once caught in a spin, there was no known way out -- until... continued»

The PRICE: At 11:09 AM on Sunday, December 1, 1974, TWA 514 was IMC and inbound to Virginia's Dulles Airport and due to an ambiguous approach procedure and a misunderstood clearance, the crew descended prematurely to their final approach altitude. continued»

OK, which is it: Burned valves and detonation -- or better economy, lower maintenance costs, and greater range? continued»

Knowledge is power in many of life's callings, but especially so in aviation -- our welfare often depends on decisions we make and the wisdom of what we decide to do (or not to do) often hinges on what we know. continued»

Paper or Electric? If you asked most General Aviation pilots if having a handheld, color, moving-map GPS means that they can leave their charts at home, they would (hopefully) laugh at you. continued»

For many pilots, GPS somehow translates to fat, dumb and happy— and maybe in hot water! continued»

To Fly Pro, Or Not To Fly Pro: Ten years ago, approaching age 40 and afraid that the light at the end of the tunnel might be an oncoming train, I was shopping for a career change. continued»

The EA6B that slashed through a ski lift cable in central Italy, killing dozens of people, was not an example of ineptitude. continued»

We've all seen it. We've all felt it. And I'll bet there isn't anyone out there who can fog a mirror who hasn't been confused by it. continued»

What is all this DME jazz, anyway? Make no mistake, there are some special tricks to getting the most out of your DME -- VFR and IFR. continued»

There's little else quite as ingrained in the minds of pilots, or emblematic of flight itself, as the stick and rudder -- so what happens when they fail? continued»

They used to call it “prop wash”: A turbulent wake that is present behind any aircraft in flight. continued»

Let's toss the esoterica for the moment. A few months ago, I offered some winter flying tips... continued»

They're back!!! More stuff to exercise your gray matter...

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About half of all general aviation accidents happen in the landing phase. continued»

Aviation trivia from prohibited airspace to the lightest metal...

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Our sixth installment of aviation trivia guaranteed to strain your brain power.

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Tired of flipping through the “green books” looking for the preferred routes you’re probably going to get when you file your IFR flight plan? continued»

Subject: Is the earth REALLY flat? Just a little bit?

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Anger can be an unruly marauder that displaces good judgment with ruinously immature impulses, but it's also an indispensable guardian that guides our responses to life's challenges -- does it have a place in the cockpit? continued»

Here's one that's worth a few shekels... continued»

Whether scare tactic or sales pitch... or maybe an altruistic safety warning sent to every instrument-rated pilot in the land, one aviation company has the right idea. continued»

Subject: Methuselah's Wings - Who is the world's oldest pilot? continued»

When we fly, talking mostly with Air Traffic Control (ATC), we're on a kind of party line -- everybody's on the same frequency, talking and listening -- but when we're talking to a Flight Service Station, well, it's a bit different. continued»

If you're about to land and it's VFR weather, just how long do you have to wait before you own that runway? continued»

Question: When a controller asks you to 'maintain runway heading', what does he REALLY mean? continued»

Getting vectored onto an IAP close to the final approach fix definitely saves time, and it makes efficient use of busy terminal airspace -- but now you’re actually working under another set of rules that most of us don’t know too much about. continued»

At major airports, you will often see varied types of approach lights. Most burn steadily, some flash... continued»

With things the way they are, a lot of pilots will either choose to (or be otherwise 'convinced' to) stay on the ground and, if that's your fate, there are still ways you can become a better pilot. continued»

Your throttle linkage just broke. You're stuck in climb (or cruise) power. What are your options? continued»

Our country was defiled, our way of life was visibly threatened, and our citizens were traumatized by an act of war -- of unprecedented proportions -- visited upon our soil. continued»

Is there a reason why you should ever shut off your aircraft's DME if you're not using it? continued»

Your flight has ended -- but not the way you had so meticulously planned. continued»

What is a MOCA, and what is it for? continued»

Ever wonder about those flight strips that controllers use? continued»

Night, as defined in CFR14, FAR Part 1, is the time between the end of evening civil twilight and morning civil twilight, as published in the American Air Almanac, converted to local time. But what exactly IS the meaning of twilight? continued»

Every once in awhile, we make mistakes -- then again, every so often we get treated to the experience of almost making a mistake. continued»

Under what circumstances could a glider actually glide to the visual horizon, without the benefit of a tailwind? continued»

We have all just lived through a watershed event in our country's history, one that is certain to change forever the political landscape, our own rights to fly, the spirit and joy of flight itself, and the very fabric of our society. continued»

The world's first airliner was... continued»

FAA regulations require that you have a Mode C transponder on when flying in all Class A, B and C airspace, when flying within 30 miles of primary Class B airports, and whenever you're above 10,000 feet, though not if that's below 2,500 AGL. continued»

America's highest scoring ace during World War II was Richard Bong. Flying the P-38 Lightning in the Pacific, Major Richard Bong was credited with 40 kills... continued»

'Z' What? IFR pilots already know about those three letter entities that start with a 'Z' (in the US at least). continued»

I don't know about you, but most pilots who have never had the opportunity to take off straight up usually think that holding a cyclic and collective in your hands automatically confers upon you unheard-of preternatural powers. continued»

One of the first passenger jets to enter commercial service was the venerable Boeing 707. What did test pilot Tex Johnston do with a Boeing 707 prototype in front of about 200,000 people, at Seattle's annual Seafair festival in 1955? continued»

We've all heard that an airfoil develops lift by means of this esoteric thing called Bernoulli's Principle. continued»

If you want a special N number for your airplane, (even if you don't own one yet or have not finished building it), how do you go about getting one? continued»

GPS receivers work because of something navigators have known about for hundreds of years, but what actually goes on inside those microprocessors and is it really just as simple as triangulation and ranging? continued»

Most of us know what to expect if we were intercepted during the daytime, but what would you see at night? continued»

WAAS: No, it's not a name from the Netherlands; it's an acronym -- it stands for Wide Area Augmentation System and, simply put, it's GPS on steroids. continued»

Two pairs of aircraft are in formation flight. One pair is 10,000 feet, and the other pair is quite a bit higher; at one million feet. (In other words, outside the earth's atmosphere about 190 miles up, in orbit.) In each case, one aircraft is in front of the other. If the second aircraft in each formation wants to overtake the first, what must it do, in each case? continued»

These days, we've all been boning up on interception procedures, and we've been getting our NOTAMs and checking them twice, but sometimes that doesn't help. continued»

What was the first aircraft able to break the sound barrier while in level flight? continued»

I can still remember the awestruck feeling as I stepped back, mesmerized, away from the whirring Cuisinart that the propeller on our friendly yellow J-3 Cub had just become. continued»

Who and what are the Quiet Birdmen? continued»

When I was a kid I'd wake up from dreams of skimming treetops -- sans aircraft -- often just hovering there horizontally, arms fully extended, looking down at the amazed upturned faces. continued»

Where will you hear the call signs 'Cactus', 'Tsunami', or 'Cowboy' on ATC frequencies? continued»

If they're so wonderful, you may be wondering, why don't more people fly the things? continued»

Officially, FAR stands for... continued»

No more excuses, no more preparation -- it's time to go up... continued»

What is the highest altitude to which a non-rocket powered aircraft could ascend? continued»

We’ve all been warned to watch out whenever our airspeed enters the yellow arc, and we’ve learned to absolutely stay away from never-exceed speed, V_NE. continued»

When was the first mid-air refueling accomplished? continued»

An instrument rating may be the best present a pilot can get (after a brand new airplane), but there is another gift that might prove just as much of a lifesaver... continued»

Who was the first airline stewardess? continued»

Winter can bring some wonderful things: severe clear, super 'low' density altitudes, great tailwinds if you're headed East, and near-freedom from freezing rain (when the water's already frozen). continued»

When one is at a high latitude, it is well known that a magnetic compass is, at best (unless one is intimately familiar with local idiosyncrasies), nearly useless... continued»

With tax time looming at the next fiscal waypoint, it might be a good time to mention Section 162 of the Internal Revenue Code, which says that deductions are allowed for 'ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred' in sustaining 'any trade or business.' continued»

The Space Shuttles have tiles that can resist the terrific heat that is generated during re-entry through the earth's atmosphere, but what CAN'T they stand up to? continued»

What if I told you that there is more to the graveyard spiral than most people realize? continued»

Which extreme measures have actually been taken, with regularity, to dispel fog at airports? continued»

If you could see clear air turbulence, what would it look like? continued»

Mirages do not exist only in the domain of the parched desert traveler; they can actually influence your flying, to a greater extent perhaps, than you might expect. continued»

They say altitude is your friend, but once you get above 10,000 feet, the greatest potential danger isn't ice or turbulence, it's thin air. continued»

The growth of hail stones can continue as long as there are updrafts strong enough to keep them aloft. What is the largest hail stone ever recorded? continued»

They say the two most dangerous words in aviation are 'Watch this!' I considered that just as I'd said them to prepare my passenger for an E-ticket ride. continued»

When Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier on October 4, 1947, he had another pilot on his wing (who at the time was equally as unheard-of). It was... continued»

Like most student pilots, I tended to fly with the type of casual touch that my primary instructor described with the term 'death grip.' continued»

What unlucky pilot was shot down on May 13, 1917, again on March 13, 1918, and yet again on August 13, 1918? continued»

You hadn’t eaten much this morning, but suddenly you’re aware that you’re not hungry any more... continued»

What is the best way to combat rust in an aircraft engine? continued»

From student pilots on up, we only see them from a distance now and then, but at the same time we all know what a bird strike can mean... or do we? continued»

An airliner is cruising along at FL 350. The captain announces to the passengers that the outside temperature is minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit. In order to keep the cabin nice and comfortable, what system is essential? continued»

Of course, military, law enforcement, and some emergency services and medical pilots have already run this gantlet of extensive background and criminal history checks, so it's nothing new to them, but it may be new to you... and very soon. continued»

When was the world's first numerical weather forecast made? continued»

If you ever fly through a fusillade of hail, whether you get to experience an abrupt cacophony of tiny bouncing frozen particles of graupel, or the total panic and pandemonium of genuine hailstones pummeling your airplane, it will get your attention. continued»

True or False: The first prototype airliner actually flew in the 19th century. continued»

What famous Warner Brothers cartoon character has been immortalized on an actual instrument approach procedure? continued»

Here are some facts you may already know, a few that you probably didn't, and one or two that, properly applied, might keep you from getting killed. continued»

Slow, but skillful: Although the operative word here is 'slow', lazy eights are usually the final VFR maneuver introduced to commercial pilot aspirants. continued»

Your best friend in the event of an elevator control failure is... continued»

In what airplane was the sound barrier first broken on October 14, 1947? continued»

I had my chart clipped to my left thigh, and as we passed over my first checkpoint (which was only three miles away from our home field), I started looking for my next one, coming up in about 15 miles -- well, it never came up... continued»

While helicopters obey the same laws of physics as airplanes, there are pronounced differences when it comes to control and operation -- same air, different machine -- and many ingrained fixed-wing reactions can be catastrophic when applied to rotary-wings. continued»

The first reported bird strike was... continued»

Every year, pilots continue to allow their aircraft to suffer at the nonexistent mercy of storms. continued»

The greatest number of tornadoes to ever hit within a 24-hour period was... continued»

Flying that little J3 Cub to the 1840-foot long, 30-foot wide runway at Clearview Airpark in Westminster, Maryland, I quickly learned to watch for squirrely winds and descending air on short final to runway 31. continued»

During the month of March, in which of these states are you most likely to see a tornado? continued»

Half of all general aviation accidents, and more than half of all transport category accidents (according to a 1992 Logistics and Transportation Review study), occur during landing. continued»

A 'prester' is another name for... continued»

When you get right down to it precise knowledge of local weather is the one critical determinant as to whether your three-hour instrument flight is going to have a happy ending, or become a cliffhanger at decision height. continued»

Which US city has the highest average annual wind speed? continued»

Each year for the last several years, the NTSB has classified several dozen general aviation accidents as VFR-into-IMC. continued»

Out of all the public use runways in the US, if you also factored in the density altitude, using a normal standard atmospheric lapse rate, where would the 'effectively shortest' runway be located? continued»

For flight, our most vital faculty is our vision, but when the lights go out, sometimes the things we do see aren’t even there, and these illusions take many forms. continued»

A 'haboob' is... continued»

There are 5268 public-use airports in the US, according to AOPA's latest database. Only 526 of them have a control tower. The vast majority of those airports having a control tower also have more than one runway. A few however, have just one. How few? continued»

Takeoff and landing comprise about three percent of flight time, but account for roughly half of all accidents -- one significant contributor is density altitude. continued»

On Monday July 1, two large commercial jets -- both flying IFR under ATC control, and both equipped with functioning electronic collision avoidance systems -- collided in rarified air some 35,000 feet over Germany... think it couldn't happen to you? continued»

Where might one find one's name on an aeronautical chart? continued»

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, many people (as many as one in five) suffer from specific phobias to some degree -- fear of public speaking, however, is nearly universal (close to 95%). continued»

For many Cessna singles, why will fuel burn NOT be the same between the two tanks when the fuel selector is on 'Both'? continued»

You would think that our goal-oriented, law-abiding, type-A personalities would more often lose a battle with weather rather than lose face (and worse) from attempting some dumb stunt, but as Spiderman says, if somebody told you that, they lied. continued»

Rod Machado is always using poor hapless Two-One-Three-Two-Bravo in his aviation anecdotes. Was there really such an aircraft having that tail number? continued»

Steep Turns, also called Steep Power Turns, are another "performance" maneuver that is useful for more than passing your checkride, or expediting a course reversal in visual conditions. continued»

Tornadoes are the most severe weather phenomena. Which country can therefore be said to have the "worst weather in the world" because it has the most tornadoes? continued»

If there is any one aspect of aeronautical knowledge that has great potential to either expand one’s understanding of flight, or take us out of the game altogether, it is the relationship between bank angle and stall speed. continued»

The highest-scoring, most deadly, boss-of-all-bosses, and root'n-toot'n-est Top Gun fighter pilot ace of all time was... continued»

How many times has this thought gone through your mind? “Gee it sure would be wonderful to have my own traffic radar display in this airplane.” Well, something like it may come to you sooner than you think. continued»

Lightning bolts, the worst airship tragedy in history and the first female airline pilot... continued»

Remember the Cessna 182 that blundered into the prohibited airspace around Washington DC recently -- the one that meandered within four miles of the White House -- he didn’t mean any harm, right? Well I’ve got a hot flash for you... continued»

To completely escape the possibility of a lightning strike in the vicinity of a thunderstorm, an aircraft would have to climb how high? continued»

Whenever we fly, we become an integral part of a human-machine system -- we're also the least consistent and the least reliable part of that system. continued»

In a level turn, the number of "gees" a pilot pulls (which is also known as the "load factor") is as we know related to the angle of bank (actually it's the reciprocal of the cosine of the bank angle). continued»

I find it curious that one critical precept of flight -- one that we are all taught at the start of our training -- is rarely again explored in the same level of detail, but so vital to our survival. continued»

For what reason might you want to land on the downwind side of a runway, in crosswind conditions? continued»

Children can be the most cooperative, curious, and cheerful of airborne companions -- I said they can be. On the other hand, if aerial introductions are done unwisely, they can also become most difficult, distracting, and very unhappy. continued»

From the first flight over the ocean to the first landing on the ocean, try this week's 3 Trivia Testers! continued»

Flight instructors have many obligations, but so do their students. In addition to teaching, coordinating their schedules with airplanes and their students... plus the weather... in the warmer months they’re often on the go 12 hours a day. continued»

An airplane can be made to stall at any speed. Okay then, at what airspeed will any airplane stall, if the stick (or yoke) is briskly pushed forward so that it enters a rapid descent, and the airplane is "unloaded" to exactly zero gees? continued»

Next to being on fire or having an engine failure, experiencing an electrical (or vacuum) failure in IMC probably gets the bronze medal for dread and distress -- dead radios would run a distant third, but it can still ruin your day. continued»

How long after their first flight did the Wright brothers submit their first patent application? continued»

High, low, or in the middle -- which is better and why (a not-so-serious look). When Otto Lilienthal started jumping off that mound of his near Berlin, you don't suppose he tried surfing atop that glider, do you? continued»

The average 1970s vintage Cessna 172 has enough aluminum to make the equivalent of roughly how many typical soda cans? continued»

Just like the arguments over which is the better alternative between high-wing or low-wing, tricycle gear or tail-draggers, there's no simple answer to the question of when you should raise the gear after takeoff in a retractable gear airplane. continued»

A few weeks ago, a Trivia Tester featured the so-called birth of carrier aviation with the world's first landing aboard a ship. So, what was really the world's first aircraft carrier? continued»

Getting aligned with a runway in visual conditions is no big deal; it's intuitively obvious when your flight path is on the extended centerline of the runway, but vertical alignment along the proper slope is a different story and more complicated than you might imagine. continued»

Who was the first person in history to write about flying in any mechanical or truly scientific sense? continued»

Even though the Space Shuttle doesn't deploy its landing gear until reaching an altitude of only a few hundred feet, not much more than 15 seconds before landing, that would probably make most general aviation pilots a little nervous. continued»

True or false: Apart from tilt-rotor or "powered lift" category aircraft, it is physically impossible for a propeller airplane (whether piston or turboprop) to either maintain altitude (or as the expression goes, "hang on its prop") or to climb straight up, by virtue of sheer thrust alone. continued»

True or false: It is possible to maintain control of (as well as land) an airplane that is missing part of a wing. continued»

Everyone is affected by economic instability to varying degrees. Although we're all flying more carefully after last September, thoughts for flying frugally in these leaner times are probably also in our minds. This might be a good time to offer some proactive logistical insights and strategies to save a few bucks. Flying less is one punitive option, but I'd prefer flying smarter. continued»

The noisiest aircraft of all time, during takeoff, is (was)... continued»

Did your instructor ever pull the power on the upwind leg and then say: "OK, your engine just quit. What now?" Even as a student pilot, I knew that it wouldn't be a casual event on downwind at pattern altitude -- let alone at 250 AGL on the upwind leg. Needless to say, I do remember frantically scanning for some friendly real estate. Those taunting memories always bothered me. What would I do, if it actually quit? continued»

The world's smallest jet engine (whether turboprop, turbofan, or turbojet) used in a "real" passenger carrying aircraft weighs in at... continued»

The debate about where the middle wheel belongs isn’t quite as stormy as the disputes over where the wing goes, when to raise the gear, or how to lean -- but there are still more than a few firm convictions out there. continued»

The greatest distance ever covered (either "straight line" or free) by a powered airplane (or for that matter, any sailplane) without benefit of a single drop of fuel was... continued»

Approximately how many patents for flying machines were filed with the US Patent Office before that of the Wright Brothers? continued»

A careful preflight won't protect you from some problems -- in the case of a flap problem though, that’s not necessarily the case. Knowing what to look for (and what to do if it happens anyway) can make the difference between a tough day and a bad year -- or no year. continued»

We have supersonic jet fighters, but are they (or any other type of aircraft capable of supersonic flight) ever flown faster than Mach 1 over the continental United States? continued»

Our national airspace system sure isn't getting any less complicated, but any long-awaited rescue through increasingly available and ostensibly more accurate means of navigation seems instead to have come at the expense of positional awareness: i.e., we're losing it! continued»

So just how fast would Santa have to go? continued»

What was the world's first rocket-powered airplane? continued»

Last time, we looked at prohibited and restricted airspace. This time we're going to discuss the other four types in detail (plus an additional thing or two). As you may recall, these remaining types comprise what is known as non-regulatory Special Use Airspace, or SUA. continued»

The driest place on Earth! continued»

...a few things you didn't know about prohibited airspace incursions, and a few things that the Secret Service, FAA, NASA, and Slimy Contractors are considering in the Back Room. continued»

The first airplane to take off on wheels was... continued»

The "pop-up": an on-the-spot IFR clearance from ATC, possibly without either an IFR briefing or having filed a flight plan -- it's quick and dirty... and it beats the heck out of scud-running. continued»

Why is there a difference between the magnetic variation for an airport, and the VOR located at that same airport? continued»

There was an aircraft that, while it may not have had the noise output of the Valkyrie supersonic bomber from an earlier Trivia Tester, produced sound which proved to be even more troublesome than that which puts one's hearing at risk. continued»

Not to editorialize or anything, but just what good are all those hoops that we all have to jump through for the Practical Test Standards? These trained animal acts in which we're all called upon to perform on the day of our checkride are not exactly geared towards improving judgment, or decision-making skills ... or ... are they? continued»

The first time a propeller was used on a full-sized aircraft was... continued»

Your hands freeze on the controls as your instructor barks out "No! Don't do that! Why on earth did you just do that? Who told you to do it that way?" Ever been there? Say, somewhere between righteous resentment, and being humiliated into a near-comatose state? continued»

The first airplane to land aboard an aircraft carrier under jet power was... continued»

There is a certain cultural component to the province of piloting that actually becomes self-defining. From habits in our non-flying lives, to what and how we think of ourselves; from routine actions or procedures all the way up to how we look at life -- they're all affected by the precepts, disciplines, behavior patterns, or even just plain motor activities of aviation. Have a look... continued»

The lowest barometric pressure ever recorded in the United States was 26.35 inches. In which state was it measured? continued»

The first regular in-flight motion pictures made their appearance in... continued»

We all know that filing a flight plan is good insurance, priceless in fact: it (still) doesn't cost us anything. But there are a few things about flight plans that aren't so well known. Let's look at some of them... continued»

The greatest number of engines used on any production airplane was... continued»

A chandelle is more than a climbing 180-degree turn with a fanciful French name that flows trippingly off the tongue. (Actually en Français, it's just "candle".) Having tactical origins over Europe during World War I, it is one of several required performance maneuvers in the single-engine commercial pilot Practical Test Standards (SEL only; Section 1, Chapter V). continued»

When did our primary airspeed indications (that is, those used by general aviation) go from reading in miles per hour to being given instead in terms of knots? continued»

Pilots are trained to think, talk, and trust numbers -- specifically, performance numbers. But somewhat like the good intentions that pave the road to the Underworld, this primrose path has a few land mines, too. For one thing, POH data give the impression of being precise, and indeed, they are. continued»

What fighter airplane had an "F" type designator, but yet carries no guns? continued»

We all remember being told what it means if we're flying along and we see an airplane, and it's not moving in our field of vision: trouble, right? RIGHT! Then there's that part about what it means when that other airplane is level with the horizon. It means it's at your altitude, right? WRONG! continued»

When was the first practical "black box" required aboard airliners? continued»

Which aircraft was the first to have variable-sweep wings? continued»

The number of our landings must always equal our number of takeoffs -- or so goes the adage -- but sometimes the safest way to ensure equality is to do neither. Unlike birds possessing the gift of flight and whose skills are instinctive, we have the gift of thought, but our skills are hard won. continued»

Galileo notwithstanding, with raindrops, the bigger they are, the faster they fall. (For objects of that size, the surface area to volume ratio dictates the extent to which it will overcome air resistance and viscous drag as it falls. Larger drops have a greater terminal velocity.) But when a raindrop falls faster than about 18 miles per hour (in still air) what will usually happen? continued»

In some ways VFR flying can be more challenging than flying under instrument flight rules. Apart from the subtle logistics of reading instruments, knowing where you are, and controlling where you're going, IFR flying is almost entirely built upon procedures and doing what you're told. continued»

To the nearest 100 feet, estimate the takeoff distance into a 13 knot headwind for an airplane with a 52-knot takeoff speed where, based on current conditions of temperature, pressure, runway surface, slope, etc., the no-wind takeoff distance is given as being 1000 feet. Then estimate that distance with a 13-knot tailwind. continued»

Whenever we fly from point A to point B, many of us use the Victor airway system, and we pick a route that offers us the smallest increase beyond a great circle distance, or the highest groundspeed ... and these days, perhaps the widest berth from unfriendly airspace. In addition, particularly in the IFR world, there's often more to it. continued»

If you hear a repeating "dit-dah-dah-dit" (the letter "P" in Morse code) on 121.5 MHz, what kind of device is transmitting the signal? continued»

The first person to use an airplane for transportation on a regular basis (in connection with a non-aviation related occupation) was... continued»

On April 27, 2000, a Canadian commercial helicopter pilot (who was also a helicopter flight instructor) took off with a maintenance engineer in a Bell 206 from an airport in Quebec to perform a test flight. Five minutes later, they disappeared from radar. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada determined (rather quickly) that the main rotor hub and rotor blades had departed the aircraft in flight. continued»

The first aerial combat between two aircraft took place... continued»

Just like the weather, about which everybody jokes but against which no one ever takes action, there is another equally uncaring adversary. It is a mere mechanical foe, a simple instrument, and one that we don't really even need to keep in our scan to keep the shiny side up. But while we proudly total the growing hours in each succeeding page of our logbooks, we must first reconcile this sepulchral tally at the end of every flight. That opponent, gentle reader -- the Hobbs meter. continued»

What IFR aircraft under ATC guidance in IMC (instrument meteorological conditions) may suddenly find that their services have been terminated, and that they have to fly a full instrument approach, rather than simply being vectored to the final approach course? continued»

There she is, sitting by the wash rack: the picture of health. You've just finished washing off the bugs and grime, vacuumed out the interior, and you can't wait to head out on your next cross-country. One thing that we often don't stop to consider however, is the question of whether or not the next aircraft you eagerly await flying looks as good on the inside as it does on the outside. I don't mean the upholstery or avionics, either. continued»

For what clever but ill-fated design was General George Armstrong Custer's great grand-nephew best known? continued»

With aircraft, there's usually very little in the way of chrome ornamentation. Unlike the Cadillacs and Fords of the early 1960s, if an airplane has fins, they're not for show; almost every part is there because it has to be. One of the most essential assemblies an airplane can have, namely its landing gear, is often regarded as having only secondary importance in terms of its overall engineering contribution to how the entire aircraft functions. However, being aware of how they can be attached (and what can go wrong) is indeed important. continued»

You're descending at a relatively high speed in calm air, and since there was no forecast for nor little chance of turbulence, you let the airspeed climb into the yellow arc, but fail to keep your attention focused on the airspeed indicator. Then you hear this buzzing noise. What might that mean? continued»

When traveling at the speed of sound at sea level (assuming we use a "standard" atmosphere at 15 degrees C), the dynamic pressure (the same pressure sensed by a pitot tube) is very roughly equivalent to... continued»

Anyone who has ever caught themselves flying while getting uncomfortably close to the big "E" will appreciate the following irony, and its potential lesson: Just when you think you've got the advantage, when you're holding all the cards, one could turn out to be a Joker. continued»

What propeller-driven aircraft had a fuselage that was nearly as tall as it was long? continued»

There is perhaps no more appropriate application for the term "grass roots" than when applied operating an airplane from a so-called soft field. Grass runways evoke a certain goggles-and-white-scarf nostalgia, but the demands they impose do confer more than just some bragging rights. Besides the obvious benefits of improved skills, there's also the advantage those landings (and hopefully, subsequent takeoffs) will give if ever your plans don't take you, where your plane did... continued»

What's the safest airline in the world? continued»

For most of us, if our engine quits, we're going down. It happens, though not often. About half the time, it's either because a pilot exhausted his fuel, starved the engine by attempting flight with a tank that had none left, or forgot about that red knob. An additional fourth or so are attributable to maintenance issues. And about another ten percent are attributable to fuel contamination. These data come only from those events in which a forced landing resulted in an "NTSB 830 classifiable accident" but based on these, a forced landing occurs about once every 200,000 hours: many times more than most of us will ever get to fly. continued»

Birds, like pilots, don't always have a tailwind. As a matter of fact, they have the same problems we do. How do they handle crosswinds in flight? continued»

Who was the first person to propose the use of aircraft in the national interest? continued»

Not quite a year ago, in August of 2002, I flew a Cessna 172 with a Traffic Proximity Alert System, or TPAS. Well, I've got a hot sequel for you. Actually, the folks at SureCheck Aviation out in Vista, California, are the ones with the scoop. The TrafficScope TPAS (VRX and VR) is a black box you'll soon be seeing in catalogs, at airshows, and by the time word gets around, probably in a cockpit near you. continued»

Just as the greater relative proportion of one substance introduced into another can improve the effectiveness of a mixture or a solution in physical chemistry, the increasing numbers of a smaller population intermingled with another more predominant one can serve to further justify the agenda of the former (whether that be equal rights, or simply acceptance). When it comes to the pilot population then, at what point in time during the last 100 years has the relative number of pilots been the greatest, with respect to the population at large? continued»

I've already described the TrafficScope TPAS VRX traffic proximity alert system. Now it's time to put it to the test. I took to the asphalt at Frederick, Maryland, on a hazy Sunday morning in late June. I had the TrafficScope on board a Cessna 152 Aerobat and I had a VFR flight plan to cut right into the ADIZ beehive around the Baltimore-Washington area. Visibility was about four miles (not good), and there were no clouds. But there were plenty of airplanes. continued»

Of the following early airmail pilots, who doesn't belong? Charles Lindbergh, Elrey Jeppesen, Leonard Brooke Hyde-Pearson, or George H. Boyle. continued»

An airplane with leaky fuel caps is sitting out in the rain. How long might it take each drop of water, the moment it gains access to the fuel tank, to: a) reach the bottom of the tank; and b) get to the engine? continued»

Not every engine-out need take you by surprise and even if there's nothing you can do about the problem, having some warning that its coming and some knowledge of its nature will always help. Generally speaking, your mission as a safe pilot is not simply to fly the airplane but also to account and compensate for those variables that might otherwise do you in. This means you must acquire knowledge of and / or take the proactive steps that will minimize or remove those threats. The steps listed below, are designed to help you prevent a forced landing due to engine failure, and survive one should it happen anyway... continued»

While en route at 4000 feet, ATC issues you the following advisory: "Flock of small birds, twelve o'clock, six miles, last reported at four thousand." What does this signify? continued»

Learning to fly is something very few people ever do, and we all take pride in our own aviation achievements. As our skills expand, along with it, so does our life. It becomes part of what we do, who we are, and what we come to take for granted. And it's only human nature that such a pre-selected group of goal-driven individuals would also want to continue to improve their tribal standing. continued»

After an aircraft experiencing an emergency, what four types of aircraft or situations come next, on the pecking order of priority ATC handling? continued»

Moving up to larger, more capable, aircraft can be intimidating, but airplanes are airplanes and some simple truths about them always hold true. The rules of physics still apply, and the intensity of their application is still independent of how many little old ladies you helped across the street last year or how much time you donated to local charities. If you've been flying "trainers," you're used to a fairly tight performance envelope. As you move up, and performance grows, so too (usually) does the performance envelope. More capable aircraft often have a wider range of behavior consistent with their expanded performance envelope. Some attention to details will help. continued»

Two pilots walk into the waiting room of an Aviation Medical Examiner to renew the medical certificates that they carry along with their private pilot certificates. One believes himself to be in excellent health, and although he doesn't need it, decides to "upgrade" to a first class medical. The other is content with keeping his third class medical. The "third class" pilot passes his exam with flying colors. The AME finds a minor eye problem however, in the case of the first guy. What happens? continued»

The absolutely and undeniably first woman pilot in the whole world was... continued»

I don't know if it was Chuck Yeager, Tom Wolfe, or anyone else in particular that should earn extra credit for this gem, but it doesn't matter. It could be Klem Kadiddlehopper, for all I care. What is it? It's that, in the interests of safety, may pessimism know no bounds! Applied in plain language, that means: always have an out. continued»

From the North Pole, one can only go southward. Not being the trusting type, rather than following the slightly suspicious-looking sign pointing every which way with directions and distances to several of the world's major cities, you decide to set out on your own. Unfortunately, you forgot your watch. The problem is that, to know where one is going, one must know the meridian being followed. Without a way to tell time, how could one determine one's longitude? continued»

All this talk about proficiency: we never seem to give it a rest, do we? For example, let's pick on vacuum failures. The system is being eliminated by modern dual independent electrical system aircraft offered by Cirrus and Lancair, but are a major contributor to fatal accidents in instrument conditions for most of us who must still fly much older aircraft. Although I was never terribly won over by the clever pun, as it turns out it happens to be appropriate for me to make one now, because most of those arguments about partial panel proficiency have, in a way, been made inside one (a vacuum, that is). continued»

In July 2001, 13-year old Cody Clawson was hiking with his Boy Scout troop in Yellowstone National Park, but somehow, he got separated from the group. Even though authorities enlisted help from rescue teams in Idaho and Wyoming, Cody wound up spending a cold, wet, and lonely night in a rocky canyon, wondering if he would survive. The next morning, he heard a helicopter flying over a nearby ridge, and the Bell 407 pilot spotted Cody, landed nearby, and flew him back to safety. Who was that pilot? continued»

True or False: A private pilot with an airplane, single-engine land rating can always be guaranteed to receive better flight instruction if he gets it from an instrument flight instructor. continued»

Marshalling aircraft is one of the most thankless tasks that linemen must perform. Often overlooked during pilot training, and in practice, it's also prone to mishaps. As those who work the line will tell you, it is one of the least understood areas of operation among pilots ... that's us, folks. continued»

The number of hours of flight instruction needed for a flight review, regardless of whether it is through the Wings program or via a BFR, can be... continued»

Until that defining moment which comes to some of us at some point during our training (somewhere between the day we start flying and when we inevitably must stop), we fail to grasp the importance of the rods and cables that carry our control inputs from inside the cockpit out to our wings. In my case, appreciation and awareness came rather suddenly. continued»

On approach to landing at one of several airports in the Detroit metropolitan area, you hear ATIS Information Zulu. This means... continued»

Although some tend to view these paths as being somewhat divergent, with the former sometimes seen as the "high road" while the latter might be thought of by some as the "low road", in reality they are just two different sets of regulations that work toward the same end. Which is better? Well, it depends... Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and the first parts of subchapters D and H, address pilot certification and pilot schools, respectively. Part 141 describes the rules for the more formalized, standardized, and credentialed flight schools, and Part 61 details the minimum knowledge and experience needed to earn a pilot certificate. continued»

Avgas is colored by the use of a dye to indicate its octane and lead level. True or false: The higher the octane, the greater the number of letters in the name of the color used. continued»

True or false: a blind person has successfully piloted an aircraft (an airplane) through takeoff, cruise flight, and landing. continued»

I strongly suspect that I'm just one of the many among the subjugated masses of aviators yearning, figuratively at least, to breathe free. And I'm damned sure that I'm not alone in feeling mad as Hell that a few bad apples -- make that rotten apples -- have made America's skies much less friendly. But particularly now, when it has become less and less socially acceptable to question authority, I feel it is time we remind ourselves that when it comes to your own safety and that of your passengers, certain rules have never changed. continued»

A pilot who desires to retain instrument currency may use a first Personal Computer Aviation Training Device (PCATD) under what conditions? continued»

Unlike the non-flying population at large, when it comes to blood pressure (an important indicator of cardiac health), any pilot pretty much already knows what their score is. And any pilot who is on the borderline between ho-hum normal and mildly elevated probably knows it, too. But here's something you probably didn't know... continued»

The FAA requires many aircraft to display N-numbers that are a foot high. Which of the following are exceptions? continued»

We don't give much thought to starting the engines in our cars, even in the dark depths of winter, thanks in part to microprocessor controlled electronic fuel injection. Starting up an airplane, however involves a bit more hands-on skill. With colder weather on the way (and, in some areas, well under way), this might be a good time to revisit the one critical component of the induction system that we usually lay our hands on first: the primer. continued»

What was the origin of the now universally applied unit of measuring speed, the knot, in determinations both aeronautical as well as nautical? continued»

Don't look now, but we're living through the beginning of another upheaval, of sorts. Along with the more promising changes such as Free Flight, advances in avionics, or the Sport Pilot initiative, and the more discouraging aftermath of 9/11 or the graying of our fleet, there is also another, though at the moment it is one only of perception. I will call it a new age of realism. continued»

If you knew only your true airspeed and your angle of drift from the wind, is it possible to compute the direction and velocity of the wind? continued»

The soul of aviation probably has no greater Mecca than the dunes of Kill Devil Hills, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Above these once shifting and untamed sands, now resting beneath 425 manicured acres of grass, stands a hallowed shaft of granite, over ninety feet high and crowning one central dune, also stabilized under a carpet of green. The striking memorial, a 60-foot high triangular pylon ornamented with outspread wings in bas-relief, stands like some colossal gnomon, presiding over both its own circular hill and the open spaces beyond. These grounds embrace the Wright Brothers' first four successful powered flights, as well as most of their earlier glider experiments. Since it was established by Congress in 1927 to commemorate their achievement, generations have flocked to the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Now, it was my turn. continued»

As you are about to flare for landing, just when you reduce propeller rpm, you feel a slight shudder go through the airplane, the cockpit, and you. Is there anything wrong? continued»

Winter's coming (or here), and that means ice. If you were merrily motoring along and suddenly noticed ice forming on your wings, windshield, and elsewhere, aside from vacating that altitude pronto, you probably wouldn't slow down (unless it involved a maximum rate climb to warmer air). Your pulse would quicken, and most likely so would your engine, at your behest. That's probably a good idea -- except for one thing... continued»

If an IFR aircraft which precedes you into the same airspace ceases to communicate with ATC for whatever reason, how long will ATC block that airspace from other IFR (or special VFR) traffic-or you? continued»

True or false: When the outside temperature is low, closing the cowl flaps prior to, during, or just engine start (and keeping them closed prior to takeoff) is a smart way to help keep some extra heat in the engine compartment to help warm up the engine. (But you must remember to open them prior to takeoff!) continued»

Wouldn't it be nice to have the privileges of an instrument pilot but retain the VFR freedoms of choosing your own path in the clear blue? Well, for those of you who have earned an instrument ticket, there are a few strategies at our disposal that might be worth reviewing. There's nothing underhanded about them either; these options aren't ploys or smooth moves. They're well defined ATC procedures. The only "trick" is knowing the few strings that are attached. Here's how to use the system without abusing it... continued»

When you hear the word "flak" you may think of a famous female singer named Roberta, bulletproof outerwear (as in, the jacket), or possibly tough or excessive opposition. Most likely, even as a civilian pilot, you might also think of something that you usually don't have to worry about, namely, someone shooting at you. From whence comes the term? continued»

If you are a VFR-only pilot, you'll soon see that night flight is (or, in a heartbeat, can be) much like flying on instruments -- because you may have to. You might find this out soon after you point your nose skyward on your first night fright...I mean, flight. But there's more to the story... continued»

Pilots rightfully have something of a vested interest in that benchmark of assessing their visual acuity: namely, the eye chart. Why is it that the letter E is usually the topmost letter? continued»

See and be seen; at night, lights are inexpensive protection. They indicate the relative position of other aircraft, as well as their relative movement. If you add widely-spaced recognition lighting to an aircraft, lights that are pulsed, and stroboscopic lights that actually do flash, you'll be hard to miss. And at night, that's just what you want. Still, don't get too confident -- aircraft lights can blend in with city lights, or those in the night sky ... and not everyone will (though legally they must) have them on. It is always important to keep a sharp eye out for other aircraft. continued»

Why would any predictions of sunrise and sunset times for your local area, whether obtained from your new GPS display, the Daily Planet, or even the Nautical Almanac, be wrong? continued»

When did the Smithsonian Institution first begin collecting flight-related articles? How many active air traffic controllers in the US are also active pilots? When you see the angle of a glide slope on an instrument approach plate, it is almost always incorrect, because... continued»

Altitude is your friend, sure, but not when you're too high on final approach because you misjudged your perspective of the runway. Then again, you might make a conscious decision to stay too high if you have engine trouble and you want altitude in the bank until you're sure you have the runway made. Or let's say you're trying to get over obstructions on the approach path to a short runway, and having full flaps isn't quite enough. The solution for regaining your figurative footing that's called for in these slippery situations is (as if I didn't give it away already): the slip. continued»

Regarding surplus military jet airplanes and ejection seats, which of the following statements is (are) true? ... You're on an extended ocean-crossing flight. Which of the following might be a legitimate consideration regarding an addition to your list of carry-on items? ... If it weren't for the pitch change of a helicopter's main rotor blades at different points along their revolution around the main rotor hub, a helicopter would, at moderate speeds... continued»

I have a hard time trying to think of something good to say about stationary fronts. They not only tend to wear out their welcome, they never have any in the first place. Especially in the eastern United States, a stationary front associated with a low pressure system can drape itself over higher ground, and in the company of adjacent troughs and large areas of moderate rain showers (which are in turn fed by maritime air that drags in plenty of Atlantic or Gulf moisture), you have, aside from a formula for low clouds and wet, sticky weather, a recipe for disaster. continued»

1. True or False: In the United States, there are actually more "mayday" calls in the month of May than any other. 2.Pilots rightfully have something of a vested interest in that benchmark of assessing their visual acuity: namely, the eye chart. Why is it that the letter E is usually the topmost letter? 3.The percentage of single-engine piston home-built aircraft in the general aviation fleet is now roughly... continued»

1) What is the meaning of those cryptic numbers used to identify engine oil? 2) A pilot of an airplane without floats would be glad to have a frozen lake to land on, if that engine (or engines) ever quit while out of reach of land. But if heat rises, then why does ice form first on the surface of lakes, ponds, rivers, and even oceans? 3) The oceans have tides, but do any other bodies of water have tides as well? continued»

At about 11 AM, just as I arrived to fly an R-22 into a cool blue March sky out of Frederick, Maryland, a pilot proved once again that when you consider all weather phenomena, it is winds which are the cause of many accidents. As I was waiting for the instructor to return with his student and the helicopter, I heard a cacophony of sirens, but I just figured that it was coming from one of the local roads nearby. They weren't. continued»

A prototype of the venerable Boeing 707 launched the honored lineage of the Boeing 7-7 series of airliners when it made its maiden flight in July of 1954. The Boeing 727 was introduced into service in February, 1964. Since then, aside from that one gap, the series has continued uninterrupted. The commercial revenue service history of the 737 fleet began in 1968. In late September 1968, the first 747 rolled out of the Boeing factory. Boeing turned its first 757 loose early in 1982. The first 767 emerged from the Everett Washington Boeing plant in August of 1981. In June 1995, the first Boeing 777 entered revenue service. But what the blazes happened to the Boeing 717? continued»

According to a recent study, the elapsed time between the first indications of a hidden fire and the point at which an airliner becomes catastrophically uncontrollable has ranged between seven and 35 minutes. The average time is about 20 minutes. Twenty minutes is a long time, but the bad news is that those occurrences involved airliners. Things happen a good bit faster inside smaller aircraft. continued»

Airplane propellers generate most of the noise that is the source of complaints (at least those against piston and turboprop airplanes). The noise becomes much worse as propellers reach transonic speeds. If airplane wings can spoof critical Mach numbers by means of their sweep-back, why aren't the propellers on small airplanes also swept back? continued»

Which of the following have not, at least once, been flown through by an airplane? continued»

How are your radio skills? I happen to subscribe to the notion of multiple intelligences when it comes to assessing the potential accomplishments of my fellow man (along with perhaps the idealistic notion that everybody is good at something). Still, aside from those few peripheral oddities having comical inequities among their relative abilities in different areas, most of us do seem to squeak by with a fairly even balance. This equilibrium usually manifests itself in various ways. In my opinion, there seems to be a fairly reliable correlation between what someone looks like they might have to offer in the way of conversation, and how well they can actually articulate what's on their mind. This often holds true at least, until they first try their hand at speaking in public. And such exceptions invariably surface within the fellowship of aviation whenever a pilot first learns to key a microphone...   continued»

The FAA rules require that we fly with current charts.  Most of us have probably noticed that, overall, although the FAA's National Aeronautical Charting Office (NACO) updates terminal area charts and sectional charts every six months, sectionals don’t really change all that much from one edition to the next, six months later. It seems as though they’re issued every six months whether or not there have been any changes. Is this wasteful, or are there really always enough changes to justify it? Approximately how many changes are there in the average sectional and Terminal Area Chart, from one to the next? continued»

You’re in a descent, passing through 1000 feet, and approaching your destination airport in southern Arizona, at night. You happen to notice an aircraft at a lower altitude, also near the airport, but it has no lights on. Is it possible that this aircraft is operating legally? continued»

Airline pilots must retire at age 60. What is the mandatory retirement age that generally applies to air traffic controllers? continued»

Aside from ultralights or any “sport class” aircraft, under what circumstances is it possible for a pilot without a medical to legally fly as PIC in a regular powered fixed-wing aircraft? continued»

Accidents involving degraded performance due to density altitude continue to plague pilots. The precise effects of temperature upon pressure altitude and related corrections are applied by all pilots, but the one additional ingredient in the mix that affects density altitude, namely humidity, is largely ignored.  What are the approximate respective altitude corrections, in feet, for humid air at 100% relative humidity when the air temperature is 50 °F, 70 °F, 90 °F, and 100 °F ? continued»

At various points during my instrument training, my redoubtable primary (and instrument) instructor took me on a number of memorable mini-adventures. There was that DME arc approach into Martin State Airport in Maryland, or my first taste of Warp Five through snow on a night flight from New Jersey, or that time we flew over to Andrews Air Force Base, and down a special chute reserved mostly for the folks in uniform: the Precision Approach Radar. continued»

Many times in your flying career, even if while on the wing, your most focused objective is comprised of nothing more then Sunday afternoons chasing clouds hither and yon, you will have to make decisions. Most will be simple ones, such as making sure to lean the mixture at cruising altitude, not adding full flaps during that crosswind landing, perhaps deciding to land at an intermediate airport when the fuel gauges begin reading lower than you expected during a cross-country flight, or deciding that you aren’t going to fly up to that business meeting today because of a much bigger drop in rpm on that left mag, when you did your run-up… continued»

I’d like you to think back a minute. The last time you practiced stalls, either with a flight instructor or on your own perhaps, how did you go about it? Did you do a clearing turn, first to the left, then to the right, enriching the mixture, and then if you were planning to do power-off (or “approach to landing”) stalls, perhaps you reduced power along the way and added carburetor heat (if you had a fuel injected engine), slowed to VFE and extended flaps (assuming you had them), and then increased pitch attitude and simultaneously decreased power while maintaining a constant altitude, until things got mushy. . . and then. . . you felt that sinking feeling? continued»

1) How long have directions been expressed in degrees clockwise from North?
2) How fast would you need to go in order for at least part of your Skyhawk to exceed Mach One?
3) When may a pilot descend below the glide slope on a visual (or even an instrument approach) and land on the displaced threshold? continued»

Back in the early days of the last century, when most men wore hats and a great many sported moustaches, air traffic control wasn’t yet an entirely justifiable concept, and engines failed with regularity, one thing airplanes didn’t have was flaps. Certain airplanes flown today, such as the Piper Cub, still don’t have them. So who cares? continued»

Among aviation's many trite aphorisms, there is one that I consider forever immunized against the discrediting stigma of banality, and it is the one that, paraphrased, advises the following: 'It is always better to be on the ground, wishing that you were in the air, than it is to be up there and wishing you could be on the ground.' However, in the case of magnetos, as I learned one IMC day almost a dozen years ago, it is possible to be benched before you ever get the chance to engage in such battles of conscience. And it is also just as possible, and quite simple really, to get back in the game. It is a lesson that I learned too late that day, but none too late to share. continued»

You might not think of it this way, but for the vast majority of us who are based at non-towered or so-called “uncontrolled” airports, every time we take off, land, or practice flying in the traffic pattern, it can seem about as care-free as being in a combat zone. If you’ve ever been number three on downwind, or flown an older training aircraft into the sun while in the pattern at a busy airport (and then realized just how hopelessly crazed the windshield was), or had your own personal NMAC thrill as someone breezed blithely by not 100 feet away, then you know what I mean. I’ve experienced all three, and then some. Perhaps less dramatically, if you have ever silently fumed as some business jet called a five-mile final, or even if the most vivid trauma you’ve ever suffered was seeing what happened to the low-wing and the high-wing airplane that became as one while on short final near Tampa about five years ago, you’ve already had your initiation to the fracas. It’s no wonder why most midair collisions occur within ten miles of places like these. About the only positive thing I can say about this is, well, at least no one is shooting at you. continued»

Did you know that flying at maneuvering speed when encountering turbulence might not be such a good idea? Wait a minute, you may have said to yourself; I know that flying above maneuvering speed when penetrating turbulence can definitely be non-habit forming, so…since when should I not slow down when things get bumpy? Don’t worry, I haven’t been sniffing one too many fuel samples. All I mean to say is that…even maneuvering speed might be too fast. continued»

1) Airplane propellers generate most of the noise that is the source of complaints (at least those against piston and turboprop airplanes). The noise becomes much worse as propellers reach transonic speeds. If airplane wings can spoof critical Mach numbers by means of their sweep-back, why aren't the propellers on small airplanes also swept back?

2) Based upon the FAA's own data, which do you suppose have been the hardest FAA written tests? Aircraft Dispatcher, Ground Instructor, ATP Helicopter, Flight Instructor Gyroplane, Inspection Authorization.

3) Wherever the President visits, a large chunk of instant Special Use Airspace follows. In this case, 'large' means a cylinder with a radius of up to thirty miles (although at Camp David, it is 'only' 10), and going up to 17,999 feet MSL. What, if any, is the protective airspace around the Vice President? continued»

If the atmosphere had the same density throughout its vertical extent as it does at sea level, where would outer space begin? continued»

What is one danger to watch out for in a weight shift controlled ultralight aircraft in which either an intentional dive or turbulence causes the nose to pitch suddenly downward? continued»

We perform takeoffs and landings all the time. I’ve done more than a little reading in aviation textbooks and periodicals, and aside from the statistically greater number of incidents and accidents during these phases of flight that are attributable primarily to human error, I don’t recall either one getting much bad press by itself as being somehow inherently dangerous. But when you begin one landing, break off the attempt for whatever reason, and then proceed to attempt another one well, suddenly, it gets hard. continued»

Since it’s January, and I happen to be in northern New Jersey where evening temperatures have been dropping into the single digits this week, I’m feeling particularly motivated to bring up the subject of winter flying. If you’re feeling a bit cramped and compromised by cold weather though, take heart, because it could be worse: you could live up in Frostbite Falls. continued»

I've often made wry reference to the coward's credo that discretion is the better part of valor. Aside from past tales of gallant heroes battling against great odds in wartime skies, fearless courage usually bears little or nothing of value in civil aviation, and too often brings only grief, not glory. All pilots know that risk assessment is an ever-present task, and all pilots train to expect the unexpected. There is one skill in particular which is seldom needed, but always mandatory, which is called upon should mechanical or other problems ever get the better of us, and that involves knowing how to successfully execute a forced landing. There is another kind of courage needed however, during times when all is not yet lost, when that special blend of knowledge and trust in one's own judgment dictates the best course of action to be…the precautionary landing. continued»

If we could see them, what would thermals look like? continued»

Anyone who has ever watched an airliner land and noticed the puff of blue smoke that appears the moment the wheels suddenly spin up from zero to somewhere upwards of 140 miles an hour (to use ground-pounder units) must wonder at the abuse those poor tires must take (as well as wondering why they don’t spin them up to somewhere around that speed, first). Heck, the tires on even our own little bug-smashers take quite a pounding, and I don’t mean from bounced landings, either. continued»

Question: What is happening to the airplane in this picture? (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign John Gay)

continued»

Nothing sizzles and nothing sells quite like performance numbers. Two of the most commonly used metrics in describing how an airplane will fly, or when making comparisons between them, are terms that may seem to the uninitiated to belong perhaps to the agricultural sector, or maybe the building of bridges. (So no, despite the provocative title, this isn't about firearms and anti-terrorism.) Among the many parameters used to describe an airplane's abilities and engineering endowments, and which arise from the juggling act that aircraft designers must perform to arrive at the best compromise among them, two parameters in particular provide an excellent snapshot of what a pilot can expect. They are both known as loadings, and they are: wing loading, and power loading. continued»

Question: Under what circumstances can it be beneficial for pilots to emit grunting noises?
A) when performing aerobatic maneuvers
B) during descents to lower altitude, and during unintentional encounters with hypoxia
C) if a maximum of physical strength is required in an emergency
D) all three
continued»

Question: Why do dangerous clouds always appear dark?
A) They don't. Clouds associated with severe weather can be as white as the driven snow, but still contain dangerous turbulence or super-cooled water.
B) Water is anything but dark; in fact it's clear. When it is suspended in very small airborne droplets, it reflects light and appears white. However, when the droplets coalesce into rain, the drops of water absorb more light and will usually appear somewhat darker, especially from below.
C) It has nothing to do with the scattering or absorption of light on an individual droplet or raindrop level. It is simply a matter of attenuation of visible light with increased depth. Storm clouds are usually dark because they are generally quite deep, as with cumulonimbus clouds.
D) They do when the air is dirtier than usual. When air contains particulate matter in sufficient quantity, the clouds will be dark.
continued»

Question: The first jet airplane actually existed in?
A) 1949
B) 1939
C) 1929
D) 1910
continued»

When we think, read, or speak about airplane performance, aside from the more obvious implications regarding a relative ability to accomplish a particular goal such as taking off from a short field or getting somewhere in a hurry, in reality we’re thinking and living in a secondary world. When you compare numbers for these things and others like rate of climb, service ceiling, range, or fuel burn, aeronautically speaking, you’re actually inside the matrix, if you will. In other words, there’s a more elemental reality behind them. continued»

Question: The highest mountain peak on Earth, in reality, is:
A) Mauna Kea
B) Mount Chimborazo
C) Mount Everest
D) Mount McKinley
continued»

Question: The world's first fixed location devoted to the landing and departure of flying machines that was referred to in the way we most often do now, that is by the term 'airport' was:
A) Wings Field, PA
B) College Park Airport, MD
C) Bader Field, Atlantic City, NJ
D) Hammonton Municipal, NY
E) Wright-Patterson AFB continued»

If I told you that I think I’ve found the cure for the common cold, would you listen? (Despite my having no medical credentials whatsoever and the fact this isn’t exactly the New England Journal of Medicine, you might indeed continue to read this, but you would do so with a large helping of salt and a jaundiced eye, I’m sure.) Well, it so happens that I can offer you something of possibly equal value in the aeronautical arena. What if I told you that I can present you with potential immunity from distraction? (you know, that veritable petard upon which we can so easily become publicly hoisted?) Well, let me bend your ear a little. continued»

Question: True or False: Airline pilots may not pilot an airliner in the United States once they have passed their sixtieth birthday. continued»

Question: The year of the first documented sustained flight of a heavier-than-air powered flying machine was:
A) 1874
B) 1884
C) 1896
D) 1901
E) 1903
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At last, I was on my own in a retractable-gear airplane. What’s more, this Cessna’s numerical descriptor started with a two, and not just a one! However, I can still remember my apprehension that I’d be stranded in Chapel Hill the first time I flew the 210 to North Carolina from the Maryland suburbs to visit a friend one very warm Sunday, a number of years ago. I’d watched my flight instructor demonstrate the “hot start” procedure for the Centurion’s fuel-injected engine (several times), but I can well remember the feeling that either mechanical intuition or just plain dumb luck was going to be needed in ample quantity, if ever I took this airplane anywhere that was remote or isolated. Unfortunately, that day, the place looked pretty sleepy to me. continued»

Question: The advantage of a high aspect ratio wing was first recognized in:
A) 1804
B) 1866
C) 1903
D) 1918
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A funny thing happened this morning on the way to the traffic pattern. Actually that’s an untruth; it wasn’t very amusing. In a few years I might look lightheartedly back upon this, because the fact of the matter is, I had to consciously stop hyperventilating. continued»

Question: True or false: The viscosity (or 'stickiness') of a gas actually increases with increasing temperature (unlike a liquid). So even though it becomes less dense when warmed, and its molecules move further apart and more quickly, a gas becomes, in a way, thicker at the same time that it gets thinner. continued»

If you’re instrument rated and current, you almost certainly own at least a modest complement of IFR charts and approach plates. But the odds are that you still make a number of flights under visual flight rules, and if you’re like me, you probably always have a couple of current local sectionals in your flight bag. And then there’s the other half of us who only fly in visual conditions, and who don’t ever so much as look at an IFR chart or approach plate (or quite truthfully for new pilots, those who haven’t yet seen one). If you’re in that latter half, you might be missing out on a few things. continued»

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Question: You experience an engine failure at a fairly charitable altitude (say 4500 feet) during a cross-country flight. There aren't any airports within gliding range, but you immediately see a perfectly straight clearing in the heavily wooded area over which you are flying (which fortunately, appears to be relatively flat) You notice that it continues off into the middle distance, at which point it abruptly changes direction by about 25 degrees and continues again in another long, straight line. Why might you not want to even think about landing there?
A) You're seeing a highway in the making. Unfortunately, you are also seeing terrain that has yet to be graded and cleared of what is probably some fairly large scale debris. Just because it's clear of trees doesn't mean that it is also free of bushes, gullies, or boulders. In fact, most narrow right-of-way clearings in heavily wooded areas are festooned with fairly large and potentially fatal obstacles.
B) It is most likely an unused or abandoned ski slope. (And as you might infer, it sure as heck won't be level.)
C) You aren't looking at a highway, or a highway-to-be. You're looking at a power line. Or rather, you will be, once you descend further.
Unlike gently curving superhighways, 'highways' for high-power transmission lines progress in a series of usually perfectly straight lines.
D) It could be the right of way for a natural gas transmission line.
Most portions are underground, but you wouldn't want to find out the hard way where the above ground sections are.

Answer: Check back next week.

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I don't know about you, but you might say that I have an approach/avoidance conflict with some non-precision approaches, in particular with VOR approaches. On the one hand, I like them because they cut me some slack if I'm feeling mellow, the weather isn't too crummy, and the ceilings are still comfortably in the neighborhood of the transition point from three to four digits. Then again, particularly with the VOR approaches for which the navigation facility isn't on the field, the errors can really accumulate if your navigation equipment isn't as precise as it once was, and you don't fly them accurately. When the chips are down (along with the ceilings and visibility), that might just leave you wondering-particularly when you emerge from the clouds and the runway (or even the airport environment) is nowhere in sight. continued»

Most pilots with instrument ratings would probably agree that when it comes to an uneventful passage through haze, gloom, or dark of night and back to Mother Earth, an ILS is a much better deal than a VOR approach. Given a choice between the somewhat more relaxed progression of a non-precision descent profile and the relatively more rapid cross-checking required to remain within the allotted confines of a precision approach path, when the chips (and the ceilings) are down, the precision approach is definitely the better of the two. Until there are many more GPS WAAS approaches besides the few now coming online, for a while yet at least, the odds are that if you have to get down through a layer of low clouds, the bases of which might be as low as 200 feet, you’ll be flying an ILS. (Of course, the PAR or precision approach radar that I wrote about last year also qualifies as a precision approach, but I’ll concentrate on the ILS here.) So what is it that makes an ILS so special? continued»

Question: True or False: There has actually been a scientific study done to disprove the theory that a pilot flies by the seat of his (or her) pants.
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Flight under instrument flight rules (IFR) is largely procedural. There’s little room or tolerance for zany spontaneity; if you love surprises, look elsewhere. But although we fly by the book, when the plot thickens, we do in fact have options (although they’re more like regulatory provisions) for choosing a different ending. Usually, the thickening agent affecting our best-laid plans is weather related. continued»

Question: True or false: Some airport signs are built to withstand the equivalent of an F5 tornado. continued»

Question: You've seen the Trivia question about the first words spoken by mankind on another heavenly body, but what were (so far at least) the last words?
A) 'Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle is lifting off.'
B) 'Roger, go at throttle up.'
C) 'Okay, now let's get off. Forget the camera.'
D) 'Let's get this mutha outta here.'
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