We all practice short field landings. It is a part of the Recreational, Private, Commercial, and ATP practical tests. But how practical is it? continued»

What is the effect of first hooking up your computer to the Internet? You already know. It is like opening a door to an unlimited world of information. continued»

I'm strictly VFR. I don't mind flying in the haze and have flown over water in five miles visibility at night -- those of you who think it's foolish should go back to flight school. continued»

There are many airports that have control towers that do not operate 24 hours a day. continued»

Airline Captain – considered by many to be the ultimate flying job. continued»

If you fly to an uncontrolled airport that has a single runway and that runway has a direct crosswind, which direction should you land? continued»

The largest number of mid-air collisions take place in a traffic pattern. continued»

Congratulations! You successfully navigated to a busy controlled airport, handled all the radio work, and even landed on the correct runway. continued»

So, you want to buy an airplane and join the ranks of the owner / pilot. continued»

Regular proficiency training is essential to the safety of all pilots and their passengers. continued»

E-mail and teleconferencing are integral in today's marketplace. continued»

It was 1988 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Phil Greth and his '56 G-35 Bonanza had flown in and out of the city countless times. continued»

Using the magnetic compass as the basis for in-flight direction comes with some built-in problems that have caused pilots to get off course and even lost. continued»

I have a friend who uses a GPS unit everywhere he flies. One day his GPS told him that the distance from Memphis to Nashville was 1,928 nautical miles on a heading of 280 degrees. continued»

Few pilots consider how handy their Cell phone can be when it comes to their flying. continued»

True, most gear-up landings don’t cause great injury or damage to the airplane, but it can still take months (and tens of thousands of dollars) to fix the plane -- and the cost does *not* go away. continued»

Ordinarily the aircraft speed limit below 10,000 feet is 250 knots, but there is an exception that might surprise you -- or worse. continued»

Do you use Unicom to your best advantage? continued»

Most pilots continue to learn about flying and being prepared, but, no matter how many hours we fly, some things will always turn your stomach. continued»

In order to safely and smoothly fly through our system you must do more than just talk the talk, you must understand the hidden meaning behind the talk -- thinking you understand isn’t good enough. continued»

Pilots that fly at night see some of the most beautiful sights in the world, but there are some biological factors that make seeing things at night -- and how you should look for them -- very different than seeing things during the day. continued»

Are you sure we’re all speaking the same language? continued»

When there’s more to the meaning than the words show, you had better know what you’re saying -- here’s our final installment on talking the talk... continued»

There are dozens of documented reports that suggest electronic interference from cell phones caused a disruption to key flight instruments, but not everyone is convinced. continued»

Editor’s note: A very inside look at a very expensive problem that effects us all. continued»

The airspeed indicator has colorful arcs that advise us about our speed -- and on every flight those markings lie. continued»

Just as cell phones can cause interference with flight instruments, many other electronic devices can cause problems. continued»

The most commonly glossed-over subject on complex checkouts could cost you several knots in cruise and a couple hundred hours of useful life from your engine. continued»

A pilot certificate (except for the student and flight instructor certificate) is issued without an expiration date, but there are things you must do -- and many more that you should do -- to maintain the privileges provided by that certificate. continued»

Insurance is a gamble: When you take out an aviation insurance policy, you’re gambling that you may have an accident and need the insurance company’s help to pay. continued»

Your first solo was the challenge of a lifetime, but was it legal? continued»

“Altitude busts” heighten the risk of a midair collision, FAA enforcement action, and, in a descent, controlled flight into terrain. continued»

Everyone has the potential to have a bad day when flying and, if you’re not careful, your insurance company can make a bad day worse. continued»

You would never think that water could cause these problems, but the fact of the matter is that it can and it will. continued»

Can you fly your airplane with that missing or inoperative equipment? continued»

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

Two summers ago, a British Airways crew found themselves unable to provide roll control to their Boeing 747-136 as the 28 year old aircraft carried some 300 passengers from Detroit, Mich., to London, England. continued»

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a natural by-product of combustion, it is poisonous and, as long as your engine is running, it is present near your cockpit. continued»

We all know the real reason for filing a VFR flight plan (to speed up a rescue should we not arrive at our destination), but there are places where even the flight plan is not fast enough… continued»

We learn to fly an 'S' turn down a road, a circle around a barn or to fly parallel to a railroad track when learning to fly ... but why? continued»

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

Boy, was I disappointed! continued»

When was the last time a controller asked, 'Hey give me a Lazy Eight out there!' continued»

No, we’re not talking about that date you went on... continued»

The Global Positioning Systems (GPS) we enjoy today appears to be the product of our new technology, but in fact it is not new. continued»

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

What happens when an air traffic controller tells an aircraft with the call sign of 'Six-Seven-Tango' that they are cleared to land, and the pilot of an aircraft with the call sign of 'Six-Sierra-Tango' says, 'Roger. Cleared to land.' continued»

Just how much do you control when you fly? continued»

The controller's use of an aircraft call sign is also a code within a code. 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»

When flying a light single engine airplane you would not expect to accelerated while climbing, but what if the instruments told you just that – do you believe the instruments or is something else going on? continued»

Ever since the second aircraft started flying, a primary concern among pilots has been the ability to see and avoid the other aircraft. continued»

No, it's not the beginning of a very bad joke ... hopefully. continued»

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

Last week we discussed the difference between a broker and an agent -- this week, we discuss another distinction that could save you money... 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»

Having an AWOS at an uncontrolled airport makes getting local weather information easy -- but when this machine reports the weather, does that report become the 'official' and 'legal' report or is the information simply an advisory? continued»

The majority of tachometers on the market are mechanical meters, which translate the engine RPM from a cable into a meter reading of how fast your engine in running -- and they don't always work right. continued»

Friends -- fellow pilots with more experience -- told me I was nuts ... crazy ... out of my cotton pickin’ mind to voluntarily admit a medical problem to the FAA. continued»

As I entered the downwind leg, the controller informed me he had visual contact, and cheerfully confirmed I was cleared to land ... then, he did something that I had never encountered in my life – he said “Check Gear Down.” 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»

Flying a C172 toward Columbia, MO, one day, I grew nervous as the ATIS spoke of lower and lower visibilities. continued»

The purpose of becoming a student pilot is to become a private pilot, but there are some pilots that deliberately remain students and, in doing so, retain certain privileges, while bypassing certain requirements. continued»

Once you get your Private Pilot Certificate, you should celebrate -- take your family for a flight over your hometown, brag at work ... then, make a five-year plan. 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»

The phone call came as bad news: The doctor I’d hired to represent me before the FAA was calling to say the agency needed more information. continued»

Why would anyone in their right mind subject themselves to another written test and a checkride ... especially this one? continued»

Yes, there will be a test -- study … hard. continued»

If you were flying in the military, and were in a hot spot where your aircraft was at risk, you would be flying with your IFF, or Identification, Friend or Foe System on high alert -- things are a little different in the civilian market. continued»

No matter how many checkrides you take, you never completely get rid of what is commonly known as 'checkride-itis' but there are some strategies that can reduce the fear-factor. 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»

It’s time to prepare for the flight test. continued»

Every plane has at least one -- a crack in a formed part, or more than likely, a composite part or fairing of some sort on the airframe. continued»

The day has come and it's time to show your stuff. You’ve amassed the flight experience required for the Airline Transport Pilot certificate. continued»

Private Pilot applicants once were required to perform a one-turn spin and recover within 10 degrees of original heading to pass the checkride -- things have changed. continued»

Is it worth it to get an instrument rating -- or will it just encourage you to fly in poor weather when your instrument skills haven't been used for weeks? continued»

It happens every once and a while: You are flying, you hit the button to report something and your transmission doesn't end when you want it to... continued»

One of the “rites of passage” of learning to fly is learning to compute the center of gravity -- but how many pilots keep plotting c.g. after their checkride and just how important and how useful is it? You may be surprised... 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»

The pilot of a single-engine airplane and the pilot of a twin-engine airplane both prepare to takeoff on parallel runways. continued»

A recent poll revealed that 60% of all pilots consider an alternate route or diversion airport when they plan a flight -- that’s 40% too low. continued»

Don’t you just hate it when you show up to fly your rental airplane, and it’s not there? continued»

Pneumatic systems, while simple, can prove to be difficult to troubleshoot. If you're ever host to a pneumatic gremlin, getting the aircraft back on the ground may be only the beginning of your problems. 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»

I overheard two private pilots talking, recently, -- one was telling the other about the poor controller service received the last time he had gone into a particular Class C airport. continued»

The Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) recently received a report from a concerned Air Traffic Controller (ATC) who describes a non-standard communication practice by pilots and ATC: Using microphone clicks as a response to clearances (by pilots), or to read-backs (by controllers). continued»

Most instructors do a great job of teaching the basics of flight -- unfortunately, there's more to it than that. 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»

Through your windscreen, the runway rolls into view ... growing by the instant, with your extreme approach. continued»

Flying 'under the influence' of alcohol or drugs can produce disastrous consequences, but there is a more common problem that is likely to affect us all -- abstinence or not. continued»

I crashed and died the other day ... and took my CFII to the grave with me. continued»

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

I gave a talk about a month ago at a Pilot Proficiency program and, just to satisfy my own curiosity, I asked all the pilots in the audience that were 50 years old and older to raise their hands. 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»

Sometimes it's the plane... sometimes it's the pilot... often, it's the way the two fit together -- or don't -- that brings an end to them both. continued»

Take another look at the title -- we aren’t talking about the taxiway here! 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»

If you think we are talking about a new style of props, we wish we were. Instead, we’ll tell you the sad story of what can happen if you aren’t cautious around airplanes. continued»

The Pitot Tube is an essential part of an essential aircraft system and failure to understand exactly how that system functions or assure its proper operation has made for catastrophic results. continued»

Accident records show that airports with short runways -- less than 2500 feet -- can present some real challenges to pilots of high-performance aircraft. continued»

Do the skills required to earn the Instrument Rating make for safer Private Pilots, or does the rating lure good pilots into dangerous situations, making them less safe? continued»

Since about 1980, aircraft have enjoyed certain changes that allow pilots to fly more safely. continued»

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

Most of the time, “silent flight” means hitting the intercom’s “pilot isolation” switch to keep the passengers’ conversation from overpowering Air Traffic Control... most of the time. continued»

There’s a maneuver -- it's both easy to enter and easy to recover from -- that, when left unchecked, almost always ends in death. continued»

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

The primary privilege of holding a pilot's certificate is the ability to act as Pilot in Command of an aircraft, but that certificate is useless without a current medical certificate to go along with it. continued»

The placards and instructions in the POH of our aircraft are there for our protection... usually. continued»

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

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The Cessna line is not the only plane with a built-in weakness in the landing gear. continued»

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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Landing gear on aircraft can have some problems, and early Cessna 170 landing gear have a real doozy! continued»

“Come to work for me. Here’s what I’ll pay you. And oh yeah, here’s your Baron.” continued»

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»

After the IFR flight plan has been filed and approved, it becomes a clearance. How a new clearance is passed from Air Traffic Control to the pilot depends on where you are and how bad the weather is... continued»

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

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There exists an extremely high level of instrument competence that requires precision flying, but also the ability to understand not only what controllers say, but what they really mean. continued»

On a bumpy flight from Pueblo, Colorado to Centennial Airport in Denver, a strong wind gust hit us like a big ocean wave crashes into a boat. continued»

No, we aren’t talking about your choice of shoes -- the sound of your aircraft's wingtip hitting something is distinctly different... continued»

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»

It seems that receiving, copying, and reading back an IFR clearance is one of the most anxious experiences of learning to fly IFR -- but it doesn't have to be that way. continued»

It never ceases to amaze me how many people are involved in plane wrecks every year... continued»

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

The yellow and orange Aeronca Champ reflected off the bright morning lake as the pilot drew his craft ever closer to the water. continued»

Think about your training and experience as a pilot -- you covered stalls, turns, takeoffs, and of course, the always exciting landing, but there was probably something missing. 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»

Anything that is not specifically prohibited by the Federal Aviation Regulations is therefore allowed. continued»

'Baron 600 Romeo Victor, you’re cleared from the Hardwick Airport to the Hardwick NDB, then hold as published...' 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»

The most important back-up plan you may ever have involves the IFR Alternate airport. continued»

The title gives this one away, but it is still worth explaining how it happened, so you can avoid having a similar problem in your life. continued»

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

Today, Air Traffic Controllers use what they call 'flow control' in an attempt to prevent in-flight holding patterns. continued»

Have you ever flown with a pilot that set your teeth on edge? 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»

Winds were calm, the Saturday morning skies hazy with scud, and I was in the right seat of a 1998 Cessna 172 flying the ILS/DME approach to Runway 1 at Rome, Georgia. continued»

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

Things are a bit messed up right now, so if you do get the chance to go somewhere, you'd better know what you're doing, because getting it wrong might result in a military escort followed by an unplanned landing at an unfamiliar airport. 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»

This is not amateur-hour: Making sure you stay out of the wrong airspace can take some fancy footwork, so make sure you know how to execute the proper maneuvers at the proper time -- there have never been worse days to end up in the wrong airspace, by mistake and in the blind. continued»

ATC is trying to keep things as orderly as possible and when they ask a pilot to fly a holding pattern, the pattern itself is only part of the problem. continued»

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

Beyond the loss of life
Beyond the jumble of sorrow and outrage
Beyond the courage of people helping people in need
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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»

Far down on the list of national priorities, but still part of the collateral damage of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks, is the backbone of general aviation as we in the United States know it -- the Fixed Base Operator. continued»

At the conclusion of any IFR flight, the pilot must determine how to transition from the enroute phase to the landing phase of the flight -- there are five possible ways to do this... continued»

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

In our last story about Dick, we found him 'fast-taxiing' (read: flying) down the runway, to his taxiway. continued»

Like most other instrument pilots and instrument students in General Aviation, I must fly instrument approaches with precision... and hope. continued»

Your choice of instructor determines the time it takes to meet your goal -- therefore, how much money it’ll cost -- how safe you’ll really be on completion, and whether you’ll ever earn that certificate or rating at all. 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»

We make landings (hopefully) after every takeoff -- it's a reasonably simple process, once you learn how to do it right the first time, but there are some times when landings just don’t go the way we expect them to. continued»

The night before, Flight Service reported a morning forecast with a 900-foot ceiling, visibility at two miles in rain showers with heavier rain showers along my route for the planned very-early-morning departure in the company Baron. continued»

You can fly an instrument approach through the clouds perfectly; you can break out from under a cloud deck and catch a glimpse of the runway ahead, but that doesn't mean you can land on that runway -- you still must have the proper visibility. 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»

A few months ago, I was walking down the flight line, and I noticed that one of my favorite airplanes on the line was missing. 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»

A plane slices through thickening fog, the pilot straining to find his destination ahead; another drones over an empty forest into a fierce headwind, sweat on the pilot's brow as the fuel gauges bounce closer to empty. continued»

A pilot flying through the clouds on an instrument approach can break out below the clouds and see the runway, have the required visibility, but still be unable to safely and legally land on the runway. 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 regulations require that you have a two-way radio communications system in order to fly IFR, but radios don't read regulations. What do you do when you go IFR and the radios go AWOL? continued»

We all have those experiences as pilots that leave us with marks for life. continued»

If you plan to fly with very young children, you need to be especially careful to protect her or him from the rigors of flight. continued»

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

Two months ago I could casually jump in an airplane and fly about wherever I wanted... continued»

Next to an onboard fire, an electrical power failure in the clouds is the biggest challenge a pilot can face. 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»

Keeping your airplane warm and dry has some advantages; let's take a look at your propeller, for example. 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»

This isn't a story about Dick, but it seems to be about some of his cousins. continued»

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

The Instrument Rating requires more than mastery of instrument procedures and flight skills -- it also requires mastery of the paperwork that tells you when you're current and when you're not. continued»

With a little guilt and the same morbid curiosity that prompts viewers to watch footage of the same tragedies over and over on television news channels, I check the FAA and other accident-reporting web sites daily. continued»

The regulation that requires recent experience in order to exercise the privileges of an instrument rating mentions the possibility of using a 'Safety Pilot'... what exactly is a Safety Pilot? continued»

You're a fortunate pilot: you own your own airplane, but don't kid yourself, eventually someone is going to ask if they can fly it. continued»

After a hundred hours, I thought I knew my airplane... 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»

It’s too sweet a deal -- your friend says you can fly his/her airplane, but before you jump in and fly away, you need to remember that borrowing someone else’s airplane is all about responsibility and trust... and rules. continued»

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

Did you ever take a good look at your aircraft’s induction system? continued»

Since last July, my articles have been about Instrument Flight; the articles are filled with the 'nuts and bolts' of instrument flight -- procedures, facts, do's and don'ts, techniques, and regulations involved -- but there is more to flying IFR than all that. 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»

When I heard this story, I couldn't believe it. It concerned the owner of a nice Cessna 172, who had a bad case of get-home-itus, and the sad story of how his pride and joy managed to take off without him... continued»

Most pilots want two things: to fly fast, and to log as much time as possible -- the problem is that these are contradictory goals. continued»

We all want to save money, and the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) outline the privileges and limitations of a Private Pilot in FAR 61.118 in that regard -- but how well do you understand them? 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»

Last week we looked at some 'shared expense' situations involving Private Pilots. continued»

If you think about how the various temporary flight restrictions and outright groundings have affected your ability to fly, think some more and consider how these actions have affected your FBO... continued»

It’s expensive, it’s dangerous, it takes a lot of time to learn, and even more to stay current -- flying is just a rich snob’s way of avoiding the interstates and the airline terminals crowded with “common people.” 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»

There are two things that are given in aviation: First, the cost to fly will go up each and every year; second, if you don’t keep an eye on your exhaust system, it will most assuredly kill you dead! continued»

When can a simulator replace an airplane and is simulator time logged the same way as flight time? continued»

Boy, it’s been a long time since I’ve done THAT! It feels good to know I still can. continued»

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

People with disabilities must face many barriers in their lives, but learning to fly an airplane isn't necessarily one of them. continued»

The Skyhawk's directional gyro died during vectors for the Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach -- while I was 250 miles from home... continued»

If you're a fan of these stories, yes, Dick did it again... 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»

Oil leaks and airplanes seem to go together like butter and potatoes, but not all oil leaks are benign... as I found out, first-hand. continued»

A 'first flight' experience can make or break a passenger -- or even a pilot -- for life. continued»

To become a Private Pilot you must have a total of 40 flight hours: 20 with an instructor and 10 solo; let's see, 20 + 10 equals... hey, wait a minute! continued»

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

Type clubs are organizations for owners, pilots and enthusiasts of specific makes and models of airplanes -- today, they have the ability to be much more. continued»

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

There is a considerable gap between the creativity of people who fly airplanes and the limits set by people who write regulations... continued»

Every now and then a Student Pilot gets lost and never tells their Flight Instructor about it... continued»

Officially, FAR stands for... continued»

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

Despite all our precautions, problems can occur in the cockpit -- typically when you least expect them, and even more often when you can least afford them... continued»

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

“I’m on a mission,” wrote an iPilot reader, ”there’s a huge problem lurking on the general aviation horizon...' continued»

With the Sport Pilot proposal right around the corner, a lot of people are anxious to see what comes -- while we're waiting, here's a look at the FAA's last effort. continued»

It's not always easy to get into an advanced / well equipped airplane when your experience is minimal, but there are ways within your power. continued»

After you have made the big decision to pursue flying lessons one of the first items to accomplish is to become a Student Pilot. continued»

Amazing things can spill out of pilots' mouths when they manage a particularly skillful response to an event that was initiated by their own stupidity -- running out of fuel, for example. 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»

This is a true story and like most true stories that end up in print, it doesn't read like one... continued»

You’re four thousand feet above the ground and having the time of your life... when -- without warning -- the smooth purr of your engine chokes into a coughing fit that becomes sudden silence... continued»

The runway at an airport has a specific purpose -- to present a surface amenable to consistent takeoff and landing; things get complicated when the surface itself isn't so consistent... 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»

How could a student work with his instructor all the way to the Private Pilot checkride simply to be sent home by the Examiner? continued»

Our friend Dick has a friend named Dave. Dave flies a high performance biplane called a Christen Eagle... continued»

Our piston airplane engines are extremely reliable -- but fly enough and you may have an engine problem. 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»

Airspace questions on knowledge tests are missed often, and pilots frequently violate airspace boundaries -- no wonder, the rules are very complicated. continued»

Sad stories like this one don’t turn up very often; fortunately for the rest of us, they leave lessons behind. 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»

Well, it's cold, flu, and who-knows-what-hellish-other-kinds-of-sickness weather season again and that means it's time for a quick review of the “dos and don’ts” of flying while medicated... continued»

While conducting a Biennial Flight Review, I once asked a man to get his chart out and point out some uncontrolled airspace -- how would you have done? continued»

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

What’s required, and how does one teach mastery of a “conventional gear” airplane? This weekend, I’ll start checking out a friend in a tailwheel airplane... continued»

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

Last week we discussed where Class E (controlled airspace) reached the surface, where it met Class G (uncontrolled airspace) and associated VFR minimums... so, why should a cautious VFR pilot care? continued»

Barry’s grin was so wide I swear I could see it from the back seat of the Bellanca Citabria. continued»

It stands to reason that the goofiest stuff that you will ever experience as a pilot will usually come at the moment you are least prepared for it. 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»

There are still a few control towers in the United States that operate like airfield bonfires did 75 years ago... 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»

Barry had endured quite a bit of lecture to help prepare him for his tailwheel checkout -- eventually, though, we had to actually get into the airplane. continued»

This story is more for owners than renters, but everyone can learn from this... 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»

Is it possible to have a controlled airport operating in uncontrolled airspace? 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»

Barry, friend and student who is working toward his tailwheel endorsement and the 10 hours of flight instruction required by insurance to fly as pilot-in-command of the Bellanca Citabria, took to rudder control and thinking ahead of the airplane pretty quickly... in calm wind conditions. continued»

How many times have you heard this story -- a plane comes out of major maintenance and things don’t work quite right. 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»

When VFR aircraft share airspace with IFR aircraft, the pilots must have three miles visibility so they might avoid mid-air collisions -- but can both IFR and VFR pilots legally occupy the same airspace with less than three miles visibility? continued»

Many of us pilots (and pilots-in-training) are highly motivated, goal-oriented types, always reaching for the next step. continued»

I was talking with an old friend the other day, and he related a story to me that quite honestly threw me for a loop. 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»

Are the avionics in your airplane yours or someone else's? continued»

Airspace regulations and boundaries are hard enough to get straight under normal conditions -- but when the sun goes down everything changes. continued»

A recent purchase reminded me that, as much as things change through avionics upgrades and regulations, the spirit that lures us to flight has endured in its most basic and shared form for all the years man has yearned for the sky. continued»

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

Class G, or uncontrolled airspace, is down low... most of the time, and not everywhere. continued»

'I love night flying and, in fact, will be making some night flights out of necessity -- however, I often read that flying a single engine airplane at night is a huge risk...' 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»

This is one you don’t hear about every day, and it concerns something that all piston engine pilots do and take for granted. 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 the only thing keeping you above an unwelcome encounter with unseen terrain below is a single powerplant, you'd better know what you're doing. continued»

If you can break the color code you can 'see' a lot more than the airspace on a sectional chart. continued»

Just because your lightning detector doesn't see it, that doesn't mean that the Level 5 thunderstorm isn't there. 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»

You don’t have to be going for your Commercial certificate, suffering the strains of aerobatics or trying to get a fighter off your tail; the chandelle will improve your stick-and-rudder skills, make you less likely to have a stall-spin accident and they're fun, too. continued»

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

Frankly, when I hear all the hubbub about airport security, I have to laugh... continued»

Some airspace symbols on the sectional chart are not defined on the chart's legend; that's not so helpful, but maybe this is. 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»

I’ve taught hundreds of pilots in airplanes and simulators and, to my horror, one of my students died flying his airplane. 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»

The key to understanding what airspace boundaries look like is 'seeing' what the terrain looks like... continued»

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

Every part on a certified airplane must at some point be approved, but that doesn't mean that the plane you fly isn't full of bogus hardware. 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»

This is a weird one, but it happened just the same -- which means it could happen to you. continued»

“Just pull the red knob until the engine runs rough, then push it in a bit” ... oh really. continued»

Often when airports are located close together, their overlying airspace can conflict, and the resultant airspace overlap can be more than a little confusing. 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»

Okay, okay, I admit this story isn’t about my friend Dick, who has amazed us with some impressive acts of pilot... well, stupidity... still, when I heard what this fellow did to his plane, I nearly fell out of my chair. continued»

The air temperature was about 80 degrees, which is hot for an airport 7700 feet above sea level in the Rocky Mountains. continued»

When airports and their associated airspace are in close proximity to each other, there can be congestion, confusion and conflict. 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»

This trip took place back in the mid-1970’s: flying down along the western coast of Mexico and meandering down to the South American continent sounded like just the trip these US-worn pilots needed -- until... When I think of this story, it still gives me the chills... continued»

There may be no better example of overlapping airspace than Chicago; the Chicago airspace has it all -- Class B, Class C, Class D, Class E, and yes even Class G airspace -- all under one roof. continued»

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

I’m taking my son and his cub scout den to an airshow this weekend. It’s one of the bigger events, featuring the U.S. Air Force “Thunderbirds” and a number of well-known civilian acts... 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»

I can still remember the day as clearly as when I was there. I was sitting with my instructor, a gentleman named Don, just after finishing my first night cross-country... continued»

Seventy-five years earlier, nearly to the minute, the dirty silver monoplane touched down outside Paris, France, over 33 hours and an epoch of human achievement after splashing skyward from a muddy field in New York. continued»

Several weeks ago I issued an interactive challenge; the iPilot readers have met that challenge -- and then some! 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»

With the arrival of summer comes the need for many pilots to shake off the rust, and get back into the air in their trusty airplanes. continued»

A Bonanza’s forward cabin door pops open as it takes off into blue skies, and in his rush to return the aircraft to the ground and secure the door, the pilot forgets to extend the gear. continued»

Since the Airspace series began, many of you have written about your hometown airpace and its unique characteristics -- the best way to get to know your own local airspace is to 'slice' it and take a good look. continued»

A 'prester' is another name for... 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»

Perhaps the ultimate unforgivable sin in aviation in aviation is fuel exhaustion, and while you may never do it chances are you'll come close... continued»

You wonder how he does it -- every year, a pilot on the field seems to get 13 months out of his plane between annuals; and even though your financial lives are identical, his plane seems to get a little nicer each year, too. 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»

Several weeks ago I issued the first airspace challenge question and 80% of the iPilot readers who took the challenge had the correct answer -- the second time it was different. continued»

Even some VFR pilots -- to keep the aircraft upright in marginal conditions (hazy days of summer included) often use the Attitude Direction Indicator (ADI) -- but even good instruments fail. continued»

“This is likely one of the most unusual calls you’ll ever receive,” said the voice on the telephone... 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»

Unfortunately many books, training manuals, and even FAA documents give a false image of the Victor Airways. continued»

Every once in a while, we do things that we regret... continued»

Faulty or imprecise navigation could put you in prohibited airspace, or controlled airspace without proper clearance; these days, that could lead to loss of your flying privileges -- or it could get you killed. continued»

'Confused VFR Pilot' writes: 'I'm ready to start working toward my IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) rating, but I'm confused by the options available. continued»

The landing gear on our planes is really taken for granted -- even though it's often the only thing between you, your airplane, and the ground. continued»

The iPilot readers that took Challenge #3 did very well and bounced back from a poorer performance on the previous challenge! 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»

I am a new pilot and would like to immediately start working on my IFR. Several of my friends who got their licenses have basically put off the IFR and frankly I wonder if they will ever get it. 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»

As you study and learn the Sectional Chart symbols for landmarks and airspace you begin to notice a hidden message within the color codes. 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»

It looks like you really did your homework on this one. The Interactive Pilot readers who took challenge number 4 were almost unanimously correct. 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»

Flaps full. Power to idle. Hold the nose off ... hold it up, hold it up, let the speed bleed off to the stall, inches above the pavement. continued»

Across the United States there are Airport Surveillance Radar sites that do not have boundaries shown on the sectional chart, but you nevertheless should use them ... where are they? continued»

I got a real eye-opener from an airport operator the other day. After landing at Brandywine PA (N99), I watched a nice Piper Seneca come in for a landing. The pilot was too high on the approach, and had allowed too much of the 3000 foot long strip to pass by. continued»

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

When we fly we are accustomed to scanning the ground for obstructions like building cranes, towers, buildings, and rising terrain -- but what about those obstructions above our altitude? 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»

I changed the oil in the Beech Sierra on a hot, humid morning in July … and found it's a great way to enjoy personal aviation. continued»

Ah, it's that time of year again! Spring has rolled past, and with it have come blooming flowers, grass to mow, and finally tagging along for the ride, my annual inspection. While some pilots dread their annual inspection, I look forward to mine with great anticipation. continued»

I called out the Interactive Pilot readers a few weeks ago by asking them to get off the fence and into the Challenge -- you responded and overwhelmingly met the challenge. 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»

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»

You've been cleared to "taxi to the runway" when you come up to a red "ILS" sign and double-stripe, yellow taxiway marking -- can you taxi further? continued»

The easiest way to fly for your country? -- a guest editorial written by Wayne Spivak, ADSO-CS 1SR of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. continued»

There are plenty of honest aircraft dealers out there... and there are exceptions, too. Honest dealers work to get you the right plane, at a price that will be profitable for them and affordable for you. 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»

Most all of the iPilot readers who responded to Challenge 6 knew what VFR Waypoints are (apparently, so does my GPS), perhaps it's time for more important questions. continued»

Cell phones are handy, but there are potential 'gotchas' when using a cell phone to talk to Flight Service or Air Traffic Control that you should be aware of. continued»

Last week, you read about Tricky Rick, the airplane dealer who tried to sell us a Skyhawk but concealed its damage history -- unfortunately, it wasn't our last encounter with Rick. 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»

I flew for years with the metal image of the "up-side-down wedding cake" as the shape of Class B and Class C airspace -- and the perception I had in my head was completely wrong! continued»

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

Turning base to final, I saw a Piper Cherokee sitting on the centerline at the arrival end of the runway. "Keep an eye on him," I told my student as we rolled level onto final approach. "Be ready to go around if he doesn't move soon." 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»

Insurance is what most pilots use to manage the risk of flying -- it's important for you and those you might meet with misfortune; it's just as important to know the fine print. 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»

We pilots take pride (and some even revel) in our ability to overcome obstacles -- but sometimes, the deck is stacked against us. No flight, from the "dawn patrol" cruise to an ocean-spanning instrument odyssey, is completely without hazard -- to fly is to accept, and to manage, risk. continued»

Once set into the design, unless changed through the addition of extra fuel tanks, the “fuel hand” you've been dealt is the one you will live with -- unless you're Dick. 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»

What are the Airlines doing that we should be doing? The National Transportation Safety Board initially classifies 65-percent of the General Aviation accidents as "pilot error" accidents. 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»

The airlines use a form of training called Line Oriented Flight Training or LOFT. "Line" refers to the "flight line." In a LOFT scenario a pilot and crew are in the simulator but instead of practicing maneuvers, they fly through an actual flight from Seattle to Los Angeles as an example. 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»

Last week I described a project that involved volunteer general aviation pilots, a simulator, and a decision scenario -- this week we'll discuss how the pilots handled the situation. In short: Not very well. continued»

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

My buddy Mike loves to fly, and the only thing he likes more than flying is flying aerobatics. He got the bug a few years back and has been hard-bitten ever since. Every time he can scrape together enough money, he's off to the airport for another hour of inverted fun and adventure. 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»

After all the pilot volunteers had flown the flight simulator for the first time, I invited them back for a seminar. Up to this point all the volunteers had the same experience with the project. 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»

After the volunteers had flown the first LOFT scenario and attended the workshop/seminars, they were scheduled back into the flight simulators for a second session. The second LOFT scenario was different from the first but it featured the same elements and decision prompting situations. The results were overwhelmingly positive. 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»

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

As the project continued -- and the General Aviation pilots continued to have problems -- I became interested in what an "expert's" performance might look like. So during the project, I invited other pilots who would be considered experts to come and give the simulator a try. continued»

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

For a given amount of engine power, the higher you fly, the faster your true airspeed. If your engine is very powerful, and especially if it's turbocharged or a turbine, your airplane can fly to well above 15,000 feet -- getting spectacular cruise speeds. continued»

The driest place on Earth! continued»

What actually is experience and what does it give you? The dictionary defines experience as "gaining knowledge through direct observation or participation." For pilots, experience is being able to better deal with situations in the future because you have seen them in the past. 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»

There's a saying among pilots of retractable gear airplanes, "there are those who have, and those who will" have gear-up landings. A couple of years ago we discovered that landing-gear-related mishaps account for nearly half of all accidents involving retractable-gear, piston-engine airplanes. Have we learned anything since we last visited this issue two years ago? continued»

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

Most pilots agree that crosswind landings are the most common challenging landings they have to make. This should come as no surprise to pilots, since landing straight into the wind is as easy as pie. 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»

As flight students and instructors we work very hard to improve our skills and maintain our status as safe pilots. But can our methods of flight training actually create problems once the student has left the protected environment of the flight instructor? In some cases the answer to that question is YES! continued»

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

Every flight you will ever take consists of a series of decisions -- it's the quality of those decisions that determine the level of your safety. Unfortunately many pilots take decision making for granted. 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»

Pop Quiz: Is it against the Federal Aviation Regulations to take off with ice and snow on the wings? Will “dry snow” blow off the wings and tail during takeoff? Can you eliminate any takeoff ice hazards by “polishing” frost on the wings until it’s smooth? continued»

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

The following is an airspeed maneuver example of how the real-world element can be a part of everyday flight training, with the goal being not only to train as a pilot but to train to become Pilot in Command. continued»

We trim our airplanes multiple times each time we fly. Trim is set based on what is needed at the time, which is typically to maintain a comfortable equilibrium that maintains low control pressures. continued»

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

Gust locks are our friends... really... but they don't like to be ignored. They keep our controls locked in position, so that they aren't subjected to the abuse of Mother Nature while our airplanes sit out in the weather. 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»

I was in the right, front seat of a new Beech Baron. My student, owner of the factory-fresh Beech, had smoothly taken off, beginning a wide, standard-rate turn to the left, away from the airport and toward our practice area. The morning was cool and bright, the sun muted through a thin layer of cirrus clouds far above. 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»

In the flurry of messages that came in the wake of the story on fuel tank explosions during fueling, one of our readers had a really good question. Mark asked what type of containers would be best to fuel his plane at remote locations -- metal or plastic cans. The answer depends a lot on when the plane is fueled, but lets look at the factors involved. continued»

I was giving a stage check to a pilot who had just soloed the day before and I asked him to do the "turn around a point" maneuver. He flew a great maneuver, but he had no idea why it was a good thing to know. 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»

To any student pilot the practice area is like the minor leagues is to a baseball player. In the practice area you learn your craft, yet -- with an instructor on board -- the stakes are not all that high. To the student pilot the traffic pattern is the major leagues. The pattern is the show. 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»

My first instructor told me prior to our first night lesson that the airplane does not know that it is dark outside. The airplane flies exactly the same, it's the human body that acts differently at night. Night flying can be wonderful. But it has dangers that the pilot must respect. continued»

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

You do not have to be an Instrument Flight Instructor (CFII) to give instrument flight instruction? No, the only time a CFII certificate is required is when a person is training for the instrument rating. Initial instructors give instrument training all the time. 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»

Flying away from the friendly confines of your home airport offers another great flying challenge. It also offers an unlimited number of "what if" scenarios. When the airlines use "LOFT" scenarios, they are always playing out a flight going to somewhere (LOFT is Line Oriented Flight Training -- Line, as in flight line or route). Creative instructors and inquisitive students can "war game" cross counties forever. Here is just one and it's a true story. 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»

Students who learn to fly at controlled airports never know any different, but students who learn at an uncontrolled airport can develop a fear of the radio. All pilots must eventually get past the stage fright associated with the radio and get to the point where communications become conversational. continued»

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

An airplane is a terrible classroom. It's noisy. It's cramped. It's hot -- or it's cold. It can be a high-pressure environment. It's difficult for the instructor to control training, because of weather, other traffic or airspace issues. And it's hard for students to "step back" from the physical tasks of controlling the airplane long enough to assimilate new information. 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»

Pilots should practice cross country planning -- even on days when it does not look like a flight is possible due to weather. Call and get a weather briefing anyway. Get the wind and temperatures aloft so that you can still calculate the groundspeed and fuel requirements. Instructors, have your students practice making the Go/No Go decision. As an instructor I always go behind the student and get my own weather briefing. 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»

I love writing about my friend Dick, since his thousands of hours of flying have been so fraught with things that would (and do) give me gray hairs just thinking about them. Still, it is our hope that by bringing these lessons of life to everyone's attention, we will all learn and so avoid our own incursions into Dick's world. 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»

My MD-88 flight from Atlanta rocketed down final approach at the Class C primary airport in Florida this hot Monday morning. From seat 19A I spied a Seneca in the run-up area at the end of the eastbound runway. (A lot of flight training originates from this airport.) The twin Piper sat cocked into the wind, the forward cabin door open as the instructor tried despondently to capture some of the last of the prop blast before sentencing himself and his student to the broiling cabin. continued»

The accessory plug is an often-overlooked part of your airplane. In most airplanes, this was called the "cigar" plug or "cigarette lighter" plug, before pilots and maintenance personnel started to figure out that smoking was bad for you ... and just as bad for your airplane. 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»

As far as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is concerned, there are only two ways for a civilian to learn to fly... either the school you use is FAA approved, or it is not. continued»

Ramp checks, I am told, are just another way the Federal Aviation Administration enforces safety. It is not, however, something that inspectors do to make new friends. It is not the worst thing that can happen to you as you go forward in flight across our beautiful land but if you fly far enough and long enough, you will likely encounter one. When that day comes, this ramp check survival guide may help make the experience an ... enjoyable ... one. 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»

I always was interested in flying. From the early days of my childhood, I'd watch on TV shows like Flash Gordon and Buck Rodgers (the original series; in re-runs - I'm not that old!). I'd also watch shows like the Thunderbirds and Fireball XL5 (those marionettes of the future) or war movies like 12 O'Clock High or Wings of Eagles. continued»

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

I spent last week with 40 minority students who will be high school juniors and seniors in the coming academic year. I had applied for a grant to lead a workshop that would introduce these students to college life and careers in aviation. Later I received word that I had been selected and was awarded $50,000. It didn't take long to spend the money... 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»

The high school students in the In-Flight! program spent a week on a university campus and learned about going to college and aviation careers. They launched model rockets, watched movies, had a talent show, went to the recreation center, and ate pizza well after midnight. But it was not all fun and games. The students discovered that aviation is filled with great role models. 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»

In-Flight! was a weeklong summer workshop designed to show minority high school students what it was like to go to college and learn about aviation. The students in the program completed at least a dozen projects -- like learning to navigate using a Sectional Chart, making and launching their own rocket, and making an aviation history time-line. But we also wanted the students to read. The idea was to have every student read the same book so that later they could talk about it together. I selected one of my favorite books: Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull. continued»

Joe Marsh was the airport manager at Sedalia, Missouri, when I first began giving flight instruction 15 years ago (Joe's now manager at Easton, MD -- drop in and say hello for me!). Retired from the Air Force, Joe had served first as a navigator and then as pilot on lumbering C-124 four-engine, propeller-driven cargo airplanes. In the mid-1960s, Vietnam was a common destination for Joe and his crew. continued»

There are many planes flying around these days and as, a general rule, the later the model, the better looking it is inside. It's simple, designs have been refined over the years, and newer planes are nicer and more comfortable than aircraft have been in the past. Nicer usually translates to more padding, better insulation, and special covers that hide structural members from the eye, covering them instead with a pleasant, smooth and painted surface. continued»

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

"Where ever you are - be there!" This is a direct quote from Mr. Joel Smith who is a training coordinator for the Boeing 747 fleet of Northwest Airlines. Joel is a former student of mine, and he invited me to sit in on one of his CRM training sessions one time. 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»

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

Pilots are confronted with an inflow of information (radio communications, spotting other traffic, flight and engine instruments, etc.) at all times during a flight. We can only do so much with this information and must decide which bit of information or which potential conflict should we attack first, second, and third. 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»

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»

Pilots have enough problems in the dynamic flight environment without making things worse on themselves. But sometimes pilots impose unnecessary distractions on themselves that compound and aggravate an already challenging situation. 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»

I'm really not trying to be an old-fogey about this, but I guess I can't help myself. My flight school has just purchased 25 brand new airplanes and each one has a fully IFR capable GPS moving map system. The systems are wonderful, and I should be happy that students will have a very hard time ever getting lost again. I should be happy that calculating an in-flight intercept angle on a vectored NDB approach is a thing of the past. I should be excited that holding patterns are now drawn out for us, but I still have to pause and reflect on what we're giving up. 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»

My previous series of articles was written to help pilots stay "ahead" of the airplane, but if you are a pilot I'm confident you have at some time felt "behind" the airplane. I remember my first takeoff in a complex airplane. Between the landing gear retraction, faster speed, manifold pressure adjustments, and propeller control settings, I never looked outside the airplane once. I thought, "I'm glad this flight instructor is in here taking care of everything." I was so far behind the airplane, it felt like I was sitting in the back seat! The real problem is that "behind the airplane" feeling is a sure sign that situation awareness is gone or on its way out. 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»

LIFE CAN BE HARD AS A PILOT. Take Bob for example -- he had a problem. It was a minor problem, but one that comes up from time to time and just slaps the living crap out of an unsuspecting pilot. Basically, it sucked ... or didn't really, as the case may be. 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»

We are all trained to prepare a plane for landing. Generically, this includes the reduction of power to provoke descent, extension of flaps as called for in the Pilots Operations Handbook or POH, and extending the landing gear on those planes with retractable gear, before we make a safe landing. However, there are times when the use of full flaps isn't necessary, and by knowing when these cases arise, you will be better able to handle them. 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»

The way people work with machinery, or to say it better, the way machines work with people is a field of study called human factors. When we look at general aviation aircraft, few have a worse reputation for human factors incidents than the early Beech Bonanza models. This is because in an effort to make an airplane that was as beautiful to see as it was to fly, Walter Beech created the infamous "piano key" control panel. 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»

I told you last summer that I would give the new technology an honest try (Trying not to be an Old Fogey) and I am doing that. Here is what I've learned so far: Some old methods are still necessary even with the new equipment. But I'm afraid some of these methods may become Lost Arts. 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»

I have been learning to use the new technology and along the way I have discovered a few situations where the old technology is not only still relevant, it's more important that ever. One of these situations is planning to divert to an alternate airport... continued»

How many times have you found yourself at the airport looking at another pilot and thinking, "Man, that guy is an idiot!"? Well, it happened to me the other day and the good news is we have still more tales of the experiences of Dick to share with you. 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»

Let's say right now you're in your 20s, and you want to learn to fly. Unless you're among the vast minority who at that age can afford to buy a new airplane, (or fortunate enough to attend school with iPilot contributor Paul A. Craig and his school's new fleet of Diamond Stars), you're probably going to learn to fly in someone else's old Cessna or Piper. continued»

The average age of the U.S. general aviation fleet is already past 30 years, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Despite new-plane manufacturing, this average continues to keep pace with the march of time -- FAA forecasts for the year 2020 show the typical single-engine, piston-powered airplane will be nearly 50 years old. The simple truth is that the rules under which virtually all of these airplanes were certified -- the old Civil Aviation Regulations Part 3 -- had no standards for use- and age-related fatigue or continued airworthiness. No one really knows what the ravages of time will do to airplanes. continued»

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

Sometimes it's hard for experienced pilots to remember what it was like to be wide-eyed with the newness of flying airplanes. Often pilots and instructors get challenged with what sound like very basic questions from lower-time pilots ... and if we're smart we'll treat these "simple" questions as educational opportunities for those joining our ranks, not irksome distractions cast aside like Jepp charts previous revision. Remember, one of these new pilots might be sitting to your left in the cockpit of a Regional Jet when you get laid off from your "major airline" or corporate job in the future <grin>. 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»

We've had a number of accidents at a nearby airport with a "short" runway. The reason I say it is "short" is because at 3000 feet, it isn't a mile long - judging by the number of planes that have gone off the end of the runway and into the creek, some pilots need it to be. If you are the type of pilot that can learn from the mistakes of others, read on... 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»

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»

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»

Cirrus Design may have fired the first shot in the personal aviation revolution -- integrating airline-style, CRT flat-screen avionics into light airplanes with the phenomenal SR22 composite single. 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»

This is a true story. It concerns the confession of an old friend of mine named Bob. After years of suggestions that he take up flying, Bob has taken up flying. He has a total of 8 hours of flight time at the time I write this, but he has already started a list of things that you never want to hear from your flight instructor. continued»

Last time we talked about the avionics revolution, the introduction of Primary Flight Display (PFD) and Multifunction Display (MFD) equipment into light, personal airplanes. Flat-screen avionics hold the promise of vastly improved situational awareness, the pilot no longer having to mentally combine input from as many as a dozen different (and frequently less intuitive) indicators and instruments across the width of the airplane's panel. 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»

The more I use our airplane's new technology the more I appreciate what it gives us, but I have also discovered some areas that, so far, the technology appears to have missed. One skill that I fear may be lost is chart reading. There is a big difference between a chart and a map. The new technology provides moving maps -- not moving charts. 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»

Two weeks ago in North Carolina I was flying en route to teach a flight instructor workshop. It was very early on a Saturday morning and during my weather briefing I was interested in learning about the cloud tops. When I asked about pilot reports of the cloud tops, the FSS briefer just said, "general aviation pilots don't give many pireps (pilot reports) and certainly not this early on a weekend day." 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»

It is becoming more and more possible to include Radar "overlay" information into everyday general aviation flying as new technology emerges. But lets not forget that flying and flight training, both VFR and IFR, has been taking place for decades without onboard radar assistance. Are the techniques of avoiding hazardous weather, even without having onboard radar information soon to be included as a Lost Art? 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»

There it is, in my logbook in May of 1990…0.5 hours in a Cessna 172 over central Missouri, one NDB approach under the hood…and an instructor sign-off for an instrument competency check, what is now known as an instrument proficiency check (IPC). In the mind of my CFII (certificated flight instructor-instrument) I'd demonstrated enough competency in that short time aloft for him to bet his career and fortune (and my life) that I was safe to fly in weather of my choosing. I was too new a pilot at the time to know any better. 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»

After observing pilots in action for several years I started seeing trends in how they handled stressful situations. These trends made it clear that pilot performance varies widely but can loosely be broken down into categories. In the two previous articles on these trends, I characterized pilot performance groups as the "Information Managers" and then the "Non Assertive Decision Makers." 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»

I have performed simulator studies with large groups of pilots and found that among them there are sub-categories ... different "types" of pilot. The name of this category should speak for itself. The pilots of this group are characterized by being oblivious to the safety concerns that are all around them. They are simply driving the machine with no comprehension of their surroundings. They have little or no situation awareness. Points of decision in a scenario can arrive and they are unaware of their existence. It is not that these pilots make poor decisions, the problem is they do not even know that a decision is called for. They make no correlation between actions that are going on around them and the consequences of those actions. They get into real trouble and never even know they are in danger. 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»

Some pilots have good habits. Others don't. After watching pilots for many years, I tried to understand what was going on in their heads and what lead to some of their flawed decisions. It started becoming evident that pilot traits fall into definite categories and later I named these categories with descriptive names that defined pilots as groups. A single pilot will often display traits from different groups and I don't intend to attempt to "label" a pilot, but instead provide tools pilot self-assessment. continued»

Once a year, aircraft owners lay their airplane bare while an expert methodically checks and prods it for any indication the standards under which it was produced or modified are no longer met. It's called the annual inspection. A vital task to assure airworthiness (all too often this is the only real going-over an airplane gets each year), the "annual" is a pass/fail exam ... and owners wonder what their options are if the inspector turns thumbs down. 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»

It’s hard to argue the 'single vs. twin' debate ... especially with someone who had just put a single-engine airplane down off-airport following a catastrophic engine failure.  This endless debate has no statistically provable answer (many twin-engine failures end with a successful single-engine landing and no accident report, and even some in-flight engine failures in single-engine aircraft end up with a glide to a runway and don’t land in the record books).  I do have some information, however, that helps draw some conclusions about the relative safety of single- and twin-engine airplanes. continued»

While talking once with avionics professionals at the Aircraft Electronics Association show I learned some problems they found over the course of the years -- one of which was so serious I nearly dropped my flight bag.  The issue involved “paper” altimeter static checks, or the routine check that allows ATC to be sure that your plane is at the altitude it says it is. 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»

In a single-engine airplane engine failure introduces relatively few decision steps. The airplane's tendency during the emergency is to continue ahead in a straight line, descending. This characteristic helps prevent either a stall or a spiral. In a twin, engine failure introduces a large number of sequential pilot decisions, each with potentially adverse consequences ... all while the airplane (under the influence of asymmetric thrust) is attempting to radically diverge from a controlled path in all three axes. It takes regular, intense training (ideally in a simulator where such things can be realistically presented and safely practiced) to be proficient in overcoming aircraft tendencies, and making safe and proper decisions. 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»

In my past several articles, I have been telling you about pilot observations I have made and categories of pilot performance.  After identifying four broad pilot categories, I started to realize that there are some traits that are present across categories. I saw some sub-groups that were not tied to any of the broad categories and could show up in any category. The broad categories were... continued»

Watching pilots at work can be very informative, but sometimes you see things you didn’t want to see. The past several articles have chronicled pilot observations that I have made over the years in both airplanes and flight simulators. With careful observation and notes, patterns started to appear. I eventually grouped the patterns and named the categories. The broad categories were 1) The Information Managers, 2) the Non Assertive Decision Makers, 3) the Snowballers, and 4) The Lost in Space – see previous iPilot articles. But I also identified two sub-groups and one of these I call the Good Decision Makers/Poor Fliers groups. continued»

Recently we looked at engine-failure case studies of aircraft that are close to identical in design and performance -- except for the number of engines.  We discovered that significant, regular pilot training is needed to enjoy the safety advantage of a second engine.  Translation: For many pilots (those with 'twin' ratings, included) the single-engine airplane may actually be the safer machine.  And yet, regardless the number of engines, there's still that pesky engine failure scenario, especially hazardous in the clouds.  If you fly a single-engine airplane, you need to prepare for the catastrophic power loss in instrument conditions. 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»

The engine failure didn’t happen suddenly.... I was flying a Mooney M20C in clear, cool air, 7500 feet above the Kansas/Oklahoma border.  I’d flown the 1962 speedster from Augusta, Kansas (just easy of Wichita) to Oklahoma City, picked up a passenger and flew to a meeting in southeast Oklahoma, and was now, on the solo leg of my trip homeward.  My first clue of impending trouble, however, appeared much earlier that day. continued»

You don’t hear about people hand-propping planes very much any more.  While there are still a good number of planes without electric starters out there, the pilots that fly (and hand start them) are generally a well-trained and cautious bunch, and don’t generally get into trouble. continued»

YOU DON'T OFTEN HEAR ABOUT EVENTS LIKE THIS, BUT THEY DO HAPPEN. I happened to notice that there was a fleet of fire trucks headed towards the airport. It turns out they had good reason to be in a hurry, since one airplane had just plowed into three airplanes! 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»

In September the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pulled the prescription pain killer Vioxx off the shelves and last week its chief rival Celebrex was pulled from a clinical trial. It was learned that these two drugs may have dangerous side effects that were previously unknown. The FDA has now come under fire for allowing drugs on the market without completely testing their side effects. Will the FAA have the same problem with new glass cockpit technology in the near future? continued»

Yep, you read that right, flames, as in FIRE (which is never a good word around an airplane fueled with any kind of AvGas) around your airplane when you are trying to start the engine. If you haven't seen this yet, be wary, because all it will take are the right circumstances, and you not only can see this type of event, YOU WILL. continued»

Move up from most training airplanes into high performance aircraft and you’ll confront a number of new gauges and devices. One of these, so very basic yet commonly misunderstood, is the manifold pressure gauge. Let’s look at what the manifold pressure tells us—and what it doesn’t. 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»

Propellers on most multiengine airplanes, and even some singles, have an unique capability to feather, to be brought to a stop in the event of an engine failure. This dramatically reduces drag, as the stopped blades twist to nearly align with the slipstream and no longer present a disc to the relative wind. The result is substantially improved glide performance for those few feather-capable single engine airplanes, and the difference between a slight climb capability and a steep descent in most piston twins. But there's a trap that may befall the pilot of a feather-capable airplane if an in-flight engine restart isn't successful. How can we avoid the propeller unfeathering trap? continued»

There have been some unexpected airline pilot retirements lately - unexpected because the captain had not reached age 60. This early retirement was not because of pay cuts or poor working conditions, it was because he or she was asked to move to a ‘glass cockpit” airplane and the upward technology transition was just too much. Is it hard to teach an old dog new tricks? continued»

When I am sitting back in the coach section of an airliner (row 28F) on a dark and stormy night, I don’t much care that the airplane’s captain can execute a perfect Lazy Eight maneuver. What I care about is his or her ability to make good decisions in tight situations and get me on the ground safe and sound (at my intended destination). So if the goal is to complete the ‘mission’ of the flight, why do we place so much emphasis on ‘maneuvers’ that may or may not have direct application to the flight? continued»

If you have a system onboard the airplane that can turn a dark night into a sunny day and turn a cloud layer into clear skies, would there really be a difference between VFR and IFR? 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»

YOU’D THINK PILOTS WOULD BE SMART ENOUGH TO STAY CLEAR OF HANGARS. I would think so, since when I’m the pilot in command, I’ve managed to slip past any number of obstacles in my life, and have never bumped a parked airplane, person, or hangar with my airplane while taxiing. I guess I always thought of this as my job – you know, to SEE AND AVOID things both on the ground, and of course, while in the air. continued»

A friend of mine has a turbocharged, single-engine airplane. Part of the appeal of the turbo is the ability it provides to “overfly the weather.” He and his wife were happily cruising at Flight Level 200 (20,000 feet) when something happened…and manifold pressure dropped in half. Where seconds before they were racing above a bank of clouds 15,000 feet thick, now they were sliding down into the deck with but a fraction of their available power…and the clouds were full of ice. 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»

It can happen to anyone. And it does with alarming regularity. At minimum, nearly half of all mishaps involving piston engine, retractable-gear airplanes result from failure of the pilot to properly operate the landing gear. 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»

Magic! The whining of gyros gave way to mystical drums and rhythmic chanting, crazily mixing images of flight with those of ancient and sacred ceremonies. Chills traveled our spines - we could scarcely have been more astonished if we'd arrived by flying carpet. continued»

Landing gear-related mishaps (LGRMs) account for nearly half of all reported accidents involving certified, piston-engine retractable gear aircraft. Up to 15% of these gear up and gear collapse mishaps happen when you'd least expect it: during dual flight instruction. Certainly much less than 15% of all RG flying happens with a CFI on board. How can we account for this high rate of dual instruction LGRMs, and more importantly, how can we use this knowledge to avoid this sort of mishap? 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»

Flying cross-country in an old, slow airplane guarantees adventure. We have learned to be flexible, and, when weather or mechanical problems change our plans, to relax and appreciate where we are. Many flying stories are worth sharing, and our favorites affirm our motto: Fly often, stay open, allow fate to redesign the trip, and welcome any opportunity to improve on the original plan. continued»

'Pick any table you like,' said the waiter with a flourish. 'This is a special occasion.' Radiant, my wife made her way through two huge dining rooms, assessing mountain views through the chalet's A-framed windows. 'This one,' she beamed, making her choice. 'From here we can watch sunset illuminate Engineer's Peak.' continued»

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

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Gear-up and gear-collapse accidents (what I call collectively 'Landing Gear-Related Mishaps,' or LGRMs) account for nearly half of all reported incidents in certified, piston-powered retractable gear (RG) airplanes. There is a fairly strong correlation between these LGRMs and, of all things, a weather phenomenon-strong or gusty surface winds. How might surface winds exceeding 15 knots contribute to gear up and gear-collapse accidents? 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
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It looked like a fair morning to depart Oshkosh on the final day of EAA's AirVenture. We entered Hangar B for a short meeting-just long enough to find a gray sky with threatening clouds waiting for us when we emerged. The 1948 Cessna 170 was packed tight with all our camping gear, and, after eight days using port-a-potties, my husband Tom and I agreed all we really needed was to fly far enough to find a real bed and bathroom. continued»

As a flight instructor, I have made several thousand touch and goes – but I don’t do them anymore. The only real reason to do a touch and go is economy not learning or proficiency. It is true that you can get more landing practice in during an hour if you never stop, but I have concluded that the benefits don’t out weight the risks. 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»

'Rat-tat-tat-brrrrrrrmmm, rat-tat-tat-brrrrrrrmmm!' I could scarcely believe my ears, for there, dogfighting over my head, were World War I fighters — SPAD, Fokker Triplane, Camel, Albatross, and Nieuport — marques I had read and dreamt about, and even seen in a few museums. But never had I guessed that one day I’d actually hear them fly. continued»

Nearly half of all reported mishaps in retractable-gear airplanes are related to the landing gear system. The vast majority of those appear to be related mainly to pilot action or inaction, often under the stress of distraction. There is a small component of the Landing Gear-Related Mishap (LGRM) record, however, that is a function of aircraft maintenance. 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»

It was clear and still, a beautiful day to fly. After three weeks, we were pointed toward home, and I couldn't have been more ready. The Black Hills looked green and peaceful, and we decided that Newcastle, Wyoming, on the west side, where dense forests are replaced by high desert, was a good choice for a fuel stop. continued»

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

'What's that light in the sky?' asked my wife, Jean. I looked back over my shoulder, and my jaw dropped. Near the horizon, a blinding beam projected downward as if from an alien saucer. We were on downwind in the traffic pattern, practicing night landings in darkness.

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As pilots we understand that our decisions are crucial and the safety of every flight depends on them, but now other fields that require decision-making are looking to aviation as the model of how it should be done. continued»

For several months we’ve been looking at the pandemic Landing Gear-Related Mishap (LGRM) rate in certified, piston-engine, retractable gear airplanes. Wrapping up, here are 10 Tips for Avoiding LGRMs. 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»

Some friends called it “The Love Flight.” It was our 25th silver anniversary gift to each other, a month-long trip in our polished 1946 Cessna 140 to the site of our honeymoon on the other side of the country. My husband Tom and I were eager to take off into carefree skies with little to concern us except an occasional call to the home office. Wrapping up business, paying bills, and packing to be gone for at least a month is stressful, but I knew the moment we lifted off the ground in Truckee, Calif., it would be worth it. 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
continued»

We aviators know how privileged is our view from above — we thrill to Earth’s vigor, form, and splendor on every flight. Yet few of us have the skills to capture that magic and convey it to others. I was reminded of that when the announcement arrived for Adriel Heisey’s new exhibit, “From Above: Images of a Storied Land.” You’ve likely seen Heisey’s spectacular aerial photography on public television specials, and in magazines like National Geographic, Arizona Highways, and Smithsonian. continued»

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»

An instructor friend of mine wrote: You mentioned in a recent presentation that the only things that are of a legal nature in the Pilots Operating Handbook (POH) are those things listed in the Limitations section. Otherwise the pilot can basically do as they please (or words to that effect). I think I get the general idea of what you meant. One of my students, however, interpreted this to mean it is quite acceptable to: continued»

Crowds. Craziness. Music. It’s enough to justify a road trip. I’m not talking Woodstock here, but AirVenture, that surprisingly similar event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. AirVenture’s tunes come not from wailing guitars but from airplane engines — vying like Stratocasters for the crowd’s approval are roaring radials and screaming Merlins. Like Woodstock, there’s a crowd of individualists here, their tents pitched under wings as far as the eye can see. Most people keep their clothes on, but where else can you watch a rocket-powered biplane fly 4,000 feet straight up? No wonder we, the faithful, are drawn each year to this mammoth Oshkosh tent revival, worshipping side-by-side the flying machines that draw us skyward. continued»

Question: The advantage of a high aspect ratio wing was first recognized in:
A) 1804
B) 1866
C) 1903
D) 1918
continued»

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»

Flying across two-thirds of the U.S. in an old airplane can seem like crossing the Great Plains in a wagon train if the weather goes bad. It's forever from home. However, the country can just as easily shrink to the size of the local park after landing in a strange place and meeting someone who feels like a good friend. 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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I was in the right, front seat of a 1999 A36 Bonanza as we launched on an IFR training mission in northern California. A gloomy overcast had rolled inland off San Francisco Bay and we heard traffic holding overhead when Center gave us our clearance to go. My student, new to the Bonanza, did a superb job of holding attitude as he arced over the now-unseen hills while we turned inland; the holding pilot, now cleared for his approach, asked the Center controller about the weather at our departure airport. continued»

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»

'Howdy Greg, My name is Baldy and I am a working 'wagon trash' cowboy in northern Arizona. Have a '41 T'craft I use on the ranches - I'm based at P23 [Seligman] and just built a Starduster Too. I enjoy reading your columns as it's always apparent how much you LOVE our passion, which is flying. Having said this I hope you'll visit my free web site www.pilotsharetheride.com as I am trying to help people share our love of flight and maybe expenses as well. If a $25 a day working cowboy can afford to fly, anyone can. Well sir I thank you for your time and look forward to your articles as it's great to see someone who totally tries to help the little guy get started. If you are ever around Seligman it would be a pleasure to meet you. I day-work only now on ranches and shoe 30 horses in PHX every 5-6 weeks. Well sir take care and fly safe, Adios for now from Baldy in No. Az.' 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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Efficient in quickly developing pilots, traditional aviation training nonetheless leaves significant knowledge gaps that contribute to the vast majority of aircraft accidents. It’s up to pilots to seek out knowledge to fill those gaps…here are three ways to increase your knowledge and safety. continued»

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»

Don was at the island that Saturday, his bit of paradise on the Canadian side of Lake of the Woods, when the pain began. Fortunately my brother-in-law Dave was there with his wife, Barb. They rushed Don by boat and car to Kenora, Ontario, where he was airlifted to Winnipeg. 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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“I wonder if there’ll be time to land at the Patton Museum.”

“I hope so,” said my wife, Jean. “You deserve it for flying me to Palm Springs. Besides, I’m getting sick of hearing about it.” I looked forward to delivering Jean to her annual tennis camp. Not only is Palm Springs an interesting aerial journey from Phoenix, but along the way lay an unfulfilled Flying Carpet adventure. continued»

I thought I was doing fine flying loops and rolls, even a hammerhead, in the brand-new Pitts S2C with only 36 hours on the tachometer. A half-hour earlier, Sean D. Tucker (yes, world-famous airshow performer Sean D. Tucker) had said jokingly, “Now don’t lose your lunch in my new airplane, Laurel.” But, the flat spin did me in. continued»

Twin-engine airplanes weren't available for rent at my old home airport of Lafayette, Indiana, so when I decided to pursue multiengine training I went down the road to Herman Brown's flying service in Terre Haute. 'Brownie,' as he's known in the neighborhood, fit the mold of old time pilot examiners - hardboiled and independent, but warmhearted once you got to know him. continued»

I have survived five checkrides in my 18-year flying history, and I dreaded every one. Only one, my private pilot checkride, felt good from the start, perhaps because I had no idea what to expect or didn't understand the consequences of a pink slip. continued»

'See where the river breaks over that wide rock?' said our guide, Donny. 'We need to be careful there because the water tumbles violently on the other side, like a horizontal tornado.' continued»

“Hey, Dan, check out that ’39 Chevy. It’s just like the one I owned in high school – even the same color!” Dan drives a tricked out Camaro, so I doubt he appreciated the old car’s beauty as I did. Then again, my view was burnished by memories. As we crossed the road to see it, I remembered my dad encouraging me to buy the low-mileage antique he’d spotted on a street corner. Among life’s rich lessons was when girls at the Dog ‘n Suds drive-in bypassed the muscle cars to ride in my emerald Chevy. It only did 55mph, but like puppies and babies it exuded character so the girls loved it. Best of all, the narrow front seat ensured that such passengers rode deliciously nearby. After graduation I rebuilt the engine and journeyed in the old auto from Chicago through Canada to Maine and back. continued»

We had endured a long dry spell here in Arizona, and I'm not just talking about lack of rain. Following months of toil without a break, Jean and I were physically and emotionally drained. 'I must get out of here for some reason other than work,' she complained while packing for yet another business trip. 'When's the last time we went camping? Or walked a beach?' continued»