Fatigue, noise fatigue in particular, is a special enemy of general aviation pilots, specifically because we’re our own worst enemies. It seems noise suppression, like weight reduction, is one of the industry’s most impossible missions. Engineers simply didn’t know how to build a quiet aircraft cockpit.
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© [Sunny studio] / Adobe Stock By Floyd Allen 12 Things Every Pilot Should Know About an...
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Q New to the COO forum, having just purchased a 1975 C182. I am having the issue where fuel is...
Read MoreUsing Techniques Suggested in “Engine Failure on Takeoff With a Return to the Field” By Joel A. Turpin, ATP CFI-I FAA Master Pilot Simulation Test Conditions The simulations were flown at Solberg-Hunterdon Airport, N51, with a...
Read MoreRecently there was a news story about a pilot in the Southeast who had engine trouble. That pilot opted for an emergency landing on a busy bridge instead of in the water, resulting in a casualty of an automobile driver, which brought up conversations about land, water, roads … where should you make an emergency landing?
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1. Construction NOTAMS can save your skin
2. Wings or no wings, it’s still a hazard
Flight following, also known as traffic advisories, is a service offered by ATC for pilots flying under VFR. A simple radio call to the nearest ATC facility will provide traffic advisories as well as information on weather threats ahead. Pilots may also receive suggested headings to avoid both. In spite of these benefits, many pilots still elect to fly without speaking to anyone, foregoing this free service.
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Having an engine fail right after takeoff while flying a single engine airplane is every pilot’s worst nightmare. It requires immediate action along with quick, life or death decision making. Assuming the engine cannot be restarted, the pilot has only two options; land straight ahead, or attempt to return to the departure airport. The objective of this tutorial is to explore the second option, which is the engine out return to the departure airport.
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Why Meticulous Preflight Preparation Saves Time By Richard SherrillCOO Member & 172N Owner The...
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What Went Wrong and What Went Right Thanksgiving started out OK. My wife and I were taking...
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Homework in Alaska is Different, and it Teaches Something to Everyone By Jim Gibertoni No one ever...
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By Jim Gibertoni Over my 40 years of Alaskan flying, I have either hired or been involved with...
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Despite 65-plus years of attrition, there were enough Cessna 140 aircraft built that there is still a ready supply on the market. Most owners of Cessna’s first, real, entry-level, trainer are justifiably proud of their arrogant, little, fun, tailwheel machines.
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Senior contributor Bill Cox made his first international trip in 1977, flying a new Piper...
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Post-World War II war surplus aircraft may have looked attractive based on purchase price, but operating costs were well out of reach of the average retiring military fighter pi¬lot, lieutenant, or captain returning from the war. Of course, the established general aviation manufacturers and dozens of upstart companies jumped into the light-plane business with enthusiasm. For its part, Cessna introduced a new model known as the 190/195. The new airplane was probably a much better machine than its sales record suggested.
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They’re the words every instrument pilot dreads: “Cleared for the back-course approach.” Yes, I...
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The goal of professional flight planning begins with a mindset. This mindset is to never be...
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Lightspeed Zulu aviation headset. Photo courtesy of Lightspeed Aviation I was tired. No, beyond...
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Formation flight needn’t be terrifying or dangerous, provided you stay loose Spitfires in...
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Photo by Jack Fleetwood www.jackfleetwood.com Good flight planning begins with a mindset, and that...
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In anticipation of his upcoming book My Sky: The Flights & Times of Bill Cox, we talked to...
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P-38 Glacier Girl on display at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2012. Photo courtesy of EAA Famed airplane...
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Later this year, JP Media LLC will publish a book by longtime pilot and writer Bill Cox entitled “My Sky: The Flights & Times of Bill Cox.” It will detail his lifelong travels as a pilot, in the beautifully scripted way in which only Bill can write. This is Chapter 1.
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The usual question is which used, pressurized twin makes the most sense for a pilot looking to transition to the imaginary safety of two engines? My vote usually goes to the Cessna 340. Today, the early 340s represent an impressive buy for the pilot looking for twin engine redundancy at a reasonable price. The earliest examples, 1972-1974 models, sell for about $120,000 and the last production 340s, 1982-1984 vintage, bring about double that.
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By today’s standards, the first Cessna Citation (originally named the Fanjet 500 and later rebranded as the Citation 1 and finally the Citation 500) was perhaps the ultimate entry-level business jet. In 1972, it was one of the first corporate jets to be authorized for single pilot operation and the first in what was to become the world’s most popular line of business jets. Cessna’s 500 series Citations brought on-demand jet travel to folks who otherwise would have been relegated to the airline’s timeline.
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The holidays are over and I have started prepping for the air show, boating, and...
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Owners seem to consider the Cessna 180 Skywagon the quint¬essential Cessna and often wouldn’t even consider trading for any other airplane especially (horror of horrors) one that mounts the third wheel under the nose. Fact is, by any measure, the 180 truly is one of the most talented Cessnas ever built.
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By Dean Zakos Scenario: You offer to take an acquaintance flying. Everything seems fine until you...
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Of all the possible emergencies a pilot may face in flight, one of the least likely to occur is having to deal with a severely ill or exceedingly agitated passenger. However, if you are ever confronted by either of these circumstances, you will need to react to them calmly and capably, as not only may the passenger be at risk, but the safe outcome of the flight as well.
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One of the consistent positive reviews always goes to the Cessna 140. Like so many Cessnas that followed it, the diminutive 140 is almost universally regarded as one of the best airplanes of its type and vintage. The 140 wins rave reviews not because it does any one thing better than any other model but because it does everything well. In short, its among the best at being average or better.
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