by Charlie Gasmire | Dec 12, 2019 | Aviation FAQs
Although most aircraft are made of the same basic elements, wings, rudder, elevators, a fuselage, and a tail cone, the way these elements are created and organized on the aircraft can be a little different and can create different flying characteristics. Anyone who...
by Charlie Gasmire | Nov 12, 2019 | Aviation FAQs
Whether as a passenger on an airliner, or a student pilot in the cockpit, you’ve probably noticed rolling onto the beginning of a runway very large numbers and maybe even a letter painted onto the beginning of the runway. As with everything else in aviation, it’s...
by Charlie Gasmire | Nov 8, 2019 | Aviation FAQs
If you’re lucky enough to be flying with an autopilot, or if you’re dreaming about one day having an autopilot, then the term “flight director” is probably going to be in your vocabulary at some point. At first glance both of these terms sound similar, if not...
by Charlie Gasmire | Nov 7, 2019 | Aviation FAQs
You’re flying along and ATC instructs you “turn to heading 220” and so you turn your plane until the numbers on your screen or instrument change, but what exactly are you heading towards? Why do we use two methods of showing our choice of direction and where did it...
by Charlie Gasmire | Nov 2, 2019 | Aviation FAQs, Pilot Advice
Quite honestly, it wasn’t until years after becoming a pilot that I even thought to ask this question. The only time that true vs. magnetic heading was really emphasized during training was in my cross-country calculations, where I had to always factor in a magnetic...