3 Huge Reasons I Stopped Renting and Bought a Plane (Cessna 182)
In 2016 I bought a Cessna 182. Before that, I was renting Cessna 172’s, and there was a moment when it became clear to me that it was time to stop renting and start owning. It can really be boiled down to a 3-part decision… Freedom, Frequency, and Finances. Deciding...
Why Are Some Propeller Blades Curved? (Scimitar-Shaped)
Just a few years ago, if you looked around the typical general aviation ramp, you typically didn’t see much diversity in propeller design. However, that has been changing. Curved propellor blades are starting to be much more common. Why are some propeller blades...
Why Are Airplane Propeller Blades Twisted?
Take a close look along the length of a propeller, from the tip towards the spinner, and you will likely notice that it looks like the propeller twists. This twist along each propeller blade is, of course, very intentional and necessary to extract the most performance...
What’s the Difference Between 2, 3, and 4-Bladed Propellers?
Walk the flight line at any GA airport and you will likely see a mix between 2-bladed and 3-bladed propellers. Some more expensive, high-performance planes may have 4 or more propeller blades. Besides arguably looking better, there are performance differences to be...
Are gliders hard to fly? A glider pilot weighs in.
Gliders are aircraft designed to fly without using an engine. The general principles of controlled flight in a glider are no different from powered aircraft. With the exception of dive brakes or spoilers the available control surfaces on a glider are...
Private, Commercial, and ATP Pilot Certificates Compared
There are different types of pilot’s licenses or “certificates” which grant different privileges and responsibilities. Common certificates to receive are a private pilot certificate, commercial pilot certificate, and airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate. So...
What is Zulu Time and why is it used in aviation?
Zulu Time is the “Universal Time Zone” used in the aviation world. But why do we use Zulu time in aviation? Zulu Time is used in aviation because it is unaffected by geography or traditional time zones. It is a 24-hour timekeeping system that is the same worldwide at...
How long does it take to get a glider pilot’s license?
A glider pilot rating is an excellent way to enter the world of aviation as a novice, or to further hone your stick and rudder skills and energy management skills if you are already a rated pilot. The requirements to obtain the license are different for...
Engine Leaning Using EGT: Rich of Peak vs. Lean of Peak
There may be no greater debate amongst pilots than the “rich of peak” or “lean of peak” (ROP vs. LOP) exhaust gas temperature method of leaning the aircraft engine. Fortunately, we pilots have options when it comes to leaning methods - or do we? The...
Everything You Should Know About Radar Vectors
Receiving “radar vectors” is common both in VFR and IFR scenarios. It might sound like a complicated term, but it’s really simple once you understand what it is and what it means. So what are radar vectors? Radar Vectors are a navigational aid used by Air...
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