8 Pilot Checkride Tips That Will Make a Difference
As of this writing, I’ve passed five checkrides, and every piece of advice you’re about to read comes from one of two places: Things I did wrong and regretted Things I did right and am very glad I did that way So if you’re willing to listen and actually implement...
Airplane Academy’s Private Pilot Flashcards Are Here!
They’re finally here. And I’m extremely confident that these Private Pilot Flashcards can make your aviation studying dramatically easier. Like… 10× easier. After 15 months of pouring everything I had into this project, they’re officially available for purchase right...
9 Common Pilot Mistakes (And How to Avoid Every One of Them)
This post will help you make fewer mistakes as a pilot. I know that because I’ve made every single mistake on this list. The good news? Every one of these mistakes is totally avoidable with just a little intentional effort. None of this requires being a “natural...
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...
Available NOW! Airplane Academy Private Pilot Flashcards
It took over a year to build this premium set of 350+ private pilot study flashcards. They are perfect for student pilots preparing for a checkride and licensed pilots studying for a flight review! Learn more by clicking the link below.
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