Making them short and soft: As you advance in your flying career, you will eventually want to visit some airports with shorter runways or soft runways (grass), or both. There is a special way to takeoff and land on those two types of runways compared to using a nice long paved runway you’ve probably become… Continue reading Lesson 10: Soft and Short Field T.O. Pr Copy
Lesson Category: Student Pilot
Lesson 9: Flying Blind and Performance Calculations Pr Copy
When you can’t see where you’re going: Flying blind doesn’t sound so fun. Although many pilots do fly airplanes through clouds and zero visibility conditions on a daily basis, it requires a lot of training and practice to have the proper knowledge and skills to do so safely. Far too many pilots die each year… Continue reading Lesson 9: Flying Blind and Performance Calculations Pr Copy
Lesson 8: Class A, B, and C Airspace: The Busier Side of the Sky Pr Copy
Class A, Class B, and Class C Airspace Class A, B and C airspace are all controlled airspace. Although it is designated as such because the sky is a little bit busier in those areas with air traffic, you shouldn’t be intimidated to fly and operate in this type of airspace. To give you an… Continue reading Lesson 8: Class A, B, and C Airspace: The Busier Side of the Sky Pr Copy
Lesson 7: The Less Busy Airspace: G, E, D Pr Copy
Class G, E, and D airspace: Luckily whether you have a GED or PHD, you can learn the layout of the different airspace that makes up the NAS (national airspace system). We’ll start off covering just a basic overview of class G airspace, class E airspace, and class D airspace, and leave the busier types,… Continue reading Lesson 7: The Less Busy Airspace: G, E, D Pr Copy
Lesson 6: Building Good Landings Pr Copy
Building the Perfect Landing Good News! You don’t have to be Maverick from Topgun to land like a champ! While flying a several thousand pound machine at highway speeds down onto the pavement may seem daunting, you can relax, you’re in good hands! Learning how to land, like any other complex skill learned in life,… Continue reading Lesson 6: Building Good Landings Pr Copy
Lesson 5: Ground Reference, Maneuvers, and FARs Pr Copy
Why reference the ground? In this lesson, we’ll focus on Ground Reference Maneuvers, as well as a few other “air work” tools you can add to your toolbox to effectively control and fly your airplane. We’ll cover: S-Turns Turns about a point Forward Slips and Side Slips A few important regulations The purpose behind all… Continue reading Lesson 5: Ground Reference, Maneuvers, and FARs Pr Copy
Lesson 4: AOA, Stalls, and Other Scary Things Pr Copy
In this lesson we’ll cover some of my favorite TOPICS! Angle of Attack (AOA) Stalls Intro to Weather As you advance in your training it will be time for you to explore the “backside” of the power curve, gain a better understanding of Angle of Attack and Relative Wind, and also practice stalling the airplane… Continue reading Lesson 4: AOA, Stalls, and Other Scary Things Pr Copy
Lesson 3: Understanding the Wind and Turns Pr Copy
Turning the Plane: In this lesson we’ll cover the basic aerodynamics of what is happening when you turn the airplane, as well as the proper procedure for executing “steep turns” with your instructor in the airplane. Understanding the Wind: We’ll also cover the basics of what you need to know for making successful crosswind takeoffs… Continue reading Lesson 3: Understanding the Wind and Turns Pr Copy
Lesson 2: Maneuvers and the Traffic Pattern Pr Copy
Maneuvers: In this lesson, we’ll start to talk about how to perform some of the basic maneuvers that help form the fundamental skills of flying. We’ll also cover some of the characteristics of how all airplanes fly, including topics like LEFT TURNING TENDENCIES. Traffic Pattern: In this lesson, you’ll also complete several topics about how… Continue reading Lesson 2: Maneuvers and the Traffic Pattern Pr Copy
Crosswinds Lesson 3
The Landing As you fly your base leg you will more than likely add your next notch of flaps (20 degrees in Cessna, 25 degrees in Piper). You may consider leaving the flaps at just 10 degrees if you find yourself already low in relationship to where you are in the traffic pattern or if… Continue reading Crosswinds Lesson 3