Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts TAFs are very similar to METARs in the sense that they use the same coding abbreviations and a very similar structure. Obviously the main difference between a METAR and a TAF is that the TAF is a forecast while the METAR is just a quick snapshot in time, and is instantly old… Continue reading Reading the Weather – TAFs Pr
Topic Category: Checkride Prep
Reading the Weather – METARs Pr
METARs METARs are a snapshot in time, a simple observation of what the weather was doing at a particular moment. They are an excellent tool to tell you if the weather is okay right now, but offer no forecast into the future. REMEMBER: They are a direct observation of what is happening at and over… Continue reading Reading the Weather – METARs Pr
Stalled Airflow Pr
Check out the video above to have a look at what actually happens to the airflow over the wing of an airplane when it stalls. Some important stuff: Two important things to notice from the diagrams above: You do generate more lift at higher angles of attack (however with more lift you generate substantially… Continue reading Stalled Airflow Pr
How To Practice Stalls Pr
The Fun Part! How to properly practice stalls in the real airplane. Hopefully after watching the video above you will have a better understanding of the process of actually stalling the airplane, and realize it really is a gentle and safe maneuver to practice with your CFI. Remember: Choose a safe altitude (recommended that you… Continue reading How To Practice Stalls Pr
Angle Of Attack Pr
The Angle it Attacks Angle of Attack, or AOA as we’ll call it going forward, is technically defined as such: THE ANGLE AT WHICH THE RELATIVE WIND MEETS THE CHORD LINE OF THE WING. Now, that sounds awful fancy, so let’s break it down a bit. The Chord Line is the line that goes from… Continue reading Angle Of Attack Pr
The Secret to Being Stable Pr
The trick to being more stable than Charlie Sheen isn’t just abstaining from drugs and alcohol. Safe and STABLE approaches all start with how you handle the aircraft and how you interpret the signs the aircraft is giving you. What’s the Definition? Let’s go ahead and define what qualifies for a “stable” approach. To me,… Continue reading The Secret to Being Stable Pr
Flying in the Wind Pr
By about lesson 3 in your training you probably will have had the opportunity to experience a few takeoffs and landings, and there’s a good chance there was some wind involved in at least a few of those. If you haven’t yet seen a nice crosswind blowing across the runway, you’re lucky, and this TOPIC… Continue reading Flying in the Wind Pr
Taxiing in the Wind Pr
You’ll often find that it is always windy at the airport whenever you want to fly, whether or not you live in Kansas. This means you’ll be needing to get very familiar with how to maneuver your new found friend (airplane) around in the wind. Gone with the wind Given that the airplanes we fly… Continue reading Taxiing in the Wind Pr
Load Factor Pr
How much can the wing carry? What we are looking at here is a graph of the load (G loading or G-forces) felt on the aircraft itself (and also felt by you, the pilot) when making LEVEL turns (level turns being holding a constant altitude and not climbing or descending, as we talk about being… Continue reading Load Factor Pr
Sport Pilot Differences
So you wanna fly sporty planes like Harambe? If you’re planning on earning your Sport Pilot Certificate instead of your Private Pilot Certificate, then you’ll want to review the subtle differences between a private pilot and sport pilot below. Be sure to complete the quiz below at the end of this topic as well! General… Continue reading Sport Pilot Differences