Did you know that piston aircraft engines are only able to convert approximately one-third of the fuel’s energy into useful power? You can think of heat as being the wasted energy of an inefficient engine. If an engine were using 100 percent of the energy contained in the fuel that it was consuming, it would […]
Read More
Fall is my favorite time of the year. From the leaves changing color to the crispness in the air, fall provides wonderful opportunities for those who want to take advantage of all that autumn has to offer. For pilots, it is an amazing opportunity to catch a glimpse of fall’s raw beauty – from the […]
Read More
By Steven Daun, National Chief Pilot We have all seen “that pilot.” You know the one. The one who has so many different portable electronics in the airplane that they need ten portable charging units and two dozen batteries. The weight of the three tablets, two portable GPS units, two portable ADS-B units, and the […]
Read More
Just about every pilot can remember their first solo cross-country flight. All of the hard work paid off, and they were finally able (and allowed) to fly somewhere alone. From that time, for most pilots, planning cross-country flights becomes rather straightforward. You select a destination, plot a course, and complete the rest of the steps […]
Read More
By Dr. Mike Bliss I believe in the saying, “Experience is the best teacher.” So did my primary instructor who taught me many years ago. One example of his belief in the value of experience comes to mind. He called me at work one day and said that I needed to do whatever it took […]
Read More
By Steven Daun, National Chief Pilot We get it. You are a successful professional and don’t have the time to finish getting your pilot certificate. If you are like the several thousand other students we have, you probably work late during the week and spend your weekends either working or with your family. You couldn’t […]
Read MoreBy Steven Daun, National Chief Pilot When I started flying, I remember my first instructor told me always to expect my engine to quit at any time. He said this would keep me on my toes and always aware of a suitable place to land. Some 30+ years later, I still run this exercise in […]
Read More