The Montgolfier brothers, Joseph-Michel and Jacque-Étienne watched the smoke rise and surmised the smoke itself could be the secret to human flight.
Opinion
Lawmakers target ADS-B data misuse
The Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act would block the use of ADS-B data for collecting airport fees or launching investigations.
Celebrating 100 years of Fairchild Aircraft
Led by Sherman Mills Fairchild, who enjoyed both wealth and talent, Fairchild fast became a reliable part of American aviation industry.
The real reason pilots quit flight training
In his series of stories Jamail Larkins noted money, medical issues, and clashing personalities between student and CFI were the top three reasons people quit flight training. But a veteran CFI says that’s not the real reason people quit.
Carry that weight with style and accuracy
Weight affects performance. Sometimes positively. Sometimes negatively. Sometimes catastrophically.
Blame it on the lawyers
When there is a problem with the transition to unleaded avgas, maybe those affected will sue the EPA or the FAA. But more realistically they will sue everyone from the airplane manufacturers to the fuel distributor, letting the courts sort it out to determine the winners and losers.
Human Factors: Hidden wear and tear
When a pilot crashes his new plane on the same day he bought it, NTSB investigators discovered the smoking gun for the accident was a part that pilots can’t see during a preflight.
It’s about heart, not heft
People have a tendency to discourage friends and family from seeking great adventures in aviation. The belief is often expressed that we aren’t prepared, or funded, or that we’re operating machines that were never meant to fly such a distance. Poppycock, I say.
Questions from the Cockpit: When ATC goes dark
David, an airplane owner in Iowa, writes: Given the recent reported radio outage at Newark, I’m sure we could all use a refresher and perspective on lost comms. It’s one thing to have an on-board failure, but seems much different if ATC goes down, especially in busy airspace. It would be great to hear and learn about scenarios that appear more likely than we thought.