We aviation types tend to be bolder than the average man or woman on the street. For we have done something that most humans resist with great ferocity. Are we perfect? No. But we aviators are pretty darned cool.
Opinion
Flying safely in our golden years
There are more than 160,000 general aviation pilots aged 60 and older still flying, so it’s incumbent on those pilots to maintain proficiency, recognize cognitive and physiological deficiencies as they arise, reevaluate personal minimums, and adjust their flying to accommodate the inevitable changes that occur with aging. The flight instructing community is essential to these efforts.
Creativity makes flying even cooler than it already is
Just because I don’t have a need for the tech doesn’t mean it isn’t cool or worthy.
Ask Paul: You can’t get there from here
I have read Lycoming Service Instruction 1304J and wondered if I can expect to find a Form 337 for an engine on the CD the FAA sent me with the aircraft records for a Cessna 172. The engine once had the following on the data tag: O-320-E2CC. I am told the engine was converted to an E2D per the logs.
Inspiration on the move
Can a high school class change the direction of a young person’s life? Yes! Jon’s journey illustrates that point well. Today he’s working toward his goal of being an aeronautical engineer, adding more flight time to his logbook, and mentoring those who come behind him.
Questions from the Cockpit: Should there be a biennial driving review?
My mother, a student pilot, asked: What do you think of requiring drivers to get a biennial driving review?
Weight and balance for life
Changes have to be made in life. Our size and our acceptance of obesity as a normal consequence of life should be among those changes. We can do better. For ourselves and for the generations that come behind us. Because if they can’t get into the aircraft, they certainly won’t be able to succeed in their desire to fly it.
Human Factors: A distant fallout
After a two-year investigation by the NTSB, investigators still don’t really know what caused a July 2021 crash in Alaska that killed two pilots. Still, is there anything we can learn from this crash?
Asking questions before you start an aircraft project will save you money
The Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 has a rating of 230 hp at 2400 rpm. Can I just change the governor and increase the RPM to 2700 (like the D4A5) to get 260 hp or do more technical modifications need to be done?