Riley, a CFI candidate’s non-pilot flying companion from Florida, asks: “So what’s rotating when you say ‘rotate’ during takeoff? It seems to me to be more of a pull-back than a spinning motion.”
Opinion
What’s in a word?
When unleaded aviation fuel is finally available, how will that impact the oil in your airplane’s engine? Will it mean fewer oil changes?
Homeward bound
No matter how much fun you have at an airshow, the trip home is always a welcome time.
Higher RPM, better performance for your aircraft engine
Takeoff and climb show about 2,400 rpm. Out of respect for the old girl, I try to keep down to 2,200.
Some limits are made to be exceeded
You never too young — or too old — to learn how to fly. The only thing stopping you is your self-imposed limits.
How granularly should we regulate?
Wouldn’t it be more effective it the FAA just prohibited pilots from getting “busy or distracted” while in the cockpit?
At the table or on the menu
When the RAF started traveling to D.C., it was just to be in the room where policy is discussed and hashed out.
Bat Hawk lands in America
New from South Africa is the Bat Hawk, a light-sport aircraft making its U.S. debut at the 2022 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo in April.
Something old, something new-ish
Breaking in a new engine requires heightened focus, along with some parameters for the first few hours of flight: Stay below 5,500 MSL to assure the engine can run at 65% power or better. Only conduct cross-country flights of an hour or more in duration. Full stop landings. No touch-n-go pattern work. No stalls and recoveries. Limit use of idle power to start up, taxi, and landing. And of course, use mineral oil exclusively for this break-in period.