Staci, a student pilot in Arizona, asks: Why are airplanes less strong when it comes to negative Gs than positive Gs? Our “normal” trainers are said to be OK to 3.8 positive but only 1.52 negative. Even aerobatic airplanes, while stronger on both sides of the scale, are still weaker in the negative G area. It would seem to me you’d just build an airplane to be the same strength all the way around. I’m hoping you can tell me why there is a difference in strength between positive and negative.
Opinion
Are larger tires in your future?
Backcountry Pilot put together a list of things to consider when increasing the size of the tires on your aircraft.
Human Factors: Finesse required
So one takeaway from this accident is to concentrate on deliberate, smooth application of throttle — of any lever, dial, or knob on the flight deck, for that matter. We really don’t have anything in our play book that needs to be done at the speed of light and the strength of Superman.
Seeking unconventional recruits
If we open the door wide enough, a whole new group of talented, capable, dedicated folks might just walk through it and become pilots.
New app solves one person’s problem
“I even used the app while traveling, even when I wasn’t flying, to find local airports to visit,” said Michael. “But they stopped developing it.”
Will more flight schools start conducting their own testing?
Reading that someone at the FAA has proposed a solution for discussion is wonderful.
Unless GA is grounded
“Who knows, maybe general aviation will be grounded. And if that grounding sticks, that would be the end of General Aviation News.”
The view from here
MOSAIC has opened the door for us. Now it’s our turn to walk-out a marketing campaign that lets the other 330 million Americans who don’t fly know that now is their chance to step into a whole new life.
Preparing your airplane for the cold weather
Why am I talking about signs of colder weather in an aviation fuels and lubricants column? What does fall have to do with your average general aviation aircraft? It is one of the most important times because for almost every plane it is time to change the oil.