The visual stimulation of flight coupled with the almost completely unfettered freedom the airplane gave me made me glad I zigged when others zagged. I fastidiously kept my nose clean while some of my peers went another way, to their ultimate detriment.
Opinion
GAX: In search of a mission after World War I
The Army Air Services wanted a ground attack aircraft with heavy firepower and protected by armor plating to ensure its survival in low-altitude battlefield warfare. The GAX (Ground Attack Experimental) didn’t win any beauty contests, with its truncated nose and oversized rudder. Nor did it win friends in the flying community, as the weight of the armor and armament taxed the ability of two Liberty engines to propel it.
A solid first step
But the Alpha Electro is a trainer, with lots of one-hour flights in its future. These flights aren’t speculative, or some day dreams. They are happening today.
Ask Paul: The trouble with troubleshooting
Our engines expert Paul McBride helps troubleshoot a perplexing problem with an engine on an owner-maintained airplane.
They didn’t teach me that
On his student pilot cross-country flight, Eric realized he needed fuel. But he was at a non-towered field where his only option was a self-serve fuel farm. Having never pumped his own fuel before, this presented a bit of an issue. It’s a question many a flight student might find themselves asking — how do you fuel an airplane?
Acronyms – Beware the creep
NASA seeks BVLOS flight-corridors for AAM vehicles. UAS will test ConOps between CERTAIN and USRTC. This AAM HDV will pave the way for more complex routing of larger UAM aircraft.
Is aviation in trouble? Or are kids finding their way into the sky?
If this young man is any example of what’s ahead for aviation in America, all is well. Jat’s not alone, of course. Many young people around the country are pursing aviation.
The big things are easy
The big things are easy. The procedures are clear. It’s the little things — the artistry of being a pilot — that really makes things interesting and totally unique.
Questions from the Cockpit: Fire starter
Is it true you can break a whiskey compass and use the liquid to start a fire in a survival situation? And why are they called “whiskey compasses” any way?