Backcountry Aviation‘s Patrick Romano continues his series of STOL Tips with Going Around, in which he talks about go-arounds and balked landings, a useful technique for safely aborting a landing or evaluating a landing zone, but also an action that can often increase the workload on the pilot. You can read the story on BackcountryPilot.org […]
Pilot Tips
Video STOL Tips: Takeoff
Backcountry Aviation‘s Patrick Romano continues his series of STOL Tips with Takeoff, which he says is an “often overlooked but critical skill for backcountry performance and safety.” Read the story at BackcountryPilot.org, then check out this video: See the first tip here.
STOL Tips: Attitude flying
Interested in learning more about backcountry flying? Patrick Romano of Backcountry Aviation published a series of stories and videos on BackcountryPilot.org that will give you tons of tips on mastering the techniques needed to be successful. The first installment of The Approach — a series on strategy for approaching and departing backcountry airstrips — covers final approach, and shows […]
Tip: Lawyer up — before you need to
J. Michael Loomis, an aviation attorney in Fort Wayne, Indiana, offers this advice: “If you are going to be active in aviation, I recommend that you develop a relationship with an aviation attorney before you actually need one. You’ll want to know who you will be able to call and how to reach them in […]
Tips: Flying into airshows
Several of our readers responded to a request for pilot tips on airshows. Here are just a few: Don Howard, Blanco, Texas: Every pilot HAS to go at least once to AirVenture, and fly if possible. Talk to someone responsible who has flown to Oshkosh. It’s not hard, but it is certainly different, You have […]
Tip: How to properly clean oleo struts
H.K. Sawyer of Northwest, Ga., submits this advice: “You say you’re tired of that nastiness that builds up on your oleo struts? And, in general, down there? You can, and should clean it, regularly. BUT don’t wipe your landing gear oleo struts down with any sprays or lubes other than hydraulic fluid. I am told that various […]
Tip: Fly, fly, fly
Joe Gutierrez of Kingman, Arizona sends in this advice: The best flight training tool is to commit yourself 100% to learning how to fly without reservation. To say you want to is not enough. You have to commit yourself. Second, no sim time or DVD — this is artificial and the end result is still the same, didn’t learn […]
Tip: Assist in your annual
Kevin Carbone of Winchester, Va., advises pilots to find a shop that permits owner assisted annuals. Bring your own tools. Start with the basics. Remove seats and floor boards to expose stuff. Remove any wing covers, tail cone, engine cover top and bottom. Do the oil change and filter as needed. Get an AvLab test kit. Be […]
Tip: Ask the WHY questions
Scott Brackett of Kingman, Ariz., advises other pilots to get to know your IA or the best mechanic on the field. “Ask the WHY questions,” he says. “If there are engineers who fly at your airport, ask them WHY questions.”