Tag Archives: training aircraft

On Buying An Airplane, Part IV

Well, it is yours! The question now becomes, how much will it really cost to operate? The price of operating an aircraft falls into two broad categories. These include “fixed” costs and “variable” costs. Pilots (and accountants) appropriately refer to … Continue reading

Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on On Buying An Airplane, Part IV

On Buying An Airplane, Part III

Okay, after discussing where to find airplanes, we now come to the question of what to look for when appraising the airplane. As with any mechanical conveyance, there are things that stand out right away when you evaluate the machine. … Continue reading

Posted in Aviation, Flying | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

On Buying An Airplane, Part II

When it comes to operating your own airplane, you have to keep a few things in mind. First, airplanes are not cheap, but if you are going to do more flying than usual, which is to say more than seven … Continue reading

Posted in Aviation, Flying | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on On Buying An Airplane, Part II

On Buying An Airplane, Part I

Once you make the decision to buy an airplane, it is one of the most exciting times of your life. It can also be one of the most frustrating. Oh, and let me also say there is a little stress … Continue reading

Posted in Aviation, Flying | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on On Buying An Airplane, Part I

High Flight

My last blog was about the men who saved England, no, indeed the world. The documentary I watched about the pilots who flew in the Battle of Britain moved me. Their story overwhelmingly impressed me because of my realization of … Continue reading

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Battle of Britain

This week, I had the opportunity to watch a very well done documentary on the Battle of Britain. Hosted by Ewan McGregor and his brother Colin, they told of how they grew up in England studying about the fighter pilots … Continue reading

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Souls of Airplanes

I remember the first time I realized an airplane could seem as though it were a living being. I was out at the Zephyrhills airport near Tampa, where I met a young man who owned a Republic Seabee amphibious aircraft. … Continue reading

Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Happy Birthday Orville

In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared this day, August 19, as the first National Aviation Day. Why August 19? Well, it is the anniversary of Orville Wright’s birthday. For most of us who fly airplanes, today is a special … Continue reading

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, Life in General | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Happy Birthday Orville

The Cub Versus the Champ

One of the ongoing debates in general aviation pertains to the merits of two of the most classic airplanes that flew in the formative years of aviation. The airplanes are the Piper Cub and the Aeronca Champ. I have written … Continue reading

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flight Instructing, Flying | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Cub Versus the Champ

Seeing the Sun

We were driving across Florida through the Ocala National Forest. It was one of those afternoons good for driving, not so much for flying, unless you held an instrument rating and had filed. We were passing near R-2910 and I … Continue reading

Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments