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Category Archives: Flying
The Mystery of Lift
In science writer-editor Jules Bergman’s book, Anyone Can Fly, he talks about asking a little boy why airplanes fly. The child explains, in essence, that airplanes float on the air. I like that—because it is so simple—and almost true. When … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying
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Tagged .002377 slugs per cubic foot, A Few Good Men, airspeed, altitude, Anyone Can Fly, coefficient of lift, Colonel Nathan R. Jessep, L=1/2 r V2 Cl S, pitch, Power, rho, short field landings, The Mystery of Lift, the power curve, the truth, velocity squared, wing area, writer-editor Jules Bergman
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2 Comments
New York to Paris
It took Charles Lindbergh 33 hours and 30 minutes to fly from New York to Paris. On this date in 1946, Trans World Airlines began international passenger service along Lindbergh’s route flying Lockheed Constellations, or “Connies.” Originally, Lockheed produced the … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, Life in General
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Tagged Charles Lindbergh, Connies, deregulation in 1978, international travel, Lockheed Constellations, New York to Paris, nonstop passenger service, ocean liners, Pan American Airways, pressurized comfort, Trans World Airlines
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Comments Off on New York to Paris
Squeezed
Yesterday I opened my e-mail and found my Aviation eBrief from AOPA. The news was fairly disturbing. From Air Transport World, is the news that, “DOT Secretary LaHood reaffirms Obama’s NextGen commitment.” The next headline read, “Column: Middle-class pilots are … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, Life in General
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Tagged 120, 140, 150, 170, 172, 175, 180, 182, 185, 190, 195, 210, Air Transport World, AOPA, Aviation eBrief, business jets, Cessna, feeling the squeeze, FlightGlobal.com, General Aviation News, little airplane drivers, NextGen, paying through the nose, Squeezed, who loves technology
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5 Comments
First flights
Every time you introduce a student to flying for the very first time, you should do it very early in the morning or right at sunset. The reason for this is simple. Flying during the later morning periods or in … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying, Life in General
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Tagged a short flight, a very gentle flight, be as smooth as possible, enthusiasm, FBOs, First flights, first flights should be simple and enjoyable, flight training, flight training schools, flying early in the morning, flying late in the afternoon, free marketing, free publicity, get to know your new student, hot bumpy days, introducing students to flying, rough rides, second lessons, sunrise, sunset, the perfect introductory flight, Vgn diagram, word-of-mouth advertising, “hook” the student
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The Cessna 172 on Steroids
A Cessna 172 on steroids? No not really. Something like that would have another name. Most in the aviation business know it as a Cessna 182 Skylane. The two airplanes look very similar with tricycle landing gear, four seats, and … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Flying
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Tagged airplanes, Cessna 172, Cessna 182, Cessna 182 Skylane, Cessnas, Continental O-470, extra shoulder space and legroom, flying, fuel flow of 11 gallons per hour, greater cabin room, headroom, judgment, learning to fly, Lycoming IO-360, pilots, professional pilots, propeller control, Skyhawk, Skylane, The Cessna 172 on Steroids, training aircraft
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1 Comment
The High Cost of Renting
In 1971, the cost of renting airplanes was expensive. The sad truth about aircraft rental today is that it still remains too expensive. Relatively speaking, it is more expensive than 35 years ago. In 1971, a Cessna 150 cost $15 … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flight Instructing, Flying, Life in General, Personal
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Tagged airlines, airplanes, Cessna 150, Cessnas, checkride, computers, discipline, final cost for earning a private pilot certificate, Flight instructors, flying, getting rich, ground instruction, how can young kids afford flight training, inexperienced pilots, judgment, learning to fly, minimum wage, navigation plotters, pilots, private pilot, professional pilots, rental and instructional fees, renting airplanes, solo students, student pilots, testing fees, textbooks, the aviation industry, The High Cost of Renting, training aircraft
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3 Comments
Solo! (Part 4)
This is the final installment of the story of soloing, originally published in Eagles Tales, a collection of essays by my colleagues in the Aeronautical Science Department of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Eagle Tales is available for sale at 20 percent … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying, Life in General, Personal
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Tagged airplanes, Cessnas, discipline, engine failures, first solo, Florida, flying, inexperienced pilots, judgment, learning to fly, pilots, student pilots, taildraggers, training aircraft
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3 Comments
Solo! (Part 3)
Excepts from Eagles Tales, a collection of essays by my colleagues in the Aeronautical Science Department of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University continues. Eagle Tales is available for sale at 20 percent off with the coupon code ET2011 on checkout through the … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying, Life in General, Personal
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Tagged airplanes, Cessnas, discipline, engine failures, first solo, Florida, flying, inexperienced pilots, judgment, learning to fly, pilots, student pilots, taildraggers, training aircraft
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2 Comments
Solo! (Part 2)
Excepts from Eagles Tales, a collection of essays by my colleagues in the Aeronautical Science Department of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University continues. Eagle Tales is available for sale at 20 percent off with the coupon code ET2011 on checkout through the … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying, Life in General, Personal
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Tagged airplanes, Cessnas, discipline, engine failures, first solo, Florida, flying, inexperienced pilots, judgment, learning to fly, pilots, student pilots, taildraggers, training aircraft
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3 Comments
Solo! (Part 1)
Over the course of today and the following three days, I am posting the story of what it is like to solo an airplane for the first time. This account, originally published as an essay in Eagles Tales, is from … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying, Life in General, Personal
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Tagged airplanes, Cessnas, discipline, engine failures, first solo, Florida, flying, inexperienced pilots, judgment, learning to fly, pilots, student pilots, taildraggers, training aircraft
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3 Comments
