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Tag Archives: airplanes
Takeoffs and Climbs
Yesterday I touched on the theory of the different kinds of climbs. I discussed the best-rate of climb (Vy) and the best-angle of climb (Vx). Today, let’s talk about how we use the appropriate climb speed for given situations. Most … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying
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Tagged adequate runways, airplanes, airspeed, all available excess horsepower, altitude, angle-of-attack, best-angle of climb (Vx), best-rate of climb (Vy), Cessnas, clearing an immediate obstacle at the airport, cruise climb, cruise level winds aloft, discipline, flight training, flying, grass runways, hard surface runways, Headwinds, judgment, learning to fly, mountainous terrain, mountains, normal takeoff, not being aggressive enough, over-rotating, overly aggressive pilots, proper cruising altitude, student pilots, taildraggers, tailwinds, Takeoffs and Climbs, the fastest climb to altitude, the short field takeoff, training aircraft, winds aloft are stronger at altitude
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2 Comments
Climb Speeds
Aircraft have different climbing speeds. One is appropriate for getting the aircraft up to altitude as quickly as possible and the other is for gaining the most altitude in the least amount of lateral distance. There is another speed, referred … Continue reading →
Posted in Flight Instructing, Flying, Teaching
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Tagged 000) / W, absolute ceiling, airplanes, airspeed, altitude, basic understanding of theory, best-angle of climb (Vx), best-rate of and climb (Vy), Cessnas, Climb Speeds, discipline, excess horsepower, flight training, full power, gaining the most altitude in the least lateral distance, getting to altitude quickly, gross weight, higher density altitudes, learning to fly, maximum power available, service ceiling, the formula, the greatest distance between the power available curve and the power required curve, the greatest surplus of power, thinner air, which climb speed is appropriate, “cruise climb”
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2 Comments
The St. Augustine Sub Hunters
Ardis and I were driving to meet friends for dinner in St. Augustine last night. Whenever we drive down US 1, just south of the airport and north of the Ancient City, I would always slow a little to look … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Life in General, Personal
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Tagged a sense of the Apocalypse, airplanes, chasing Russian submarines, chasing submarines for the US Navy, driving down US 1, flying, friends, Grumman, interesting subjects for photographers, metal salvage, military service, Navy, S-2 Tracker graveyard, St. Augustine residents, the ancient city, the high seas, the oldest city in North America, The St. Augustine Sub Hunters, tourists
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Flying Offshore
For whatever reason, as a pilot flies farther away from land over the water or other inhospitable terrain, the engine(s) run rough. There is no factual or statistical evidence of this phenomenon, but there is plenty of emotional, anecdotal information. … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Flying
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Tagged "min sink", airplanes, airspeed, altitude, away from the sight of land, best glide, calm sea, cumulus clouds, do not deviate from the approved approach procedure, drug runners, drug wars, engine failures, Florida, fly as high as possible, flying, Flying Offshore, Flying over water, friends, IFR flight plan for flying after sunset, inexperienced pilots, inhospitable terrain, instrument flying, instrument skills and experience, island checkpoints, judgment, keep security in mind, minimum sink, navigation, no night VFR, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Pirates of the Caribbean, tune and identify all navaids, VFR navigation, visual navigation, water survival
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The Luscombe
After the war, another little airplane that had quite the following was the Luscombe. It came in a variety of flavors; the 8A and 8F were very popular. When the airplane came out, it was powered by the typical engine … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, History
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Tagged airplanes, airspeed, altitude, flight training, flying, friends, inexperienced pilots, judgment, learning to fly, memories, pilots, professional pilots, student pilots, taildraggers, training aircraft, World War II
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3 Comments
Misconceptions About Landing
Wednesday, I wrote about a pilot flying a light twin who made a hot approach and floated down the runway. I think there are many pilots who carry misconceptions about flying into the cockpit with them when they learn how … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying
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Tagged aerodynamic control, airplanes, airspeed, altitude, Cessna 170, Cessna 182, Cessnas, crosswind landing, fast approach, final approach, flight training, floating down the runway, flying, flying landing approaches too fast, flying the approach and landing too fast, groundloops, gusty winds, inexperienced pilots, judgment, landings require precise speed control, learning to fly, Misconceptions About Landing, pilots, Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH), professional pilots, runway excursions, scraping fingernails on a blackboard, short field landing, soft field landing, static control, student pilots, taildraggers, the secret to landing, training aircraft, transition from flying to rolling, “whiteboards”
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1 Comment
100,000 Airplanes
Which aircraft manufacturing company first reached the milestone of 100,000 aircraft manufactured? What company was most likely to do this? Boeing, perhaps? Mooney? Lockheed? Piper? No. The company was Clyde’s. Clyde Cessna. Cessna was a Kansas farmer who was the … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Aviation History
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Tagged 100000 Airplanes, airplanes, Boeing, Cessna 140, Cessna 150, Cessna 170, Cessna 172, Cessna 180, Cessna 182, Cessna 185, Cessna 210, Cessna 320, Cessna 340, Cessna 402, Cessna 421, Cessna Model A, Cessnas, Clyde Cessna, first aircraft company to reach 100000 delivered, flight training, flying, inexperienced pilots, learning to fly, Lockheed, memories, Mooney, pilots, Piper, professional pilots, Sky King!, student pilots, taildraggers, training aircraft, US Flight Instructors Association, Wichita KS
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2 Comments
Crosswind Landings
We were leaving school about 6:30 in the evening. I was with my wife and one of our authors—they had been working on a book while I was teaching school and we agreed to give him a lift home afterward. … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying, Life in General
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Tagged airplanes, airspeed, altitude, bad landings, Cessnas, crosswind landings, crosswinds, discipline, drift, excessive speed, first solo, flight training, float, flying, incorrect crosswind landing technique, inexperienced pilots, instrument flying, judgment, landings and takeoffs, learning to fly, light twin on final, non-flyers, opposite rudder, pilots, Pilots’ Operating Handbook (POH), professional pilots, runway behind you, student pilots, taildraggers, the approach end of Runway 34, training aircraft, Trim the airplane, “aero-rudeness”
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3 Comments
The Cessna 180
One of the best planes Cessna developed was the Cessna 180. Powered by a 230 horsepower Continental engine, the 180 could carry four at speeds of about 135 knots. At the same time, she could carry a load of luggage … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying
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Tagged 230 horsepower Continental engine, 80-gallon long-range tanks, airplanes, airspeed, Alaska, altitude, bush pilots, Canada, Cessna 182, Cessnas, flight training, floats, flying, Geraldine “Jerri” Mock, gross weight, low-end flying characteristics, normal tires, oversized tundra tires, pilots, professional pilots, ranchers, skis, standard tanks, taildraggers, the airplane of choice, The Cessna 180, the first solo woman aviator around the world, the high-wing Cessnas, “para-lift” flaps
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6 Comments
Airports & Cats
Jeff and I stand at the front of the hangar. As we watch student pilots practice their approaches and landings, we revel in the wonderful evening. The weather is perfect for perfecting landings–except for the westerly winds, which forces the … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Flying, Life in General, Personal
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Tagged a bobcat, a very pretty evening, airplanes, Airports & Cats, airspeed, altitude, cats, Cessna 170, Cessnas, Florida, flying, friends, Gracie, judgment, learning to fly, perfect weather, pilots, professional pilots, right at sunset, student pilots, sunset, taildraggers, the airport cat, the hangar, watching from the side of the taxiway, westerly winds, when I saw him
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2 Comments
