Cold weather has arrived -- rather brutally this year for many of us. Whether that cold weather translates…
Airplane engines suck. Pistons move up and down (or in horizontally opposed engines, in and out) and create…
It's cold, it's dark, it's winter. The alternator is the electrical lifeline for your aircraft. While the battery…
A cockpit is one of the best classrooms. When you fly, there are always chances to learn lessons…
We don't give much thought to starting the engines in our cars, even in the dark depths of…
I HAD A FRIEND WHO WAS A PILOT, AND WHO OWNED A BEECH SUNDOWNER. The Sundowner had a…
BEWARE OF WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE ON AN AIRPLANE. That lesson hits home with the plight of a…
I've managed to see some of the seamy side of the world of aviation in my time, including…
All pilots share a common trait. Is it money? Background? Education? Daring, or caution? No, pilots come from…
Your plans are all set -- with some excitement, you will be flying up to the All-Star Game,…
There she is, sitting by the wash rack: the picture of health. You've just finished washing off the…
I loved looking at airplanes when I was looking to buy my first plane. The exploration of the…
Whenever we fly from point A to point B, many of us use the Victor airway system, and…
Which is safer: a well-used rental airplane flown by dozens of pilots, from students to high-timers; or a…
This is a sad story, with an even sadder ending. Two pilots, who loved to fly their homebuilt…
Oil is the lifeblood of your aircraft engine or engines. Despite what a few vendors will try to…
Ten gallons -- about thirty bucks worth of avgas -- what'll it get you?
I owe my life to aviation mechanics. For one, my father was an A&P (certificated airframe and powerplant)…
When I was young, I enjoyed watching Bugs Bunny and, on occasion, Bugs matched wits with Marvin the…
Years ago, I enjoyed reading the Peanuts comic strip written by Charles M. Schultz -- in one series,…
Your plane looks very cozy to the mouse population -- they will be more than happy to set…
I find it curious that one critical precept of flight -- one that we are all taught at…
“Sloshing” is a process where a fuel tank sealant is put into a metal fuel tank, and the…
'Cessna 172 Yankee Alpha, turn left heading 060 degrees, descend and maintain 2000 feet; expect to break out…
...And other sounds an Airplane SHOULDN'T MAKE! When you think about it, most airplanes are incredible pieces of…
Very recently, in the dark of night, six persons aboard a piston twin died near Joplin, Missouri.
When you file a flight plan, either VFR or IFR, the procedure begins the same way: by calling…
The fuel caps on your airplane keep contaminants out of your fuel tank -- provided they're new.
Whether your plane has rubber bladders to hold the fuel, a wet wing, or a metal tank inside…
OK, which is it: Burned valves and detonation -- or better economy, lower maintenance costs, and greater range?
Ah, yes, spring has arrived in all of its beauty and glory -- the bugs are flying, the…
Two-way communication radios can be very frustrating, but there are some reasons that things get worse in the…
Just about every General Aviation airplane flying today does so with the assistance of specifically loaded cables --…
If your airplane has an electric starter, you have a battery on board and, over time, a number…
On May 12, 2000, a Beech Baron was destroyed when it impacted terrain after takeoff.
Corrosion of your battery terminals can cause real problems in flight, and even on the ground.
For all the problems that could result from a drive belt failure in flight, stopping them before they…
Just as having belts that are too tight can cause damage to your engine or the driven components,…
The Cessna 152 was 200 feet above the ground when its engine quit.
In a good number of aircraft in the fleet today, belts drive accessories -- these accessories do various…
Your mechanic should have test-run the engine(s) before signing off the airplane as airworthy, but it’s unlikely that…
The annual is done, repairs are complete, the modification is installed ... whatever the reason your airplane was…
“The keys are in the airplane. Just fill it up when you get back.”
A Piper Arrow pilot lands without extending the landing gear... A jetliner takes the runway, when the crew…
Oil is the lifeblood of your engine and because about half of all general aviation aircraft hold it…
There's a lot to consider before beginning your single-pilot approach.
Rivets will tell you how an airplane has been flown and whether or not it is safe to…
Looking over the flight controls is one of the important tasks that a pilot performs just prior to…