Pilot's Life Blog

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

Many aspiring pilots wonder whether flying a helicopter is harder than flying a plane. Understanding these differences helps pilots choose the right training path. Whether youre exploring what is an instrument proficiency check or considering advanced training, we ensure every pilot is confident in their journey.

Torque 52

Torque Lift Airplanes Stability 52

Fear of Landing

MARCH 22, 2024

Today, aircraft are equipped with forward-looking sensors that alert pilots to wind shear hazards. The resulting “supercritical airfoil” shape, when integrated with the aircraft wing, significantly improves the aircraft’s cruise efficiency. Chevrons are being implemented on many of today’s aircraft, including the new Boeing 787.

Wind Shear 52

Wind Shear Airfoil Drag Airline 52

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

Remember that wings, propeller blades, and tail surfaces are airfoil-shaped. Ice build-up on the airframe changes the airflow pattern around these airfoils. It most commonly forms on the leading edges of your aircraft, including the wings, tail, and horizontal stabilizer, as well as on the propeller blades and pitot tubes.

Pitot Tube 52

Pitot Tube Drag Lift Airfoil 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

Newton’s Third Law helps pilots and engineers improve flight safety and aircraft performance. They are designed with a special shape called an airfoil, which encourages passing air to turn and deflect downward. So, pilots must find the sweet spot: enough angle to generate strong lift but not so steep that airflow breaks away.

Lift 52

Lift Thrust Torque Aileron 52

Vintage Aviation News

JANUARY 22, 2025

In October 1914, Albree and Timson drew up plans for a new monoplane, the Model G Scout, which was first flown by test pilot Clifford Webster on July 15, 1915, at Nahant Beach, just south of the Swampscott garage. The Albree-Timson Model G Scout monoplane, a precursor of the Model SG Pursuit, during a test flight at Nahant Beach, MA. (Old

Tail 98

Tail Airplanes Stability Aileron 98

Aerotime

FEBRUARY 14, 2025

During test flights in 2014, Cessna pilots flew the X+ from Wichita to Seattle to Miami and back again over two days. It wasnt until the Global 7500 arrived in 2018 that prices of the G650 stabilized at around $50 million. It was a major improvement over the 1996 Citation X, with better engines, avionics, and enhanced cabin comfort.

Jet 261

Jet Ceiling Thrust Airfoil 261

Vintage Aviation News

DECEMBER 5, 2024

Additionally, the Shiun incorporated a laminar flow airfoil to reduce drag. However, this would mean that the Shiun’s pilot would have to ditch the aircraft in the water, with the stabilizing floats deploying to add buoyancy to the aircraft. But there were also several key distinctions between the Kyofu and the Shiun.

Drag 52

Drag Stability Torque Airfoil 52

Vintage Aviation News

DECEMBER 7, 2024

It featured a laminar flow airfoil, the Allison V-1710 was fitted with a second supercharger, a four-bladed propeller was installed, and the nose cowlings to access the airplane’s 37mm gun and two Browing M2.50 Test pilot Gustav E. Like fighter pilots, aerial gunners assigned to bombers needed to practice their aerial gunnery.

Airfoil 52

Airfoil Pilot Stability Tail 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

When spelled geoduck it represents a grotesque, oversized mollusk, or clam to we pilot simpletons. Much depends on the aircraft’s weight, pilot skill and, surprisingly, “how much abuse you want to experience. Checking the oil is the main attraction to the pilot. The airplane will handle more than you want to.”

Airplanes 77

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 77

Plane and Pilot

DECEMBER 16, 2024

While LSAs in general have been tagged for having slightly underbuilt landing gearone of the more common accident scenarios is a newly transitioned pilot not managing the slickness of this kind of airplane and wiping out the gear during a botched landingthe goal is for the F2 to be unusually robust. More lessons learned.

Rudder 98

Rudder Airplanes Aileron Crosswind 98