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Examining over 100 years of flight automation and the history of the autopilot

Aerotime

The automatic pilot (autopilot) has to be one of aviations finest technological inventions. Largely gone are the days when pilots had to manually control their aircraft from engine start-up to shut down by keeping their hands rigidly fixed on the controls at all times.

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Alaska Airlines Flight 261: Investigating what caused the tragedy

Aerotime

Twenty-five years on from this terrible accident, we look back at what led up to the crash, what was learned from it, and why the pilots Ted Thompson and Bill Tansky are now hailed as heroes for their actions during the incident. Wikimedia Flying the aircraft were two highly experienced former military pilots.

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AirCorps Aviation’s Piper L-4H Grasshopper – Winter 2025 Update

Vintage Aviation News

(image via AirCorps Aviation) The larger, freshly painted parts shown here include the brake cylinders (lower left center), brake pedals above them, the vertical stabilizer fairing on the near right center, and the horizontal stabilizers center tube on the far right. The landing gear components were test-fitted before painting.

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10 Must-Read Books for Aviation History Fans

Plane and Pilot

Aviation has influenced global events, transformed travel, and captured the imaginations of pilots and enthusiasts around the world. You wont, of course, encounter many lessons on aviation history during flight training, but it nonetheless provides a context within which we can better understand ourselves as students, pilots, or enthusiasts.

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Mastering Stalls: How to Recognize, Prevent, and Recover Safely

Flight Training Central

When the airplane is stabilized in the approach attitude and speed, begin to smoothly and slowly bring the nose up to an attitude which will cause a stall. Recovery is made by lowering the nose, simultaneously applying full power while maintaining directional control with coordinated use of aileron and rudder.

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Game On!

Plane and Pilot

I dont exactly fit the standard pilot profile of Game Aerospaces GB1 GameBird But theres always been something about the GameBird that has piqued my interest. Its first-class team, led by Ian Waghorn, ensures that pilots leave the training program feeling confident, competent, and safe in their new or new-to-them GameBird.

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Top 10 Mistakes Student Pilots Make (And How to Avoid Them)

Inflight Pilot Training

Mistakes are a natural part of learning, but understanding common pitfalls ahead of time can help you progress more efficiently, build confidence, and become a safer pilot. In this comprehensive guide, well take a deep dive into the top 10 mistakes student pilots make, why they happen, and actionable strategies to avoid them.

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