Search Results for: Cessna 172

A look at one of the big names in flight training.

(June 2011) A lot of pilots have heard the name American Flyers. After all, the company has been in business for more than 60 years. But not every pilot knows that the company has grown to the point that it today can provide just about every kind of flight training imaginable to just about every […]

(June 2011) There are good reasons that the Piper Archer is an airplane commonly found in flight school fleets. Its stable flight characteristics and simple design make it an excellent trainer. And with enough speed to get you where you want to go, but not too much to get you in trouble, as well as […]

Bethany Whitfield joined Flying in April 2011. The daughter of a commercial airline and retired Air Force pilot, Bethany was introduced to the world of aviation at a very young age. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame in the spring of 2009 with a degree in English, Bethany started pilot training with the […]

Despite having logged 21,000 hours over the years, for Emily Warner, her most recent flight was a special one. That’s because Warner, reportedly the first female commercial airline pilot hired by a U.S. scheduled airline, organized the flight to fulfill the last wish of a long-time friend and fellow aviator who has been suffering from […]

(May 2011) IN THE MARCH ISSUE OF Flying, On the Record reported on the crash of a Cessna 172S Skyhawk in January 2010, about 20 miles north of Bangor, Maine. The pilot had picked up the brand-new airplane in Independence, Kansas, and flown it to Bangor, where an additional fuel tank was installed for a […]

When you look back at the historical arc of light general aviation, a few airplanes stand out as being so important that their introductions changed the way we flew and the way we looked at flying. At the certain risk of leaving out a few favorites, you can’t talk about the history of light aviation […]

(March 2011) ON OCCASION, I AM ASKED if we airline types actually monitor guard frequency — 121.5. My stock answer is “Of course.” And for the most part, I’m telling the truth. However, in some circumstances it’s not practical. What are those circumstances? I don’t want to speak for all my colleagues, but below 10,000 […]

The landing gear actuator (p/n 95-810017-23) and motor assembly was removed and replaced with an overhauled unit. While rigging and when gear was extended, the actuator and motor made a slow, deep, grinding noise. Upon inspection, a washer (p/n 105090cr032-4e) was missing. Further investigation revealed the washer was misplaced between the gear actuator housing and spur and pinion gear. The maintenance manual narrative omits installing the washer, though the illustrated parts catalog depicts the washers installation correctly.

While driving back the other day after a particularly challenging horse jump lesson, I realized there are many similarities between horseback riding and flying. It reminded me that – as with any sport – I need to walk before I run. There is a progression of skill, and nothing but experience can advance me to […]