Pilot Proficiency

When the weather’s truly awful the decision to stay on the ground rather than fly is easy. But you’ve budgeted this time for flying anyway so why not get some use out of it? You might instead decide to “chair fly,” where you sit down and mentally go through various checklist items. If you have […]

The Reno Air Racing Association’s Pylon Racing Seminar took place last week with some surprising announcements. Matt Jackson, vice president of the Unlimited Division, announced that the Unlimited Division board of directors decided to pull out of the race “due to the inability of the Unlimited Class to reach a satisfactory resolution with the FAA […]

The most talked-about airplane rental concept to come along in recent memory is officially open for business with the launch of OpenAirplane, a network of FBOs and flight schools that lets pilots receive one annual checkout and then rent airplanes at locations across the country. Because the service is so new, OpenAirplane is limited to […]

History is written by the victors, they say. They also say that the saddest words of tongue or pen are “It might have been!” And so, in view of the manifest sadness of history, let us pause to pay heed to what was not, and to give some honor to the vanquished. Our national love […]

If you think riding a bicycle is too much physical work, a group of Czech inventors may have a solution. The group recently test flew what is currently a remote-controlled all-electric flying bike inside an exhibit hall in Prague. At this stage, the bike is strictly a proof-of-concept and “the fulfillment of our boyish dream,” […]

It’s a debate that could ignite a feud between the North and South. This week Connecticut legislators passed a bill that includes a paragraph buried within its text stating that Gustave Whitehead and not the Wright Brothers should be recognized as the first to fly — at least north of the Tappan Zee Bridge. North […]

It looks like a routine ILS approach as the crew of a Boeing Business Jet descends through 500 feet toward the runway on a gray, rainy day. On reaching minimums at around 200 feet, the airplane is on glidepath and a landing appears certain as the rabbit lights and runway are clearly visible straight ahead. […]

Every hour and every dollar I ever spent learning to fly this or that aircraft was worth this one flight. Israel is a beautiful country, every bit of it, even the dry parts. The people here are as friendly and engaging as Texans and the weather is as good as Southern California. I’m flying north […]

Generally, Flying doesn’t post video footage of crashes, but when a dad tries to show his sons just how to make this foam airplane fly, he experiences the very real consequences of unintended aerobatics. The results are priceless. And fortunately, no one was harmed in the process. Enjoy.

Every VFR pilot who has flown long enough to have gotten himself into and out of a few tight situations knows how insidious the onset of trouble is. He knows, too, that your state of mind when you are in the airplane, especially as you near your destination and the weather starts to go bad […]