Pilot Proficiency

In remembrance of the 50th anniversary of John Glenn’s first American space orbit on Feb. 20, NASA produced the documentary “Friendship 7 50th Anniversary.” Actual footage and audio recordings of Glenn inside the capsule of Friendship 7 during the historic 1962 flight are blended with narrations by space shuttle astronaut Steven Lindsey, astronaut Scott Carpenter, […]

Approaching an unfamiliar airport VFR can present a challenge even in CAVU conditions, particularly if you don’t have a glass panel in your cockpit. But your heading indicator can help you quickly visualize the orientation of the runway, which makes it easier to find the airport and figure out the best way to enter the […]

A Pipistrel Virus SW 914 Turbo piloted by Matevž Lenarčič has completed the 2,000-nm flight from Concepcion, Chile, to Easter Island – the longest leg of Lenarčič’s GreenLight WorldFlight – a journey that crisscrosses around the world to showcase the Virus’ performance capabilities and bring awareness to environmental issues. And the challenging over-water flight from […]

(March 2012) When I opened my eyes, an immediate instrument scan of the Remos GX‘s Dynon PFD revealed that we were in a steep climb and right bank, losing airspeed. As I made the scan, I simultaneously took the controls and initiated recovery from the unusual attitude in which my instructor, First Landings Aviation‘s Chris […]

(March 2012) One of the things nearest and dearest to a pilot’s heart is the freedom to move about, to explore, to discover and to see new places with fresh eyes. This element of discovery is a central part of what flying is to me and why I love it so. It’s been that way […]

Last week Flying photographed Aurora, or at least what looks to be strong evidence of Aurora, the much rumored, never-acknowledged U.S. military spyplane. I snapped the pic not because I thought I was catching a peek at Aurora but because I thought the contrail was evidence of some strange meteorological phenomenon. The contrail was odd […]

In our FBO Spotlight series, we’re highlighting FBOs around the country that have received rave reviews from our readers. This latest Spotlight is brought to you by Phil Scheel, who recently stopped by Vail Valley Jet Center in a Pilatus PC-12. Here’s what he has to say about the experience. Vail Valley Jet Center (KEGE) […]

I learned to fly at Santa Monica Airport (KSMO), which has one runway, 3-21. So, as a budding pilot, any time I would go to an airport with multiple runways such as Van Nuys (KVNY), which has two parallel runways or Long Beach (KLGB), which has five intersecting runways, there were some extra thinking and […]

It was cold at altitude: minus 39 degrees C. It was cold when we landed too: 9 degrees F. As I shut the Cheyenne down, I cautioned my wife, Cathy, to stay in the airplane until I could get the car and come get her and the dog, Corbett. She needed no persuading. Just then […]

“Don’t put the gear down just yet,” said the instructor, who also happened to be the owner of the flight school where I was getting my commercial multi training. I was in the midst of performing the requisite 10 night takeoffs and landings in a Piper Seneca and this was my third or maybe fourth […]