Over 40 percent of GA fatal accidents occurred because pilots lost control of their airplanes, and a spiral dive is sometimes part of the final moments. How do we accurately train for such a hazardous situation? Read more →
Tag: Aerobatics
Step One
Everyone knows the first step of recovering from addiction is admitting you have a problem. We in the aviation world have a dangerous addiction of our own: the crutch of technology. Read more →
The Unintentional Aerobat
Do you think it’s possible to fly aerobatics without awareness of it? Not only is it possible — it’s quite common. I’ve seen it done in every kind of airplane, from little Cubs to large-cabin Gulfstreams. Read more →
Teaching a Homeless Man to Fly
A fellow pilot recently wrote about teaching a homeless man to fly. His post reminded me that I once did the same thing, and in the process learned a valuable lesson about how we can be our own worst enemy when it comes to achieving long-held goals. Read more →
Upset Recovery Training: Not Just a Fad
Upset recovery training is a big industry buzzword. Is it really a worthwhile investment of a pilot’s time and money, or is this just the latest safety fad? And what’s the difference between “upset recovery” and “aerobatics” anyway? Read more →
Breaking the Rules: Teaching Snap Rolls
Efficient aerobatic instruction is challenging enough when you’re doing a loop, hammerhead, or Cuban. Those figures last ten or fifteen seconds. A snap roll is over in about one second, and what’s happening is far more involved. So how does one teach the ‘snap’ when this complex maneuver is over almost before it starts? The method I’ve settled upon involves using techniques I normally avoid like the plague. Read more →
A True Story: Landing at the Wrong Airport
The news outlets have been buzzing about a recent spate of wrong-airport landings. Since those have been well-covered by the media, let me tell you about a very memorable wrong-airport landing I personally witnessed at a most unlikely location. Read more →
Mandated Spin Training
The stick-and-rudder skill deficiencies in today’s pilots didn’t start today. It began years ago when they were learning how to fly. Fixing it will require a journey into the past. It’s time to get back to basics, and you won’t cover all the bases unless spin training is a central part of the mix. Read more →
Reinaldo Beyer Aerobatic Scholarship
Sunrise Aviation recently announced an annual aerobatic scholarship in memory of Reinaldo Beyer, an outstanding aerobatic pilot, judge, and physician. I think this might be of interest given that my previous post on aviation scholarships has proven to be one of the most popular on the site. I went through a Sunrise aerobatic program after I received my private pilot certificate in 1998, and of all the flying I’ve logged in the ensuing fifteen years, nothing has done more to increase my skill level, safety, and confidence in the air. Read more →
Team Aerodynamix
Physical ability is less important that good judgment when it comes to flying… but there’s no denying the impressive skill of groups like Team Aerodynamix. Take a look at this video and I think you’ll be hard pressed to disagree. Read more →