Features

Heavier-than-air Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) flight has been around since not long after the Wrights began wowing the world with airplanes. The first (horribly unstable) quadcopters flew in 1907-however, the desire for a device to lift humans straight up into the sky and whisk them elsewhere is probably as old as conscious thought […]

This weekend offers a variety of late-autumn excursions on SocialFlight. For those looking to take in traditional pancake fare, EAA Chapter 237’s breakfast promises plenty of food for a reasonable price. The chapter’s famous pancake breakfast takes place on Saturday at the Anoka County-Blaine Airport in the Minneapolis area. Included in the breakfast are scrambled […]

Overheard this exchange in Houston Center the week before Halloween 2014: Aircraft N1Q:“Houston, N1Q. 390. Good evening.” Houston Center:“Good evening, N1Q. That sure is a long N-number you got there.” Aircraft N1Q:“Yes. And it’s hard to remember, too.” Doug Fields

At the risk of getting the metaphorical “hook” for expressing the thought, we are about to engage in herding CATs. Most instrument pilots are lucky and only have to deal with one category of ILS approach during their lives. The Category I, or “CAT I”is usually the only kind of instrument landing system approach minima […]

In Brainteaser Quiz #200, we asked readers to forecast where aviation will be when Quiz #400 appears. Doing the math, with a new quiz every month, it works out to roughly a bunch of years from now, but well before Downtown Abbey wraps. A few suggested topics included: Will the FAA finally reform its arcane, […]

Buying or selling a used general aviation airplane is not fun. A root canal is probably more pleasant. Pilot training does not include education on airplane selection and evaluation, there are no regs on sales standards and no consumer watchdog agency to go after unscrupulous sellers. Sellers often spend hours answering telephone calls from tire […]

Fall is a wonderful time of year to get out and explore the country in your airplane, and this weekend offers some great places to go, courtesy of SocialFlight‘s free online website and app. The 20th annual fly-in in Bennettsville, South Carolina, combines two of our favorite fly-in features — barbecue, and the chance to […]

Heard on Columbus Approach Control on Sunday, October 19. This approach controller maintained standard phraseology – twice – then decided to just try plain English, which worked perfectly! Approach:“N1234, Say on-course heading.” Pilot:“N1234. Stay on course heading.” Approach:“N1234, SAY on-course heading.” Pilot:“N1234. Stay on course heading.” Approach:“N1234, what is your current heading?” Pilot:“N1234. Heading: 050.” […]

When looking at the Piper Lance/Saratoga, it’s important to remember that all airplanes are compromises. Since most of us lack an unlimited budget, we’re often forced to choose between going fast in a relatively small cockpit or dragging around a larger cabin more slowly. It’s simple, really: The “go-fast” airplane will get us to our […]

As the fall colors peak nationwide and Halloween approaches, the fly-ins continue at full throttle. Our weekly review of SocialFlight revealed a pumpkin drop at an airport birthday bash, two chili cook-offs and a classic fly-in breakfast. To celebrate its 70th birthday, there will be a full-scale fly-in at the North Omaha, Nebraska Airport Sunday […]