Small Aircraft

A pilot uses a plotter, a specialized ruler, to plan VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flights with a sectional chart. He begins the planning phase of a flight by drawing his intended course on this...

The Red Bull Air Race is one of the most famous air obstacle races in the world. As such, many pilots aim to participate in one of the races, in order to be crowned a world champion. However, the...

The Grand Canyon remains one of the most popular national parks in the United States, with as many as 5 million visitors yearly. One of the most exciting methods for viewing the South Rim, the...

While there are many different types of aircraft, most planes share some of the same basic parts. Over one hundred years of aviation advancements, the modern plane is the beneficiary of numerous...

Learning to fly can be a rewarding experience, whether the student is training to become a recreational pilot or wants to fly for an airline. Students who want to take flying lessons must pass at...

You went for that free 15 minute demo flight and took the bait! You have just finished your first "real" full hour flying lesson and now you are hooked! You are on your way to becoming a...

For the passenger, the landing gear of an airplane is almost an afterthought. You are on the plane to fly from here to there. But to the pilot, the landing gear is an essential piece of equipment...

The Mooney aircraft company was started by Al Mooney in 1929. Al Mooney was doodling with airplane designs since he was in grade school. By the time he was in high school, Mooney was reading...

Charter flights have redefined private citizen use of airplanes, airfields and airports. Charter flights are used by A-league sports stars, business executives, entertainment industry...

This article discusses how to log time for instrument pilots flying in the United States.

This articles discusses how to log flight time for Private and Commercial Pilots in the United States.

This is a guide for student pilots in the United States on how to log their pilot time.

This article provides some tips on managing your radios when flying a general aviation aircraft.

Mackinac Island is nestled between the upper and lower peninsula's of Michigan and is just east of the Mackinac Straights Suspension Bridge. If you have never visited this beautiful island, it's...

Small private jets have become increasingly popular as the relative expense of purchasing one has dropped, and the option of owning a share of such a plane ("fractional jets") has come into its...

Airplane insurance has been around since the early 20th century, when Lloyd's of London wrote a policy in 1911. If you are a plane owner today, aviation insurance is mandatory and will protect...

If you are a pilot who is thinking about getting your commercial rating, follow these tips and recommendations to achieve this great rating. Having your commercial rating makes you a more...

A homemade glider is small and simple to make. It is a small aircraft without a motor. The homemade glider trades altitude for velocity. It switches from higher to lower altitudes making its...

If you've always dreamed of flying your own plane, soaring above the clouds, private pilot lessons may be an option for you. Getting your pilots license is more than simply showing up for a few...

Buying your first airplane is extremely exciting. First time airplane buyers often choose to purchase a used plane. Because planes are held to strict standards in regards to maintenance and...

While they took longer to develop, helicopters are now as ubiquitous as fixed-wing aircraft. Although they now share the vertical take-off and landing role with VTOL jets (the Harrier) and...

Before becoming a pilot, the first obstacle is obtaining a private pilot's license, or PPL. The steppingstone to a career as a commercial pilot for the big airlines or as commander of a corporate...

To truly appreciate the vast natural beauty of St. Lucia, take a helicopter sightseeing tour. This is a fun and interesting way to get a close up glimpse of the tops of majestic mountains,...

If you are in the market for a civil or heavy-lift helicopter you essentially will need two things: research time and money. With the wide array of helicopter listings on the Web, you can do most...

Whether you’re sightseeing in a new city or touching down on the bull’s eye target of a corporate roof, travel by helicopter is a unique and speedy mode of transportation. While most...

The dart plane is a classic paper airplane design. It is stable, quick and easy to build. Thrown from a good height, it can go quite a distance before reaching the ground. It also does well with...

Private aviation has become a huge hobby for many. The thrill of flying your own plane and going to small airports to explore is an incredibly fun experience. With a private pilo'ts license,...

Since the 80's when Marty McFly used a hoverboard to foil his nemesis, Biff, people have been searching for a way to make flight like this possible. By following these simple instructions, you'll...

Plastic model plane kits can produce very realistic scale models of aircraft, but it takes a lot of patience. Waiting long enough for glue and paint to dry is an essential practice and one that is...

Public air travel can be a hassle for many travelers, so the idea of chartering a private plane has become more attractive. Long security lines, cancellations and delays are just a few of the...

To navigate an aircraft that is flying in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) or general good weather, you must become familiar with the equipment that is in your aircraft. You will also need...

Flight training can be very demanding physically, mentally, and emotionally. Once the decision is made to begin flight training, one must do so with a great will of determination and self...

Flying is fun and can be very rewarding. In order to safely learn to fly an airplane, you must find an FAA certified instructor pilot and have access to aircraft rental or own your own airplane....

Takeoffs and landings are the among the most difficult aspects of flying an airplane. These are also the times when the aircraft is the most vulnerable to something going wrong, and this adds to...

Executing a go-around in a Cessna 172 is one of the fundamental lessons taught in any flight school. Sometimes the tower instructs you to do a go-around until the runway clears. If you overshoot...

Airplanes attract dust, oil, exhaust stains and large numbers of bugs. These can accumulate and affect an airplane's flight performance. You can enhance an airplane's efficiency by washing it with...

So you've completed your pilot's licensing and are looking to purchase your own small aircraft. A Cassa Turboprop aircraft line is small enough for personal use and is handy for landing on those...

Lancair airplanes are not your ordinary airplanes. They are airplanes that the buyer builds himself. There are other options, though, if you like the look, feel, and quickness of these little...

Going through the hassle of an airport leaves many travelers in very bad moods. Long lines, security issues, people drinking and the staff sometimes being rude make flying on commercial airlines...

Many feel flying is the only way to travel but what if you could see the sights on your vacation by helicopter? Some of the most exotic natural wonders of the world can only be seen while hovering...

Hopefully you will one day be given the opportunity to go flying in a small general aviation airplane like a Cessna or Piper. The experience will be very memorable. After the initial thrill of...

A good pilot should be a weather expert. It is important for a pilot to get timely, up to date weather briefings while air borne. Then he can compare actual conditions with those forecasted and...

If you do any cross country flying, you will eventually encounter unexpected bad weather. Are you mentally ready for the change that this will possibly cause to your schedule? It's imperative that...

There is nothing quite like piloting a small airplane. Up there all alone in the wild blues. However, you are never really alone. There are people on the ground watching out for you. Air traffic...

Before you fly you must do the visual inspection required before all flights to ensure that the airplane is safe for flying. There's actually more to it than meets the eye. Some pilots have gotten...

Before venturing into the wild blue yonder, pilots need weather briefings to determine if the flying conditions are safe. There are several methods for attaining the current weather and the...

If you're an Instrument Rated pilot, you use jargon like ILS approach, clearance void time, procedure turn, SID's and STAR's. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) ratings aren't irrevocable. This...

The indicated airspeed a pilot chooses to use on final approach to land is called the approach speed, also known as Vref. Ideally, this speed is established several miles out, and then maintained...

It is so easy to fly these days. GPS has taken all the hard work out of navigation. Before the use of GPS receivers that have moving maps, and show the actual ground track, a pilot was required to...

Any pilot can fly forwards, but under the right circumstances, you can fly your airplane backwards, or so it seems. Actually you are still flying forward, but the wind mass is pushing you so hard...