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  • Tail rotor failure in the Grand Canyon

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  • Which controls which? Throttle/elevator and airspeed/altitude

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I Can’t Believe I Did That

Learn from the mistakes of others

I Was There

Pilot stories from around the world

Technique

Improve your flying skills

History

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NEW ARTICLES

OUR MOST RECENT POSTS

Air Facts was first published in 1938 by Leighton Collins, dedicated to “the development of private air transportation.” It’s a different world now, and it’s a different Air Facts. Relaunched in 2011 as an online journal, Air Facts still champions, educates, informs and entertains pilots worldwide with real-world flying experiences. More…

My near fuel emergency

I Can't Believe I Did That
The extra RPMs to compensate for the half-opened carb heat, a probably too conservative mixture, and of course stronger than forecasted winds aloft resulted in a much higher fuel burn than expected. Surprisingly, the FBO pumped 34.5 gallons into our Skyhawk! That calculates to only 3.5 gallons remaining.
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5 Comments
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February 20, 2023
https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/07135023/KDEDRwy5.jpg 998 1413 Enderson Rafael https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg Enderson Rafael2023-02-20 09:00:302023-02-07 13:56:25My near fuel emergency
Cirrus in flight

Older and Rusty-er

I was there
There I was turning from base to final, oh my. Is that me getting scared?  Last time I did this I thought I was “Joe Pilot”, what’s happened? The runway looks really small. I don't know how we are going to fit this Cessna 172 on…
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8 Comments
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February 17, 2023
https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20153437/Cirrus-SR22.jpg 1200 1800 Stephen Lane https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg Stephen Lane2023-02-17 09:00:302023-02-06 11:08:07Older and Rusty-er

Mismanaging hands can lead to disaster

I was there
From taxi to takeoff, to the aerobatics, stall and upset situation recoveries, the flight was outstanding.  This young man was acing his checkride including the return to Vance AFB for the patterns and landings, but that’s where the "wheels came off."
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19 Comments
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February 15, 2023
https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/02134507/AdobeStock_504278885_Editorial_Use_Only-1-scaled.jpeg 1707 2560 Dale Hill https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg Dale Hill2023-02-15 09:00:222023-02-15 09:14:53Mismanaging hands can lead to disaster
Mooney

Descending onto a twin – surviving a near miss

I was there
The tower cleared me to land when I was on short final and just then my observant friend yelled, “we’re descending onto a twin!” The twin was below me and slightly to the right so I never saw it. I made an immediate left turn, hit full power, and retracted the flaps.
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15 Comments
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February 13, 2023
https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/06173628/mooney-in-flight.jpg 1068 1600 Paul Ray https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg Paul Ray2023-02-13 09:00:532023-02-13 09:10:36Descending onto a twin – surviving a near miss

Friday photo: 5,500′ over the mountains north of Asheville

Friday Photo
5,500’ over the North Carolina mountains north of Asheville, NC. It was a glassy smooth evening with the leaves changing colors. Gorgeous!
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2 Comments
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February 10, 2023
https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/30124618/grunman-asheville-mountains-adam-riehl-scaled.jpg 1920 2560 Adam Riehl https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg Adam Riehl2023-02-10 09:00:122023-02-10 09:13:16Friday photo: 5,500′ over the mountains north of Asheville

Working down the bucket list: float plane rating—check!

My Adventure
Float plane water operations require more planning and forethought than land operation on wheels.  Before untying the lines, you have to consider where the wind and the current will move you – into obstacles like another aircraft at the dock or the shore. Once in the air, things are pretty much normal for an under powered airplane.
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8 Comments
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February 8, 2023
https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/30120601/float-plane2-scaled.jpg 1349 2560 Curtis Penner https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg Curtis Penner2023-02-08 09:00:582023-02-13 10:15:29Working down the bucket list: float plane rating—check!
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John’s Blog

Garmin GFC 500 autopilot

Autopilots are underrated

John's blog
It’s time to add the much-maligned autopilot to this list of life-saving technologies—and retire some old myths in the process. The latest generation of digital autopilots are nothing like the “mechanical brain” of 1947 or even the analog systems of the 1970s and 80s. They are the first models to truly live up to the grand title they are often given: “automatic flight control system.” 
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7 Comments
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March 13, 2023
https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/27153514/8d2d352177553035380c8d89065116aa_XL.jpg 857 900 John Zimmerman https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg John Zimmerman2023-03-13 09:00:242023-02-28 18:19:01Autopilots are underrated
Pilot in Cessna 182

The joy of IFR

John's blog
Really flying IFR (not just earning the rating) is probably the most challenging activity you can do these days, unless you’re a heart surgeon or a Navy SEAL. Flying blind in the clouds, managing dynamic weather, and keeping up with air traffic control is like a mental treadmill that’s permanently set on 10—there is no stopping to take a break, and losing focus can lead to real pain. But that's exactly why it's so fun.
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18 Comments
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February 1, 2023
https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/26085139/Pilot-flying-six-pack-with-iPad.jpg 1098 1500 John Zimmerman https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg John Zimmerman2023-02-01 08:53:182023-02-05 10:56:07The joy of IFR

Top 10 articles of 2022 on Air Facts

John's blog
It was another busy year at Air Facts: we published 156 articles in 2022, written by more than 100 different writers. Many of these writers were first time contributors at Air Facts, just pilots with a story to tell or a lesson to share. Hopefully you're enjoying a moment to relax this holiday season. While you're doing that, enjoy the 10 most popular articles of 2022 below.
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1 Comment
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December 28, 2022
https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/06164935/41854723_m.jpg 565 848 John Zimmerman https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg John Zimmerman2022-12-28 08:01:432022-12-20 14:16:18Top 10 articles of 2022 on Air Facts
View John’s Blog

I Can’t Believe I Did That

Airplane out side window

First solo out of the pattern: an unexpected adventure in risk management

I Can't Believe I Did That
All of a sudden, I hear “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY!” along with a report that a small biplane had a propeller failure during the takeoff roll.  After a minute or so of radio silence, the UNICOM monitor announces that the the runway - the ONLY runway - at my home airport is closed until further notice.  Gulp.
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15 Comments
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March 1, 2023
https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/06162202/Traffic-from-side-window.jpg 815 1223 Troy Kelley https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg Troy Kelley2023-03-01 09:00:502023-02-16 17:57:53First solo out of the pattern: an unexpected adventure in risk management

My near fuel emergency

I Can't Believe I Did That
The extra RPMs to compensate for the half-opened carb heat, a probably too conservative mixture, and of course stronger than forecasted winds aloft resulted in a much higher fuel burn than expected. Surprisingly, the FBO pumped 34.5 gallons into our Skyhawk! That calculates to only 3.5 gallons remaining.
Read more
5 Comments
/
February 20, 2023
https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/07135023/KDEDRwy5.jpg 998 1413 Enderson Rafael https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg Enderson Rafael2023-02-20 09:00:302023-02-07 13:56:25My near fuel emergency
Super Cub

A simple oversight almost ruins a bucket list trip

I Can't Believe I Did That
From Andover I flew the first leg to Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, the Cub’s birthplace. We topped off and I climbed up to check the tanks, which was probably my first mistake. Lyle took the front seat and I squeezed all 6‘ 1” of me into the back. Lyle cranked the starter and we heard a bang like something hitting the plane. We ignored it. Second mistake.
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20 Comments
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September 26, 2022
https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/19170024/Super-Cub-in-grass.jpg 1125 1500 William Reyer https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg William Reyer2022-09-26 08:41:452022-09-19 17:01:41A simple oversight almost ruins a bucket list trip
View ICBIDT

Opinion

Super Cub landing

Which controls which? Throttle/elevator and airspeed/altitude

Opinion
There’s an old story about an insane asylum in which nobody ever thought up any new jokes, so all the old jokes were given numbers. This meant that telling a joke only required giving its number. In that same spirit, here is a list of arguments as to whether pitch or power controls airspeed or altitude. Now pilots can discuss the issue more succinctly by tossing numbers around.
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19 Comments
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March 8, 2023
https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/06140804/Bush-pilot-landing.jpg 841 1500 Ed Wischmeyer https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg Ed Wischmeyer2023-03-08 08:55:552023-02-27 10:03:29Which controls which? Throttle/elevator and airspeed/altitude
J-3 Cub on floats

No good reason to fly, but this is why I do

Opinion
Flying is expensive, but then again, it has always been expensive. Perhaps you too have had enough of the touch-and-goes, and the "$100 dollar hamburger" flights to your favorite non-towered field. The thought of cruising the beach once again does not exactly motivate you to race to the airport. But I do it because it’s fun!
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6 Comments
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March 3, 2023
https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/06175846/Cub-on-floats.jpg 600 800 Skip Stagg https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg Skip Stagg2023-03-03 09:00:412023-02-16 17:53:44No good reason to fly, but this is why I do
Cherokee 140

Reflections and predictions

Opinion
That new Cherokee 140 that came out of the factory with a sticker price of $12,000 is now going for 5 times that, even though it’s 55 years old.  It’s not hard to spend as much upgrading a panel as you spent for the whole airplane.
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5 Comments
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January 20, 2023
https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/06172110/Cherokee_140_Landing.jpg 480 720 Jay Wischkaemper https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg Jay Wischkaemper2023-01-20 09:00:582023-01-27 17:26:42Reflections and predictions
View Opinion

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  • From the archives: What it takes to fly the President
  • Autopilots are underrated
  • Friday photo: Generations of air travel

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