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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…

The Six Pack instruments

50 years ago in Air Facts

The following article first appeared in the October, 1961 issue of Air Facts. The wisdom found in Bob’s advice is still sound 50 years later. And, yes, we really did do “canyon approaches” back in the good old days.- Ed.

Hal Shevers

Too bad you’ll never be a pilot

I heard that many, many times as a young man. You see, I was born with 20/400 vision in my right eye. Today we call that a lazy eye condition. It could have been corrected before the age of five if only they had known. In school when I took a vocational aptitude test, pilot came out on top. Surprisingly enough, minister and funeral director came out on the bottom. I wonder how many pilots would like to make their avocation the church or a funeral parlor? So, I was doomed to a life behind a desk, or so I thought.

N40RC

<img width="495" height="293" alt="N40RC" data-srcset="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg 600w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-300x178.jpg 300w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-330x195.jpg 330w" data-src="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" class="wp-image-445 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-445 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="495" height="293" alt="N40RC" data-srcset="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg 600w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-300x178.jpg 300w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-330x195.jpg 330w" data-src="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" class="wp-image-445 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-445 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="495" height="293" src="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg" class="wp-image-445 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-445 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image" alt="N40RC" srcset="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg 600w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-300x178.jpg 300w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-330x195.jpg 330w" sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" />

Range: it’s not all about miles…

Most people talk about the range of airplanes in terms of nautical miles. There are formulas that are used to project the IFR range of turbine airplanes. Some consider wind probabilities and all include a trip to an alternate that is a specified…

N40RC

<img width="495" height="293" alt="N40RC" data-srcset="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg 600w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-300x178.jpg 300w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-330x195.jpg 330w" data-src="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" class="wp-image-445 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-445 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="495" height="293" alt="N40RC" data-srcset="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg 600w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-300x178.jpg 300w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-330x195.jpg 330w" data-src="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" class="wp-image-445 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-445 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="495" height="293" src="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg" class="wp-image-445 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-445 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image" alt="N40RC" srcset="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg 600w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-300x178.jpg 300w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-330x195.jpg 330w" sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" />

Speaking our language

Look, I rarely fly during the wintertime. VFR, warm blooded, no way to get to Lincoln Airport except on the motorcycle, that’s me. Instead, I—nerd alert—build model airplanes and—double-nerd alert—read and reread The Papers of Wilbur and Orville Wright (Volumes One and Two). Don’t hate me—I led a wasted childhood.

N40RC

<img width="495" height="293" alt="N40RC" data-srcset="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg 600w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-300x178.jpg 300w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-330x195.jpg 330w" data-src="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" class="wp-image-445 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-445 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="495" height="293" alt="N40RC" data-srcset="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg 600w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-300x178.jpg 300w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-330x195.jpg 330w" data-src="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" class="wp-image-445 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-445 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="495" height="293" src="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg" class="wp-image-445 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-445 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image" alt="N40RC" srcset="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg 600w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-300x178.jpg 300w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-330x195.jpg 330w" sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" />

Opinion: Coping with the Winds of Change

Consider, for a moment, some of the drivers that enabled our nation to develop as a world power. From the time the pilgrims arrived at Plymouth to the present, the single most important driver was the human element, the spirit that has ignited every major achievement in our history. Most everyone would agree that America is unique in this regard.

N40RC

<img width="495" height="293" alt="N40RC" data-srcset="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg 600w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-300x178.jpg 300w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-330x195.jpg 330w" data-src="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" class="wp-image-445 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-445 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="495" height="293" alt="N40RC" data-srcset="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg 600w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-300x178.jpg 300w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-330x195.jpg 330w" data-src="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" class="wp-image-445 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-445 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="495" height="293" src="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg" class="wp-image-445 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-445 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image" alt="N40RC" srcset="https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101.jpg 600w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-300x178.jpg 300w, https://airfactsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P2101-330x195.jpg 330w" sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" />

Feature: Personal Air Transportation in the Good Old Days

Note to the reader: This is the first chapter of a book that I started but will probably never finish. It was to be about the history of general aviation as seen through the eyes of two Collins boys, Richard and Leighton. Richard wasn’t born in the time covered by this first chapter but I have my father’s logs and papers to use in covering this slice of the good old days.

John’s Blog

RHP

It’s time to reform Obstacle Departure Procedures

What’s the most overlooked and misunderstood part of IFR flying? I nominate the obstacle departure procedure (ODP). While almost any instrument pilot can recite trivia like holding pattern entries or VOR test requirements—important but relatively rare procedures—many are quite shaky on ODPs. That’s a shame, because ignorance of this procedure can be fatal.

General aviation trends in charts—2021 update

Four years ago, I tried to capture the state of general aviation in 12 charts, covering everything from new airplane shipments to fatal accident rates. An industry as varied as general aviation cannot be summed up in a few charts, but sometimes graphics tell the story better than thousands of words. Many things have changed since 2017—some for the better—so I thought it was time for an update.

Light rain

The right pilot mindset: realistic, not conservative

You’ve heard the cliche: flying isn’t dangerous, it’s just unforgiving. The unforgiving nature of aviation has serious consequences, which we should remember every time we sit in the left seat. The stakes are simply higher than in almost any other part of life, so our day-to-day risk management tools are not enough.

View John’s Blog

I Can’t Believe I Did That

W&B form

Flying loaded: what could possibly go wrong?

I Can't Believe I Did That

I knew we were very heavy and would need much more runway than usual to take off, but was really surprised when the nose lifted off before we were even at 40 knots. We were gaining speed slowly, but it needed a lot more nose down trim, and finally at around 110 knots airspeed we lifted off the runway, at the exact moment I ran out of forward trim.

Blimp

Close call with a blimp

I Can't Believe I Did That

Like all pilots, I don't like to talk about the stupid things I did in the early days of my flying career. I have filed this one (along with a few others) in the file that says "never again." A big lesson was learned that night, and I made myself a promise to never again make low passes in an aircraft.

Cockpit view

Get-home-itis: be on the lookout

I Can't Believe I Did That

During a recent long day of flying I had a chance to experience aviation’s version of completion bias—the drive to complete a flight—also known as get-home-itis. I learned a great deal from it and want to share the experience. First the set up and then we’ll unpack what I did right and wrong.

Opinion

172 landing

The (unofficial) rules of flying

The following are a collection of rules or sayings I have collected, borrowed, and forgot to return later—filing off the serial numbers or just stolen over the years. They come from different times, from a variety of situations, and from pilots I have known and flown with. Some of the rules you may already know.

The art of staying at home—a letter from a monk to pilots

Flying at 500 feet off the shore or ruttering S-turns over the river is one of the most meditative things I’ve ever done. Thoreau, who as Pico Iyer reminds us was “one of the greatest explorers of this time,” wrote in his journal, “It matters not where or how far you travel—the farther commonly the worse—but how much alive you are.” Flying the Cub with the doors and windows open is the most alive I’ve ever felt.

Aeronca 7AC

The rising cost of membership in club general aviation

Recently I’ve read a few aviation blogs that suggest hangars are in short supply. Based on my observations over the past several years, I would tend to agree with that statement. What is interesting to me however, is the fact that at several of the general aviation airports I’ve visited, many hangars are filled with “hangar queens.”

More Articles

I Can’t Believe I Did That

Learn from the mistakes of others

Technique

Improve your flying skills

Go Or No Go

Test your weather decision-making

Young Pilots

The next generation writes

Friday Photo

Unforgettable cockpit views

I Was There

Sharing pilot stories