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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…

What Hal Shevers Taught Me About Aviation—and People

By now, many pilots likely have read the official announcement regarding the passing of Sporty’s founder Hal Shevers—a fitting summary of a remarkable aviation career that spanned more than six decades. But like many larger-than-life figures in aviation, Hal’s public accomplishments tell only part of the story.

Remembering Staff Sergeant Jacob McMillan

From childhood adventures in Cajun country to one unforgettable flight, this tribute reflects on friendship, sacrifice, and the enduring power of shared memories.

Friday Photo: Antique Aircraft

Air to air photo taken over La Jolla, California from a 1947 Luscombe 8A, flown by Stewart Macpherson of a 1946 Aeronca Champ (Wes Ramos) and a J-3 Piper Cub (Vicki Schwebach) participating in the San Diego Chapter of the Antique Airplane Association's La Jolla Christmas Parade.

No Downside to Declaring an Emergency

A routine Thanksgiving flight turns into a partial-panel emergency above a solid overcast, forcing one pilot to make a quick decision: handle it alone or ask for help. His choice—and the unexpected support from ATC—offers a powerful reminder about using every resource available in the cockpit.

The Da Nang Glider

I was there, Veterans' Stories

A routine reconnaissance mission over Vietnam turns into a fight for survival when all four engines fail on an EC-121 Super Constellation—leaving one crew to attempt the unthinkable: fly it as a glider to Da Nang.

A Cold Ending to a Good Checkride

A routine check ride turns into an anything-but-routine workout in a Comanche 250—complete with edge-of-the-envelope flying, memorable call signs, and a closing remark the author never forgot.

John’s Blog

Is your flight school training you for the wrong job?

To be blunt, some schools are training the next generation of pilots to be excellent systems managers in a multi-crew environment, but are failing the pilots who want to use an airplane as a tool for personal travel. A Bonanza isn't a miniature Boeing; it's a cross-country time machine that requires a completely different set of skills, most of which aren’t found in the ACS or an accelerated syllabus.

Use it or lose it: the instrument rating is not an insurance policy

One of the saddest things in aviation is a pilot with an instrument rating who’s afraid to use it. They look at a 1500-foot overcast and realize their $15,000 investment has become nothing more than a souvenir. Maybe they used to fly in the soup all the time and simply fell out of the habit; more likely, they can recite the holding pattern entries from the textbook but have never seen the inside of a cloud. Either way, it’s a waste of money and a missed opportunity.

Go-arounds don’t have to be hard

I was grumpy with my friend because I hate the obsession with instant analysis, and he made me participate in this ugly trend. I was grumpy because this accident hit a little close to home, killing a father who was flying his wife and daughter in a Cirrus SR22 (something I do often). But I was mostly grumpy because go-around accidents happen far too often—and they are eminently preventable. This is one problem we should be able to solve.

View John’s Blog

I Can’t Believe I Did That

I Need a Donut

I Can't Believe I Did That

I strive to keep my inner Homer Simpson quiet, but sometimes he takes over in the cockpit. From tailwinds at KVBT to snow-filled wheel pants in Evansville, here are a few of my “D’oh!” moments—and what they taught me about staying sharp as a pilot.

Collins Writing Prize Second Place: Livin’ the Dream

I Can't Believe I Did That, Young Pilots

This article received second place in the 2026 Richard Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots. Grace Eger, who also placed in the contest in 2023, shares a memorable winter lesson in humility—and a reminder of why flying is still the best job in the world.

Out of Options—Pinned in the Pass

I Can't Believe I Did That

Weather closing in. Terrain rising ahead. No room to turn back. In a narrow New Zealand valley, one pilot learns just how unforgiving a single wrong decision can be — and what it taught him about judgment and humility.

Opinion

What Hal Shevers Taught Me About Aviation—and People

By now, many pilots likely have read the official announcement regarding the passing of Sporty’s founder Hal Shevers—a fitting summary of a remarkable aviation career that spanned more than six decades. But like many larger-than-life figures in aviation, Hal’s public accomplishments tell only part of the story.

Thirty Minutes

You can pack a lot into a 30–45 minute flight. I can do a full stall series, slow flight, and twenty or more aerobatic maneuvers. I’ll also have time to repeat a few maneuvers I wasn’t happy with. Sometimes I’ll add an extra maneuver or two just for fun. Snap roll or tail slide, anyone? The point is that a lot of practice and work toward precision can take place in a relatively short amount of Hobbs time.

Flying for Life

What starts as a quiet morning quickly turns into a mission with real consequences. In this firsthand account, a volunteer pilot answers the call to deliver lifesaving blood across Arizona—proving that general aviation can make a difference when every minute counts.

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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

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