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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 Deadly Gap Between Vmc and Blue Line

Before the next multi-engine takeoff, brief more than the speeds. Brief the gaps between them. Understanding how much margin exists above Vmc at liftoff and how far remains to blue line may provide a clearer picture of what your airplane is likely to demand from you during the most vulnerable moments of the flight.

My Private Pilot Checkride: My Life Is a Movie

Most pilots show up for a private pilot check ride with a few dozen hours in a trainer. Corkey Fornoff arrived with time in a T-6, a T-33, and stories that left his examiner wondering whether he was hearing the truth—or the tallest tale in aviation.

An Icy Approach into Flagstaff

On a December flight into Flagstaff, a Cessna 421 encounters unexpected icing, rapidly changing weather, and a critical decision at minimums. With the airplane deteriorating in performance on final approach, the crew is forced to weigh training, regulations, and survival in real time. Decades later, the lesson from that icy approach still shapes how the author flies today.

martha's vineyard

Friday Photo: Martha’s Vineyard

Approaching Martha’s Vineyard, nearly 17 miles of the island's southern shoreline perfectly traced the wing's leading edge. The famous all-grass Katama Airfield 1B2 in frame, along with Edgartown to its north, home of many famous scenes for the movie Jaws. A quiet, peaceful moment that reinvigorates your senses, reminding one of the beauty and privilege of flight.

Talking to Yourself

A veteran CFI, Tom Slavonik, reflects on the power of self-talk in aviation training—and why speaking your thoughts aloud is a critical skill for student pilots, instructors, and experienced aviators alike.

A Lesson on Being the Pilot In Command

Joel Turpin, a former airline captain, recounts a simulator emergency that reinforces a critical truth about being Pilot in Command: in an emergency, the PIC has both the authority and responsibility to act decisively, even when it means deviating from standard procedures.

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

New Captain, Dark Runway

I Can't Believe I Did That

It was almost midnight and raining heavily. My first officer and I followed the checklist and thought we had it completed. We were in ground contact and could see some lights on the ground, but NO RUNWAY IN SIGHT as we approached minimums. We were about to initiate a missed approach!

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.

Opinion

The Deadly Gap Between Vmc and Blue Line

Before the next multi-engine takeoff, brief more than the speeds. Brief the gaps between them. Understanding how much margin exists above Vmc at liftoff and how far remains to blue line may provide a clearer picture of what your airplane is likely to demand from you during the most vulnerable moments of the flight.

Talking to Yourself

A veteran CFI, Tom Slavonik, reflects on the power of self-talk in aviation training—and why speaking your thoughts aloud is a critical skill for student pilots, instructors, and experienced aviators alike.

A Lesson on Being the Pilot In Command

Joel Turpin, a former airline captain, recounts a simulator emergency that reinforces a critical truth about being Pilot in Command: in an emergency, the PIC has both the authority and responsibility to act decisively, even when it means deviating from standard procedures.

More Articles

I Can’t Believe I Did That

Learn from the mistakes of others

Technique

Improve your flying skills

Go Or No Go

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Young Pilots

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Friday Photo

Unforgettable cockpit views

I Was There

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