Experience in the Chair: Guiding a Twin Beech Home

The pilot’s navigation capability was falling off with the ice buildup on his antennas, but I was able to receive a strong bearing from his voice transmissions. The centre controller advised the pilot it was time to contact me in the control tower. From then, I was able to begin the process of guiding him to the airport following headings I provided. He was at full power but slow and unsure what would happen if he pulled power back.

Trial by Ice

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The most valuable lesson I learned from the “School of Hard Knocks” had nothing to do with weather or instrument flying. The “trial by ice” was a lesson in the awesome responsibility that comes from occupying the left seat of an airplane, regardless of its size. It also taught me to recognize those rare and unusual emergency situations when going by the book is not safe, and when deviating from standard operating procedures or the Federal Air Regulations is not only warranted, but imperative.
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Friday Photo: Sunset Over Germany

My friend Peter and I were on our way back from Münster/Osnabrück International Airport (EDDG) to our nearby 750-foot grass strip. We were treated to the stunning view of the summer sun hanging low on the horizon, bathing the landscape in warm, golden light.

Cleared Into the Thoma Bravo—ForeFlight Has New Owners

ForeFlight is still considered the EFB standard with a very loyal user base—it’s their market share to lose. However, I also don’t think their future is entirely CAVOK either: In the 25-plus years I’ve been in the software business, I have never met a private equity deal I liked. Mainly because private equity’s primary (only?) focus is maximizing ROI, usually at the expense of innovation, while with traditional corporate ownership it tends to be the other way around.
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A Stearman, a POW, and the World’s Busiest Airport

Every year, for the past 13 years, Delta Airlines hosts their annual Veterans Appreciation event at their huge Technical Operations Center. I had alerted the Atlanta Air Traffic Control facilities that our slow flying airplanes were going to be coming to visit them so they were expecting us, but trying to sequence us into their operation must have caused a lot of clenched jaws and tense moments with Atlanta Approach Control and the Atlanta Hartsfield Tower.

Do We Like Airplanes or Other Pilots?

If you look at pilots demographically, you’ll see a wide spread—different backgrounds, different ages, different aircraft. But psychologically, we often share a lot: high conscientiousness, high independence, strong internal motivation. (Yes, there’s actual research to back that up.)
arrogant pilot

Air Facts Launches Podcast—Episode 1: Peterson Conway

Today, the heart of Air Facts is you—the pilot. Whether you’re telling the story or offering thoughtful comments, you have lots of interesting stories to tell. And that’s where this podcast comes in. Each episode, we sit down with Air Facts contributors to learn more about them and to hear the story behind their story.

The Wizardry of OZ—Flying the Ozarks

The privilege of flying Alaska's Denali, Idaho's Frank Church, and Utah's red rock country had made me somewhat jaded.  However, the amazing vista at the John Harris (AR06) strip was a completely unforeseen bonus.  The landscape dropping away under us lifting off runway 28 at Trigger Gap (17A) was another unforgettable view.
airventure cup

Friday Photo: AirVenture Cup Race Fly-Over

My wife and I participated in our second AirVenture Cup.  The Wisconsin mornings proved to strong of a pull to avoid a morning flight.  The event draws many people, and an occasional fly-over for the local fans is encouraged.  So, with an empty pattern and a beautiful sunrise for the backdrop, I was able to grab a quick snapshot of our host airport, Wausau Downtown.

A Love Affair with Aviation from CAP to Piper Cubs

For the first time in my life, I experienced a feeling and sensation that I had never felt. I wasn't nervous anymore, my knees stopped knocking, my heart calmed down, and a powerful feeling of security, well-being and confidence took over me. This confirmed my boyhood love affair with aviation.

Visual Angle of Attack Indicators and Systems Engineering Theory

If VAOAI is primary, then failure mode remedies must be determined, published, and trained. Pretty soon, the solution will come to pitch and power to determine approximate airspeed. Back when I gave primary instruction, I wouldn’t solo a student till they had an hour of pattern work with the airspeed indicator covered. They were terrified on the first approach, apprehensive on the second, and by the end of the hour, bored stiff. They were ready to handle an airspeed failure.

Know Thy EFB

Your EFB is only as good as the data it uses. Consequently, it’s absolutely imperative that before you jump into the cockpit with your trusty mount, fully set up your EFB. And that’s more than just waiting for it to automatically download the latest weather and charts.

The Starlink era is here—will we regret it?

This promises to be a major advancement in cockpit technology, with benefits for pilots and passengers alike. But before diving headfirst into the Starlink pool, it would be wise to pause for just a moment and contemplate what we might lose. Don’t worry, I’m no Luddite and I’m not here to scare anyone away from an exciting new gadget. I am, however, an observer with enough experience to have seen technological breakthroughs bring unintended consequences. I fear that may happen here.

A Winter Flight That Sparked a Family Legacy in Aviation

It seems to me there are almost limitless ways to learn about flying, and not all fall under one or more of the above adjectives; yet those lessons are there, and they are free for the taking. In fact, some happened even before we held a license to do the deed ourselves, or for that matter even before we might have considered it.
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Friday Photo: Howard 500

I was doing some work at my hangar and caught a glimpse of a twin-tail plane on final. I didn't see it very well, but thought it would be worth a closer look. I finished up at the hangar and drove over to the Signature ramp, where I beheld this beauty. It was good luck as there are only two of these still flying.

Share Your Spring Flying Adventures with Air Facts

At Air Facts Journal, our Travelogue series is built on real stories from pilots like you—stories that capture both the joy and the challenges of personal air transportation. Tell us about your route, the airports you stopped at, the weather you encountered, and those unexpected moments that made your trip unforgettable.

Flying and Maintaining Prewar Aeroncas: A Guide for Antique Aircraft Owners

The Stick Chief refers to the aircraft controls that employ a stick as opposed to a yoke. And why would anyone do that, you ask?  In the late 1930s, then President Rosevelt, put the country on a war footing and declared the US would need 25,000 pilots. He was informed by the Navy and Army Air Core that they had neither the aircraft, personnel nor facilities to undertake the effort. To that end, civilian flight schools were pressed into service with several military officers overseeing civilian flight instructors. This was the beginning of the cadet pilot program.  

Buffalo Hunting With Airplanes

The most likely threat I would face was 23MM and 37MM Triple-A, which would be fired in streams of 25-50 rounds at a time. If the gunners were harassing you, they might fire only 25 rounds. If they were intent on you not destroying something of value (like themselves!), you could expect hundreds of rounds to be fired at you.

2025 Richard Collins Writing Prize Runner-Up: Tailstrikes and Tiedowns

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As I banked into my final approach, my heart sank. I had fully cut power and had flaps at twenty, but I was still far too high. Because I had let my airspeed get so low, I hadn’t lost enough altitude on downwind. I knew I should go-around, but panic gripped me. I did the worst thing possible and tried to lose altitude by steepening my approach.

2025 Richard Collins Writing Prize Winner: Cruising Through the Soaring Blues

My landings were respectable, and my decision-making occasionally less respectable. Even after flying at cross-country camps, learning soaring theory, having the best possible mentor and breaking the proverbial apron strings at home, flying in my first competition that week was the hardest thing I’ve done yet as a pilot, but also the most satisfying.