True Life Rescue Operation – Why you should note those numbers!
If you have never attended a safety campaign meeting, or have no idea just how valuable these meetings are, or how important filing a flight plan is, then you should read on, and relive Adrienne’s experience with South Africa’s super talented aerial rescue team headed by Santjie White..
Turbulence – Nature’s Wake-up Call
There you are, flying along, looking at the scenery, when suddenly, it feels like your aircraft has hit an invisible roller-coaster, throwing you upwards, and downwards, to such a degree that you want to grab on to your seat. Turbulence can not only result in screaming, vomiting passengers, but also sweat beads on pilots’ brows.
PAC MFI-17 Mushshak
At first, this aircraft looks like an ordinary little trainer, but it has so much going for it, I can’t help but wonder why the general aviation community seems so stuck on traditional, over-priced American brands?
Jodel D11
I spotted this interesting tail-dragger a couple of weeks back, being lovingly brought to to flying condition by a father and son team. The wing form immediately rang a bell in my head, as it was very similar to the Robin which I was taken for a flight in, during a visit to France.
Stupid things to do while flying – #1
Probably one of the stupidest things you can do while flying is scud running. Stupid, because you might think ‘It will never happen to me!’.
Hydration vs Inconvenient calls of nature
We have all been there. The urgent call of nature while flying a single-engine that is not ‘loo’ equipped…
…considering I was going to need to be fully focused for 150NM I thought it a good idea to have a few glugs from my ever-present water bottle before starting up the engine.
Boeing Stearman
When it comes to radial engine aircraft this has got to be one of the nicest. Due to it’s American origins, it is hardly surprising that almost everything on this aircraft are of a grand scale. There is nothing more impressive than a huge, un-cowled radial engine…
Smoking – Worth ending your career before it takes off?
Some members of the young crew still think it is ‘cool’ to smoke. Stress is a ridiculous excuse, as what could be more stressful than fighting in a war where every day you stood a 50/50 chance of returning to base? Already, there is a pilot shortage predicted in the near future, yet many of these new recruits do not seem to have the foresight to see how smoking now could end their careers prematurely.
Understanding HF communications and what causes ‘fading’
An airliner is communicating with a station using HF radio. Gradually, communication quality declines until it has all but faded out. Why does this happen, and what actions are taken to restore communications?
Beechcraft Travel Air
I have affectionately taken to calling it the ‘Bitchcraft’ Travel Air, because, as I am learning to fly her, it all seems rather challenging! Admittedly, I think this is a “mans” plane, simply because, if you are a lightweight like me, single-engine simulations require ALOT of single leg input on the rudder – be warned!