Some form of gust lock is necessary on most aircraft when being stored outside. The problem that occurs is that strong winds will push the ailerons, rudder, and elevators back and forth to their stops – sometimes in a very hard and violent way and with significant force. This can damage the controls and that… [Read More]
Airport Traffic Pattern
The airport traffic pattern is the term used to describe the “route” that all pilots are supposed to fly when landing at or departing from an uncontrolled airport. An uncontrolled airport is one that does not have a control tower and/or air traffic controllers. This is very common at general aviation airports. Many people think that… [Read More]
Breakfast Flight
Another beautiful flight over New Mexico! The high desert terrain is so spectacular, the wonderful blue sky is HUGE, and visibility is unlimited – I don’t think I can ever get enough! Today was a flight to Grants, NM in search of food. A flight of about six aircraft made the trip. The attached photo… [Read More]
Aircraft Transition
I’ve had good success transitioning to new aircraft in which a familiarization flight is impossible and that has atypical or non-standard instrumentation and controls. My approach to this type of transition is either incredibly odd, terrible overkill, or smart. I’m pretty methodical and not much of a risk-taker so I’m probably way over on the… [Read More]
Food Flight
Yesterday morning I was invited to tag along with a friend on a breakfast flight to Sante Fe. The Sante Fe pilots group was having a little get together at the restaurant there. At the current time, I am nothing more than a pathetic pilot without an airplane so, of course, I leapt at the… [Read More]
APRS
I was doing some thinking about the benefits of having a Ham Radio license after writing my previous post. One of the things that came to mind was APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System). I had not thought of this since I was thinking of adding to my airplane so others could see my position/movement. In… [Read More]
Final Flight
http://www.vimeo.com/29519344
This is a really nicely done video of Jimmy Leeward’s final heat race at Reno 2011 in the modified P-51 Mustang Galloping Ghost. Godspeed Jimmy
Manzano Mountains
I had a wonderful flight over the Manzano Mountains yesterday. A friend and I flew to Anastasia, NM for breakfast in his Cessna 170. This area is slightly south east of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The name “Manzano” is Spanish for “apple tree”; the mountains were named for apple orchards planted at the nearby town of Manzano…. [Read More]
Reno
I am a pilot, aircraft builder, and have always been very interested in performance and efficiency. Because of that, the Reno air races have always been fascinating to me. At Reno, all types of aircraft participate in the racing. Vintage aircraft from the World War II era all the way to brand new aircraft licensed by… [Read More]
Fire In The Sky
I was up flying very early yesterday morning – when the sun began to rise, the sky lit up in a blaze of glory. These pictures (taken with my phone) do not do it justice. These images were taken about 20 miles southwest of Albuquerque, NM looking east towards the Manzano mountains. I have a… [Read More]