Pilot Shop Blog
Restricted Airspace: What You Should Know
You are planning a weekend getaway and want to fly a straight line to your destination but as you consult the sectional, you realize that there is a large patch of restricted airspace right in the middle of your proposed flight path. Going around it would add over an hour to your flight, but that is your only option, right?
- PilotMall.com Editor
- Tags: Airspace Education Navigation
The Coolest Gadgets for Pilots in 2020
It is no secret that pilots love gadgets, especially gadgets that improve the flight experience. To make gift giving easy, we have rounded up some of the coolest gadgets currently available for pilots. Whether you want to help your favorite pilot upgrade their aircraft or improve their communication capabilities, these high-tech gadgets are sure to do the trick.
- PilotMall.com Editor
- Tags: Gifts
5 Ways to Sharpen Your Skills with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
It has been nearly forty years since the original 1982 Microsoft Flight Simulator was released, and fourteen years since its last update courtesy of 2006’s Flight Simulator X, but the wait is finally over, and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 delivers. The latest version takes advantage of the robust capabilities of current and future computing systems that support rendering of the virtually photo-real graphics courtesy of Azure AI.
- PilotMall.com Editor
- Tags: Education Flight Simulation
The 4 Types of Airspeed: How Each Works (Complete Guide)
On the ground, speed is relatively simple to measure, and vehicles like cars only measure one type of speed. Once you take to the air though, other factors like air density and wind come into play and must be accounted for. Accounting for and quantifying the impact of these factors is what led to the definition of the four different types of airspeed.
Wake Turbulence Avoidance: All the Details to Keep in Mind
You are setting up your approach for a landing in your Cessna 172 when you realize that a large jet is in the pattern just ahead of you. Before you can react, your whole plane is violently shoved to the side and rolls as if pushed by an invisible hand. You quickly right yourself and resume course as your understandably flustered passenger asks, "What just happened?" Your answer? "Wake turbulence."
The 10 Best Holiday Gifts for Pilots in 2020
The holidays are almost here, and if you are stumped on what to get that special pilot in your life, this is the blog post for you. We have put together a list of ideas for all budgets and pilots. Whether you need a fun little stocking stuffer, a bit of aviation-themed décor, or a useful piece of technology, these are the 10 best holiday gifts for pilots in 2020.
- PilotMall.com Editor
- Tags: Gifts
2020's 10 Gifts that Will Inspire the Next Generation of Pilots
Encourage a love of flight in the children in your life with an aviation-themed gift. From plush swings and stuffed animals for infants and toddlers to die cast models and puzzles for young children, plus radio control planes and cobi blocks models for older kids and teens, there is something for every kid on your gift list. Here are our suggestions for the top 10 gifts that will inspire the next generation of pilots:
- PilotMall.com Editor
- Tags: Gifts
How to Read METAR Aviation Reports (Complete Guide)
One of the skills pilots must learn and excel at is meteorology. It is important to be adept at reading weather reports and forecasts then using them to make informed flight decisions. There are multiple reports to consult, and METARs are one of the primary sources for current weather information. Learning how to read a METAR is a key part of being a safe pilot.
Class D Airspace: Everything You Need to Know
As a pilot flying out of a smaller airport just big enough to have a control tower, you will quickly become familiar with Class D airspace. This type of airspace is one that most general aviation pilots will encounter and need to be well-versed in.
How to Read a TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast)
For all the new pilots wondering how to read a TAF, you are not alone. Pull up a terminal aerodrome forecast, and you will quickly realize that the entire thing is written using codes or acronyms that must be deciphered and decoded. The good news is that TAFs and METARs use many of the same abbreviations, so once you learn one, the other will be much easier and quicker to grasp.
Class C Airspace: All the Details You Need to Know
When talking airspace, the closer we get to the beginning of the alphabet, the more nervous some pilots become. Each class of airspace moving towards A is accompanied by extra rules and regulations that can seem intimidating.
- PilotMall.com Editor
- Tags: Education Flight Planning
How to Read an Altimeter (Complete Guide)
A cockpit can be outfitted with all the gauges in the world, but if a pilot is not comfortable reading them and using that information to make an informed decision about flying the aircraft, what is the point? An altimeter is one of those key gauges that every pilot must be competent using.
