The Pre-Flight Briefing - Pilot Shop Blog

Quality flight sim hardware that doesn’t cost a fortune is at the top of many pilots’ gear wish lists. After all, flight time isn’t free. That’s why it simply makes sense to log hours of practice in the simulator so by the time we slide into the real-world cockpit, our muscle memory is there.

Aircraft designers love to stretch the perceived limits of flight to the extreme, creating aircraft no one even knew were possible. You won’t be checking any bags on these flights, and you may even be too tall to ride.

Air show season has officially arrived and it is almost time to head to Lakeland, Florida for the annual SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo. Here’s what you need to know as you prepare to experience the second largest aerospace convention in the world.

Commercial cross-country flights may be long and boring, but there is one little feature that can all the difference. It has the power to distract you and make life in even the cramped middle seat of the coach cabin somewhat less arduous. What is this incredible invention? Wi-Fi.

Ask a racecar driver what their top speed is, and it is an easy answer. No calculations required. The same applies to a sprinter or marathon runner. Airspeed in the world of aviation, however, is a more complex topic. We have not just one type of airspeed, but many, and each has a different purpose.

Pilots flying a precision instrument approach have both course and glidepath deviation data to guide them the whole way down. But what guides a non-precision approach and how do pilots flying that type of approach know when and where to begin their final descent so they can execute a safe landing? The visual descent point is part of that equation.

Billed as “the businessman’s airplane,” the Cessna 180’s 1953 release was timed to coincide with the “Golden Year of Flight” – 50 years since the Wright Brothers’ flight at Kitty Hawk. Though it may have originally been intended for executives, the 180’s solid construction, reliable performance, and intuitive design made the Cessna Skywagon a perennial favorite for Alaskan bush pilots, Australian outback explorers, African veldt adventurers and even Idahoan aircraft enthusiasts.

Being a pilot is not a “learn it and forget it” type of skill. Piloting skills that are not practiced atrophy and knowledge that is not accessed and refreshed is forgotten. A pilot whose skill and knowledge levels peak out on the day he or she passes the check ride is destined to be a dangerous pilot.

Materials have come a long way since the Wright Brothers first flew on wings that consisted of muslin fabric wrapped over a steam-bent wooden framework. 

Do you find that it’s hard to pick out gifts for pilots? Maybe you aren’t sure what your favorite pilot would want, or you have come up with themed gift ideas for so many years that you are running low on inspiration. If so, this post is for you!