The Pre-Flight Briefing - Pilot Shop Blog

There are plenty of model aircraft on the market, including those that are priced temptingly low. Granted, low-end budget models may be fine for some people, but true collectors and discerning aviators who are purchasing models to display want exquisite replicas of the real craft right down to the little details.

The closest thing to sitting at the controls of a real-world cockpit is recreating the experience at our home computers and Xboxes. Anyone can use flight simulator software paired with a mouse and keyboard, but real aviation fans and pilots know that realistic control feels are the secret to transforming your flight sim experience.

Who are the most famous pilot fashion icons? General MacArthur may have popularized aviator sunglasses, but Tom Cruise ignited “Top Gun” Maverick fashion mania.

Check out these 2022 Suggested holiday gifts from your friends at PilotMall.com - If you're looking for a gift for a friend or loved one that loves aviation as much as we do, this is the video for you.

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.

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. 

Unless you are living under a rock or you have failed to pay your internet provider for the last few years now, you may have heard of the ICON A5. This amphibious Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) is a game changer. No longer needing runways, you can simply take off from a grass field, lake, river or ocean.

From the ancient wisdom of Socrates to the dry humor of George Carlin, there are loads of aviation quotes circling the internet. You’ll find inspirational quotes that remind us of the beauty of flight and of what draws humanity to the skies. These are the quotes for hanging in your office or writing in a congratulations card for a newly certified pilot.

Where is your next big flight going to take you? Do you dream of leaving land and cruising over a vast expanse of ocean? If that upcoming adventure includes an extended overwater flight path, double check the FAA list of required survival equipment and confirm that you comply with any applicable requirements.

Times are changing, technology has advanced, and you now have the option of choosing a pair of cockpit-friendly, digital-device compatible polarized sunglasses.