Missing the Forest for the Trees
With my takeoff checklist complete, I lined up on runway 14 at Dove Airstrip (MO81) in Christian Wings for the World‘s C150 with my instructor, Lionel Smith. I applied the brakes while pushing the throttle full forward, then released the brakes and began accelerating down the narrow, short, and tree-lined airstrip. As the little airplane… Read more »
Leaning Procedures
Leaning the engine during flight can be intimidating for those pursuing their private certificate. During most training flights, our altitude is low enough that leaning is not recommended. However, we do lean during cross-countries, but often there is so much going on that we never quite understand why we are leaning the mixture. I will… Read more »
Building a Kit Plane – Part 5
Thinking back to being in school and longing to hear that we had a 2-hour delay brings back fond memories. However, as the Zenith CH750 project comes together, I cringe at the thought of any disruptions in the flow of planning and assembly. Fortunately, we aren’t working on any sort of a deadline. Instead, personal… Read more »
Building a Kit Plane – Part 4
As the seasons continue to change, the Zenith project is blooming into what will soon not just look like an airplane, but actually be a flying machine. Since the last update, many small items have been fabricated or assembled and installed. A pair of auto pilot servos are now in the plane and hooked up… Read more »
Building a Kit Plane – Part 3
Have you ever read a book that was so good you just couldn’t put it down? I’m finding out that building a plane is a very similar scenario. The story changes every day, though the scenery doesn’t always.Since last month’s issue, we’ve made some significant progress. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happened. The wiring,… Read more »
Building a Kit Plane – Part 2
It’s amazing what can be done in a few weeks time. On December 16, the wings and tail were in the (nearly) completed state you read about in Hangar Talk last month. Since then, the fuselage and finishing kits have arrived, and the firewall forward (engine, mount, and accessories) and BRS airframe parachute have been… Read more »
Building a Kit Plane
Even though I’ve been exposed to aviation for less than two years, I have embraced multiple opportunities to further my education relating to it. From completing my private ticket to riding along for someone else’s instrument lesson, or from helping Dylan maintain our aircraft to building a kit plane, the passion and desire to learn… Read more »
Introducing Maintenance Services
As of May 1st, 2013, Sweet Aviation began offering aircraft maintenance services. Some of you may be aware that we’ve been performing maintenance on the flight school aircraft throughout the winter months in the former Ivy Tech facility. This provided Dylan and his team with a warm, modern, and large facility in which to survive… Read more »
Your Inflight Weather Monitor
The Apple iPad continues to gain relevance in the cockpit and has already proven itself as a very practical and cost-effective tool for pilots as a flight-planning and chart-reference device. As new apps and services are developed, the iPad’s role in the cockpit is becoming more important every day. Recently, Sporty’s has been promoting the… Read more »
Is It Legal?
The emergence of the iPad as a powerful aviation tool has changed the way we go about many of our flight tasks. But it has also prompted questions about whether it’s “legal” to use in flight. The short answer is “yes,” you can absolutely replace your paper charts with an iPad. But the definition of… Read more »