This week’s discussion is geared towards the topic of aircraft performance and I thought today would be a great day to talk about crosswinds. The tree blowing across the freeway on my way into the office this morning is probably what gave me the idea. After all, March comes in like a lion and out […]
By CFI
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Posted in Aircraft Performance, CFI Briefing, Ground School
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Also tagged Aircraft, FAA, FAA Exam, flight training, flying, landing, learn to fly, pilot in command, Private Pilot, safety, takeoff, writen exam
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January 7, 2016 – 11:49 am
Using the knowledge you learned from Monday’s post on the Vg diagram, let’s see if we can answer some of these sample FAA knowledge test questions. Remember, a complete database of sample questions can be found in ASA Test Prep Books and Prepware Software! Reference the figure below for all questions, however please note on […]
December 28, 2015 – 9:59 am
Out here in the Pacific Northwest, we’re used to what’s generally characterized as “bad” weather. And since we’re setting regional rainfall records right now, let’s talk about weather. Specifically, fronts. As an air mass moves across bodies of water and land, it eventually comes into contact with another air mass with different characteristics. The boundary […]
By ASA
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Posted in Weather
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Also tagged adventure, Aircraft, airport, FAA, FAA Exam, flight training, flying, pilot in command, Private Pilot, safety, weather, writen exam
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November 9, 2015 – 9:46 am
We’re staying warm this week, but we’ll be talking about ways to keep your engine cool. Today’s post is on your aircraft’s engine oil system. Look for follow up Ground School posts in the coming weeks about your engine’s cooling and exhaust systems. And be sure to check out what we’ve already covered in regards […]
By ASA
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Posted in Aircraft Systems, Ground School
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Also tagged adventure, Aircraft, airspeed indicator, engine, FAA Exam, feature, flight training, flying, Four Forces, instruments, landing, Lift, Navigation, oil, pilot in command, Private Pilot, regulations, safety, takeoff, weather
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November 5, 2015 – 7:59 am
I sure hope you read Monday’s post on ground effect because today I’m throwing a pop quiz at you! Remember that ground effect occurs when flying within one wingspan or less above the surface. The airflow around the wing and wing tip is modified and the resulting pattern reduces the downwash which reduces the induced […]
By CFI
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Posted in Aerodynamics, CFI Briefing, General, Ground School
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Also tagged Aircraft, airport, FAA, FAA Exam, flight training, flying, landing, learn to fly, pilot in command, Private Pilot, safety, takeoff, writen exam
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November 2, 2015 – 8:24 am
Thinking about your takeoff technique? Today we’ll consider the role of ground effect. Simply put, ground effect is the reaction of the airflow against the ground surface. Today’s post comes from our foundational flying textbook The Pilot’s Manual 1: Flight School. Here’s a basic overview: The cushioning of ground effect when the airplane is flying […]
By ASA
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Posted in Aerodynamics, Ground School
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Also tagged altitude, FAA, FAA Exam, feature, flight training, flying, Four Forces, landing, learn to fly, Lift, pilot in command, Private Pilot, safety, takeoff
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October 19, 2015 – 8:26 am
It’s been a few weeks since we’ve talked specifically about your aircraft so let’s focus again this week on aircraft systems. Today, we’ll review flaps. This post has been excerpted from the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. Flaps are the most common high-lift devices used on aircraft. These surfaces, which are attached to the trailing […]
September 24, 2015 – 7:41 am
In keeping with the theme of gliding, this week I am going to follow-up Jason’s post with a clip from our Virtual Test Prep™ Flight Maneuvers DVD on airborne engine failures. After reading Monday’s post and watching this short clip see if you can answer the two following questions. 1. When executing an emergency approach […]
By CFI
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Posted in CFI Briefing
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Also tagged adventure, emergency, emergency procedure, FAA, FAA Exam, flight training, flying, gliding, learn to fly, pilot in command, Private Pilot, safety
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September 21, 2015 – 7:29 am
This week, we’re pleased to feature guest posts from CFI and FAA DPE Jason Blair! We featured Jason’s excellent write up on flying the traffic pattern earlier this year. He writes his own blog at jasonblair.net. Gliding is for gliders, right? Well, it’s not just for them. Something I notice in many checkrides I give […]
By ASA
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Posted in Ground School
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Also tagged airport, emergency, FAA, FAA Exam, flight training, flying, glide, glider, learn to fly, pilot in command, Private Pilot, safety
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September 8, 2015 – 7:25 am
This week we’re looking again at flight instruments. More specifically, gyroscopic instruments. Take a look at what we’ve posted so far on flight instruments, including our CFI’s series on pitot-static systems. This post is excerpted from Bob Gardner’s The Complete Private Pilot. The attitude indicator, the turn indicator, and the directional gyro or heading indicator […]
