Do not get lazy. If there is a problem with your fuel, there will be a problem for you. continued»

Never assume the fuel you just purchased is “fine”. Lives and millions of dollars have been lost due to screw-ups that originated at the production/supplier end of the fuel equation. continued»

As VFR pilots, we should first consider the terrain elevation and then the wind when we select an altitude to fly, but then there is that confusing Even/Odd plus 500 question. It may be more complicated -- and more important -- than you think... continued»

One of the easiest and most important things you can do to keep your aircraft healthy is to keep track of your airplane’s oil consumption. continued»

One of the most neglected pieces of equipment on most planes is the shimmy dampner. continued»

If you take just about any airplane apart at the joints between control surfaces, you will find movable bearings connected to rods. continued»

At airports with an operating control tower it is vital that we protect ourselves after being given “position and hold” instructions. continued»

Looking over the flight controls is one of the important tasks that a pilot performs just prior to taking to the air and the extent of your effort here might be a good judge of your overall thoroughness as a pilot. continued»

Rivets will tell you how an airplane has been flown and whether or not it is safe to fly again -- if you know how to read them. continued»

There's a lot to consider before beginning your single-pilot approach. continued»

Oil is the lifeblood of your engine and because about half of all general aviation aircraft hold it behind quick drains you should know how those drains work. continued»

A Piper Arrow pilot lands without extending the landing gear... A jetliner takes the runway, when the crew discovers they forgot to start an engine... continued»

“The keys are in the airplane. Just fill it up when you get back.” continued»

The annual is done, repairs are complete, the modification is installed ... whatever the reason your airplane was in the shop, it’s all buttoned up now, and ready to fly -- or is it?

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Your mechanic should have test-run the engine(s) before signing off the airplane as airworthy, but it’s unlikely that he or she test flew the airplane. continued»

The Cessna 152 was 200 feet above the ground when its engine quit. continued»

In a good number of aircraft in the fleet today, belts drive accessories -- these accessories do various things like keep the radios on... continued»

Just as having belts that are too tight can cause damage to your engine or the driven components, belts that are too loose can also cause problems. continued»

For all the problems that could result from a drive belt failure in flight, stopping them before they can actually happen is fairly simple -- if you know how. continued»

Corrosion of your battery terminals can cause real problems in flight, and even on the ground. continued»

On May 12, 2000, a Beech Baron was destroyed when it impacted terrain after takeoff. continued»

If your airplane has an electric starter, you have a battery on board and, over time, a number of factors can help to rob the capacity from your battery, making it too weak to start your airplane. continued»

Just about every General Aviation airplane flying today does so with the assistance of specifically loaded cables -- when was the last time that yours were checked? continued»

OK, which is it: Burned valves and detonation -- or better economy, lower maintenance costs, and greater range? continued»

Ah, yes, spring has arrived in all of its beauty and glory -- the bugs are flying, the birds are back in the northern parts of our country... and that's bad news for pilots. continued»

Two-way communication radios can be very frustrating, but there are some reasons that things get worse in the summertime. continued»

Whether your plane has rubber bladders to hold the fuel, a wet wing, or a metal tank inside the wing, fuel leaks can result in in-flight fires or a loss of engine power. continued»

The fuel caps on your airplane keep contaminants out of your fuel tank -- provided they're new. continued»

Very recently, in the dark of night, six persons aboard a piston twin died near Joplin, Missouri. continued»

When you file a flight plan, either VFR or IFR, the procedure begins the same way: by calling the Flight Service Station. continued»

'Cessna 172 Yankee Alpha, turn left heading 060 degrees, descend and maintain 2000 feet; expect to break out near Fisk on the Oshkosh visual arrival, cancel IFR once in visual conditions.' continued»

...And other sounds an Airplane SHOULDN'T MAKE! When you think about it, most airplanes are incredible pieces of formed metal. continued»

“Sloshing” is a process where a fuel tank sealant is put into a metal fuel tank, and the tank is rocked back and forth, to evenly distribute the sealant ... it has nothing to do with beer. continued»

I find it curious that one critical precept of flight -- one that we are all taught at the start of our training -- is rarely again explored in the same level of detail, but so vital to our survival. continued»

Navigating complex airspace takes preparation and understanding of the system -- it also helps to have a pathway cleared for you ahead of time. continued»

Your plane looks very cozy to the mouse population -- they will be more than happy to set up housekeeping inside your airframe, and that's a problem (I speak from experience). continued»

Years ago, I enjoyed reading the Peanuts comic strip written by Charles M. Schultz -- in one series, one of the characters was terrorized repeatedly by a fear of the dreaded Queen Snake. continued»

When I was young, I enjoyed watching Bugs Bunny and, on occasion, Bugs matched wits with Marvin the Martian ... who was usually working on blowing up the Earth. Bugs managed to foil Marvin, who had the usual line of the foiled nemesis: "Where's the big Kaboom?" continued»

I owe my life to aviation mechanics. For one, my father was an A&P (certificated airframe and powerplant) mechanic (now called "maintenance technicians"). But even if you don't so literally derive your very existence from airplane wrench-turners, you almost certainly live today because of the skill and professionalism of aviation professionals who keep the airline and general aviation fleet going. continued»

Ten gallons -- about thirty bucks worth of avgas -- what'll it get you? continued»

Oil is the lifeblood of your aircraft engine or engines. Despite what a few vendors will try to show you about additives, without engine oil, most aircraft engines will self-destruct quite quickly. This is one of the reasons why we are all trained to check the oil during our preflight and oil temperature and pressure soon after engine start. continued»

This is a sad story, with an even sadder ending. Two pilots, who loved to fly their homebuilt Long EZ airplane (a very efficient canard design), got a bad case of get-there-itus. The problem was simple: they should have had a case of stop-and-figure-it-out-itus. continued»

Which is safer: a well-used rental airplane flown by dozens of pilots, from students to high-timers; or a personally owned airplane, flown regularly by only one, certificated pilot? continued»

Whenever we fly from point A to point B, many of us use the Victor airway system, and we pick a route that offers us the smallest increase beyond a great circle distance, or the highest groundspeed ... and these days, perhaps the widest berth from unfriendly airspace. In addition, particularly in the IFR world, there's often more to it. continued»

I loved looking at airplanes when I was looking to buy my first plane. The exploration of the different models was incredibly interesting, and the stories that I stumbled across along the way helped to enlighten me about the challenges and, at times, the outright perils of ownership. continued»

There she is, sitting by the wash rack: the picture of health. You've just finished washing off the bugs and grime, vacuumed out the interior, and you can't wait to head out on your next cross-country. One thing that we often don't stop to consider however, is the question of whether or not the next aircraft you eagerly await flying looks as good on the inside as it does on the outside. I don't mean the upholstery or avionics, either. continued»

Your plans are all set -- with some excitement, you will be flying up to the All-Star Game, to be held in Chicago this year. Your plane is fueled, your hotel reservations are made, your flight plans are made, and you even bought the charts you need. Everything is all set for your trip, which is scheduled to start on July 12th to allow you to get in and find your hotel and spend some time in the City of Chicago before the big game starts. continued»

I've managed to see some of the seamy side of the world of aviation in my time, including some pretty lousy repairs. I was thinking about one repair I spotted while looking at an airplane for sale. The plane in question was an older Beech Bonanza, which had looked pretty good on the first inspection. continued»

All pilots share a common trait. Is it money? Background? Education? Daring, or caution? No, pilots come from a wide variety of backgrounds ... all economic classes, upbringing, schooling and personalities. There is one thing seemingly all pilots share, though -- that big stack of old aviation magazines. And there they are, just lying around waiting to do all of us a world of good ... maybe in ways that aren't so obvious. Yes, you've been misled. This is not a story about magnetos. continued»

BEWARE OF WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE ON AN AIRPLANE. That lesson hits home with the plight of a friend, the owner of a perfect, low-time Cessna 182, who had some problems with his nose gear. If you think this sounds like kind of a drag ... read on. continued»

I HAD A FRIEND WHO WAS A PILOT, AND WHO OWNED A BEECH SUNDOWNER. The Sundowner had a reputation as a well-built plane, and was one of Beech's first of a less expensive breed of airplane. The truth be told, while rugged, the Sundowner was a little on the slow side, but was still a lot of fun to fly. It was basically an upgraded Musketeer, but in this new incarnation, shared many components with the Sierra, which was a retractable model, and the Duchess twin model. continued»

We don't give much thought to starting the engines in our cars, even in the dark depths of winter, thanks in part to microprocessor controlled electronic fuel injection. Starting up an airplane, however involves a bit more hands-on skill. With colder weather on the way (and, in some areas, well under way), this might be a good time to revisit the one critical component of the induction system that we usually lay our hands on first: the primer. continued»

A cockpit is one of the best classrooms. When you fly, there are always chances to learn lessons from what you are doing. Whether it is a long cross-country flight into an unfamiliar area, or handling the chores of a hard IFR flight, each time you get into the plane and turn the key you start a new learning session... provided you are willing to learn. continued»

It's cold, it's dark, it's winter. The alternator is the electrical lifeline for your aircraft. While the battery on board most planes, if you lose the alternator, the life of the battery is typically less than an hour at full load, and even shorter with all the lights on! But many pilots pay little attention to the alternator in their airplane, since it is such a dependable piece of equipment. The problem with alternator problems is that they usually come when the alternator is under heavy load. Translation: The alternator usually fails when you need it most. continued»

Airplane engines suck. Pistons move up and down (or in horizontally opposed engines, in and out) and create tremendous suction that draws air in through the induction system. Although some engines benefit somewhat from "ram air" induction, and others have turbochargers to boost the airflow, all depend primarily on this internal suction to draw air in for combustion. continued»

Cold weather has arrived -- rather brutally this year for many of us. Whether that cold weather translates to life in the mid-50's (as it often does in the southern climes), or in the sub-zero's (for northerners), cold weather means we need to keep an eye on our aircraft's tires, to make sure they stay properly inflated. continued»