Air Facts

MARCH 5, 2025

Teaching International Student Pilots Air Facts Journal In the mid 70s, I was a USAF T-38 instructor pilot (IP) in the 71 st Flying Training Wing at Vance AFB (KEND) in Enid, Oklahoma. Two squadrons trained students in their journey to become Air Force pilots. The venerable Tweet A.K.A. The 6000-pound dog-whistle!

Pilot 98

Pilot Knot AGL Approach 98

CFI Academy

MARCH 28, 2025

For the FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Airplane Single Engine (ASE) checkride, the demonstration stalls are specific maneuvers that you, as a CFI candidate, must perform and explain to demonstrate your instructional knowledge and ability. There are indeed four demonstration stalls youll need to master for the CFI checkride.

Aileron 96

Aileron Rudder Checkride AGL 96

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 2, 2024

Ground effect is a phenomenon that every pilot must master. As a pilot, you must have a good understanding of ground effect to maintain control and make the required adjustments during important flight stages. According to the FAA, a pilot’s aeronautical knowledge must include ground effect training.

Ground Effect 52

Ground Effect Drag Lift Runway 52

Northstar VFR

AUGUST 11, 2024

Pilots are known for liking speed, whether it’s in an aircraft, motorcycle, or boat. Let’s look at the basics of slow flight: what it is, why we practice it as pilots, and the fundamentals of performing slow flight. You can study more on the aerodynamics of slow flight in Chapter 5 of the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.

Checkride 52

Checkride Airplanes Pilot AGL 52

Pilot Institute

MARCH 29, 2024

Key Takeaways Slow flight trains pilots to handle the aircraft at speeds just above stalling. That’s why it’s crucial for pilots to learn aircraft control at low speeds. Additionally, both private and commercial pilot checkrides require the demonstration of slow flight. Pilots use reference stalling speeds instead.

Lift 52

Lift Rudder Drag Checkride 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 9, 2024

Lazy eights sound like the least challenging commercial checkride maneuver to learn. Despite the easygoing name, many pilots find lazy eights harder than they thought. There’s a reason why it’s been a commercial pilot practical test staple for decades. What standards does the commercial checkride require?

Rudder 52

Rudder Lift Aileron Drag 52

Jetwhine

JANUARY 17, 2024

I’ve been flying jets for years as a corporate pilot, but not real jets to some … like fighter jets. When opportunity knocked with an offer to fly an Aero Vodochody L–39 Albatros (one “s” in the Czech spelling)—a single-engine bird still used as a basic trainer for some nation’s fighter pilots—I jumped at the chance.

Knot 52

Knot Rudder Pilot Jet 52