Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024

We didn’t have a heated hangar, but our chief instructor pointed out that, if we did, melted water could collect in the control surfaces, waiting to refreeze once the plane left the hangar and put the control surfaces out of balance. That approach was ugly like you read about, but at minimums, the needles were crossed.

Knot 88

Knot Weather Density Altitude True Airspeed 88

AeroSavvy

AUGUST 20, 2021

I spent a few months researching aircraft performance and high altitude airport flying techniques. Density Altitude Piston engines, wings, and propellers lose efficiency as they climb to less dense air at higher altitudes. Pressure altitudes were converted to density altitude.

Density Altitude 52

Density Altitude OAT Airplanes Fixed Base Operator 52

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024

We didn’t have a heated hangar, but our chief instructor pointed out that, if we did, melted water could collect in the control surfaces, waiting to refreeze once the plane left the hangar and put the control surfaces out of balance. That approach was ugly like you read about, but at minimums, the needles were crossed.

Knot 76

Knot Weather Density Altitude True Airspeed 76

Air Facts

MAY 24, 2024

Centerline, centerline, centerline Air Facts Journal It was a beautiful May day as we grabbed the tow bar to pull the 1981 Cessna 182 out of the hangar. Even though this was late May, it was early enough in the day that the temperatures and density altitude hadn’t climbed to outrageous heights—yet. Approach switched me to Tower.

Aileron 98

Aileron Crosswind Knot Runway 98

Gary's Flight Journal

OCTOBER 25, 2023

Something about the best laid plans… I didn’t go back to the hangar last night to plug in, I should have. Density altitude was -1,800 feet. Density altitude was -1,800 feet. I picked up flight following with Dover as I approached Delaware Coastal. It took awhile to start, and then warm up 3 Tango Charlie.

Density Altitude 52

Density Altitude Firewall Runway Approach 52

Fear of Landing

APRIL 19, 2024

A mechanic said that he had been approached by his supervisor and asked to verify the torque application on the tail rotor mast nut on the helicopter. The operator had a surveillance camera inside the hangar to capture the work and the preflight inspections.

Torque 98

Torque Indicated Airspeed Tail Knot 98

Air Facts

AUGUST 5, 2024

A friend reminds you of a couple additional nuggets of due diligence to be reckoned with—a hangar and insurance. Luckily, your friend just so happens to have a friend with some hangar space available at your home airport in Pueblo, Colorado. The weather is VMC but it’s hot, and the density altitude is really creeping up there.

Density Altitude 98

Density Altitude Ceiling Runway Weather 98