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 89

Density Altitude Ceiling Runway Weather 89

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 87

Aileron Crosswind Knot Runway 87

Fear of Landing

APRIL 19, 2024

The helicopter turned left to return to the airport, travelling at about 85 knots. The indicated airspeed had fallen below 65 knots and was still decreasing. The helicopter was at treetop height with an indicated airspeed of zero knots when the right yaw ceased. The pilot reported two miles out.

Torque 87

Torque Indicated Airspeed Tail Knot 87

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. On one trip home, we had a 50-knot headwind, really annoying at a true airspeed of only 125.

Knot 68

Knot Weather Density Altitude True Airspeed 68

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. Every 1000 feet we logged the time, altitude, and outside air temperature.

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. On one trip home, we had a 50-knot headwind, really annoying at a true airspeed of only 125.

Knot 61

Knot Weather Density Altitude True Airspeed 61

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

We routinely taxi at 1200 rpm due to the low spray…[we] can cruise at 10 knots” in displacement mode, something a Goose can’t do. Early on a speed restriction of 130 knots was applied as a flutter issue. This was resolved on the kit version and led to cruising at 50% power and 120 knots, which proved to be the Gweduck’s sweet spot.

Airplanes 62

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 62