Owning and flying
aircraft.

Equipment · 2 min read

PIVOT leg strap review: use in the T-6A and T-38C

A durable, easily adjusted tablet mount that held up to military flying in the T-6A and T-38C.

Equipment · 2 min read

PIVOT suction cup mounts: models and case compatibility

PIVOT suction mount options, PPK-1 and PPK-XP plates, and the shared case connection for switching between suction and leg mounts.

Equipment · 5 min read

FlightPro ProAviator review: suction, leg-strap, and yoke mounts

Why I recommend FlightPro’s modular iPad mounting system, with photos of the suction, leg-strap, and yoke configurations I used.

Training · 3 min read

Converting climb gradient to climb rate

A worked departure calculation showing how groundspeed changes the vertical speed required to meet a published climb gradient.

Training · 3 min read

DA, MDA, and the missed approach point

The different actions associated with decision altitude, minimum descent altitude, and an early missed approach.

Training · 3 min read

VMC and VYSE: control and climb performance

The red line and blue line describe different characteristics. Neither replaces aircraft-specific engine-inoperative performance planning.

Training · 3 min read

Reading a single-engine climb chart

A worked interpolation and obstacle-gradient comparison, with the chart assumptions kept separate from the arithmetic.

Ownership · 5 min read

What to expect from an aircraft manager

Service scope, maintenance coordination, spending approvals, records, fees, and coverage: what to review in an aircraft management proposal.

Training · 5 min read

Planning a more useful recurrent training session

How to define training objectives, choose an appropriate training environment, review avionics procedures, and document follow-up work.

Ownership · 5 min read

How much time does a faster airplane save?

Flight-time calculations for 165 versus 195 knots, with separate allowances for wind, ground travel, fuel stops, and annual trip frequency.

Ownership · 6 min read

Annual inspections and prepurchase evaluations

What an annual inspection records, how to define a prebuy, and how to assess records, repair estimates, and first-year maintenance.

Equipment · 6 min read

Using an iPad in the cockpit

GPS, offline charts, storage, temperature limits, charging, and mounting: what to verify when setting up an iPad for flying.