Arrogant social media responses hinder flight student success. Learn why seasoned aviators must abandon gatekeeping and prioritize pilot mentorship.
Opinion
Triple Tail Aircraft: Why Classic Airliners Used Three Fins
During the late 1930s and early 1940s, several pioneering airliners like the Boeing Clipper and Lockheed Constellation embraced an unusual design feature: The triple tail. Of Wings & Things columnist Frederick A. Johnsen tells us about the fascinating engineering challenges, aerodynamic secrets, and hangar size limitations that inspired these iconic aviation masterpieces.
Why Choosing the Right Aviation Grease Matters
Grease is one of the most essential yet frequently misunderstood aviation lubricants. Our lubricants expert shows you how to properly select the exact grease for your specific aircraft, understand critical thickener compatibility issues, and learn the best practices for repacking wheel bearings to keep your airplane airworthy.
Is A Picture Really Worth A Thousand Words?
Discover how Airborne Hotspots uses ADS-B data to visualize airspace traffic, resolve local airport conflicts, and track loss-of-separation events.
There Are Stories to Tell and Stories to Remember
For all my interest in aircraft and my absolute love of being airborne, those affections pale in comparison to the thing that really kept me interested in aviation all these years: The people.
Questions from the Cockpit: System Evolution
George, a commercial pilot in Iowa, writes: In a recent column about the history of flight training, you said that while flight training hasn’t changed much over time, systems have become more complex. Don’t we really still have the same systems? Other than instruments, aren’t airplanes pretty much the same? We have powerplant, fuel, electrical, pitot-static systems…”
Rare Photos Reveal Secret Wartime Project with Lycoming Roots
A General Aviation News reader shares rare photos from 1944, seeking help from engines expert Paul McBride to identify a mystery radial engine tied to a forgotten, wartime aircraft factory project in interior China. Can you help solve the mystery?
Human Factors: Higher and Heavier than Calculated
What can we learn about density altitude and its affect on airplane performance from this June 2024 accident?
MOSAIC Regulations: How the Aviation Sausage Is Made
Discover how industry volunteers are shaping the future of light aircraft under the FAA’s MOSAIC rules, filling critical gaps.