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There are lots of questions on the FAA Knowledge Tests about altimeter readings at non-standard temperature and pressure settings. The non-standard pressure questions are fairly intuitive. We all know that pressure decreases as altitude increases. Therefore, if the pressure is lower than what the altimeter expects, the altimeter is fooled into thinking it is higher […]

Turbocharging and turbonormalizing allow an airplane to maintain sea-level power at higher altitudes. Both work on the same principle, exhaust gases turn a turbine that compresses the air that is fed into the engine. The compressed air contains more oxygen so more fuel can be burned resulting in more power. Turbonormalizing increases the air pressure […]

Students are taught the mnemonic ARROW—Airworthiness Certificate, Registration, Radio License, Operating Limitations, Weight and Balance for remembering the required documents. This article discusses the regulations behind the mnemonic and expands a bit on what is meant. Airworthiness Certificate and Registration These are fairly straightforward. Every aircraft has an airworthiness certificate issued by the manufacturer and […]

There are lots of specialized tools required for working on airplanes, but most of the time you just need a few common tools. Like most other areas the 80/20 rule probably applies. 80% of the time you need 20% of the tools. To minimize walking back and forth to the tool chest, and to make […]

If you know the part and section number for a regulation it is fairly easy to find using this link to the eCFR. If you are looking for something but you don’t know where it is the search field below useful. FARs—Title 14 Often you know where the information is and want to restrict the […]

This simulator is a work in progress to allow you to practice unusual attitudes and failed instruments. The power is controlled with 1—10% power, 2—75% power, 3—100% power. Pitch up and down arrows Bank is controlled with left and right arrows. Hold down the shift key and the pitch and bank go three times as […]

This subject comes up a lot on the knowledge tests. From Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge p 5-12, 5-12 Detonation is an uncontrolled, explosive ignition of the fuel/air mixture within the cylinder’s combustion chamber. It causes excessive temperatures and pressures which, if not corrected, can quickly lead to failure of the piston, cylinder, or valves. […]

Roll over the planes to see parts labelled. Beginning students should name and roll until the names become second nature. Use the Next and Previous button to see more planes. The Show/Hide button lots you see all of the items on the page. If two labels are close together, roll over each of them and […]