I’m now home after a flight home (JSO) from Wichita Falls, TX (SPS). Here’s the story behind the dust storm and my flight decisions that day. I used a No-Go list to help me decide what to do. I recommend you make a list of no-go parameters which are tailor-made to your level of experience.…
Here I sit at the Wichita Falls TX airport (SPS) looking at a brownish-reddish sky on what would otherwise be a clear-blue sky day. The surreal look appears much like a lunar eclipse is occurring, but that is not the case. The sky is a different color because the wind is blowing hard and a…
Buzzards are some of the most interesting and most observed animals in the U.S. They are found in all 48 lower states, predominantly in the southeast US. A few interesting fact: they are federally protected, they can live to an incredibly long age (38+ years), and when they circle, they are probably not circling over…
A horse and rider…it is a beautiful metaphor for many situations in life. When I think of a horse and rider, I think of a beautiful sunset being viewed by a silhouetted cowboy sitting upon his best friend after a hard days work rounding up cattle. The two together are a highly productive unit…the cowboy’s…
Are the book numbers right for a Malibu? So many aircraft manufacturers these days make claims of performance capabilities that are somewhat stretched. However, the Malibu really does perform as-advertised. In this picture, I’m getting 208KTAS at FL220 with 15 GPH at a power setting of 28″MP and 2300RPM. This is a very normal power…
There are a few items that every pilot should consider mandatory for every flight, items that are not required by the FAR’s but still prudent so as to not be overlooked. One of the simplest is the flashlight. I got his one from my mechanic (forgive the quick shout-out) at First Line Aero. I cannot tell…
The PA-46 has super-long wings that are perfect for high altitude performance, but they also come with the penalty of a low Va (Maneuvering speed) for the airframe (read post, “Malibu Maneuvering Speed”). Due to this, many owners have installed spoilers to help with quick descents. One of my biggest arguments against the spoilers is…
I am totally pissed! I did it again! It was not even 3 years ago that I landed a Piper Malibu on a short runway only to notice upon touchdown that one complete side of the brake system was completely inoperative. Now, just last week, it happened again! Here’s the story and the fix to…
I live in Jacksonville, TX, the “Tomato Capitol of the World”. We have the historic Tomato Bowl Football Stadium, the Tomato Fest, and, most applicably to our discussion, the Tomato Drop at the Cherokee County Airport. Last Saturday we had the Tomato Drop and all had a really good time. We place a huge target…
Maintaining your position in relation to the center of the earth is something we all take for granted each day as we move about the earth. We are able to do so only because of an extremely complex and Divinely designed system in our bodies called the Vestibular System which contains, in part, the Otolith…