So You Want To Be an Aviator? (What To Expect When You Start With Your Flying Lessons)
“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” -- Leonardo da Vinci So you finally thought about earning your wings—good for you! Learning to fly is a very fulfilling endeavor, whether you decide to make a serious hobby of it earning your private pilot license (PPL) or making a career out of it later on. Maybe you and some friends decided to give flying a try one weekend, or maybe you’ve been a fan of flying since “...
Helio Aircraft are About to Make a Comeback
Helio airplanes have an excellent track record of reliability and performance, having seen action in some of the harshest environments all around the world. Helios are widely known for their short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities, which means they don't need much in the way of runway for taking off and landing. The Helio brand has been around for years. The company started as The Koppen-Bollinger Aircraft Corporation in 1948, before being renamed as the Helio Aircraft Corporation in the 1950s. Despite its popularity as a steady workhorse, Helio ceased production of the Courier and Stallion aircraft in 1974. Although a few ...
Trends in aircraft design
The rise of air travel started when people took to the skies in hot air balloons. And over two centuries later, air travel has become the world’s fastest way of going to and from places across the globe. Aircraft designs have a come a long way since then and continue to improve as more advanced technologies are being developed. History of aviation It was in the 1780s when man first displayed his ingenuity in air travel through ballooning and aviation. Several flights using hot air balloon were first demonstrated in 1783, which launched ballooning as a major rage in Europe ...
What Happens When Airplanes Dump Fuel?
You've probably seen it in the news, or maybe even on a TV show or a film feature: an airline pilot requesting to dump fuel just before attempting an emergency landing. Which now begs the question: what happens when airplanes dump fuel? And why do pilots have to do so when trying to land the plane? The real reason why planes dump fuel is that the plane is too heavy to land and dumping fuel is the quickest way to lose weight. See, aircraft have two major types of weight limits: The maximum takeoff weight, which is the heaviest weight ...
Why is plane maintenance so important?
Before a plane can take off, it needs to go through maintenance and inspection. An aircraft is composed of complex pieces of machinery put together. Even a tiny component out of place or not correctly attached can affect how your aircraft operates, making it unsafe for flying, Aircraft maintenance is a holistic procedure that should be done regularly in order to maintain the airworthiness of your plane, whether it is new or old. It also ensures the lifecycle of your aircraft, lowers the maintenance cost in the long run, and reduces unexpected failure events. This should not be taken for ...