A former owner of a Cessna 350 and a current partner in a C177 Cardinal, Joel is a private pilot with 380 hours. His writings have been featured on sites such as Good Men Project and Plane and Pilot magazine, to name a few. Joel holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering, and his interests include space, aviation history, and astronomy.
airspeed indicator markings
Aircraft

Airspeed Indicator Explained

There are only a few non-engine indicators that an airplane really needs for VFR flight. A compass to see where you’re headed, an altimeter to see how high up you are, and an airspeed indicator to tell how fast you are going. Planes are designed to operate at certain speeds, and it’s important to be Read More…

special vfr explained
Training

Special VFR Clearance Explained

Every pilot would love it if Mother Nature cooperated every time they entered the cockpit and gave us clear skies and tailwinds for every flight. Unfortunately, Mother Nature can be moody and vindictive, and occasionally seems to bring the clouds down, just to spite us. Sometimes, we’d like to fly, but the weather is below Read More…

fowler flaps explained
Aircraft

How Do Fowler Flaps Work?

Flaps have become ubiquitous on modern airplanes, as they give pilots more flexibility and maneuverability during landing and, occasionally, takeoff. The purpose of flaps is to create both extra lift and drag, lift being created by increasing the surface area of the wing, and drag by extending the flap down into the air stream. This Read More…