Understanding Airplane Stalls

There are some key differences to understanding the difference between a stall in your car and a stall in an airplane. When your car stalls, it slows until it comes to a complete stop. When an airplane stalls, it stops … Read More

Who Invented The Rivet? A “Riveting” Bit Of Aviation History.

The Rivet is as critical to airplane construction as the lightweight aluminum from which they are made. It did not take long for engineers to determine that the dome head rivet was causing a lot of drag, leading to the … Read More

Check! How The Checklist was Born.

No airplane flies today without the pilots following a detailed checklist for almost every part of the flight from engine start to engine stop. There is just too much for a pilot to remember. In early aviation, flying was simple … Read More

What is an Aeronautical Beacon?

Ever notice colored flashing lights at the top of a tower structure at an airport or landmark? Or maybe wondered how a pilot knows the difference between airports and landmarks at night? The aeronautical beacon is one of the ways … Read More