Archive - The iPad Pilot

17Aug 2021 by ipadpilot_1uduep No Comments

I’ve got to be Crazy!: Should I Really Buy a Used Airplane?

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Really, I should have my head examined! Why would anybody in their right mind think it’s a good idea to buy an airplane? Let's be honest, it makes zero practical sense to own an airplane unless you can sincerely point to a tangible need say, for example, for business travel. But then, the practical reality isn't the point, is it? It's really just about FLYING after all! I don’t remember where I saw it. I think I ran across it during my own personal existential why-would-a-sane-person-buy-a-plane crises but some guy was talking about freedom. Yeah, I know “freedom” is a bit of a cliche these days and probably has outstayed its welcome but yeah, that’s it. What we’re really putting our finger on is the freedom to roam around in…

06Aug 2019 by ipadpilot_1uduep 1 Comment

From the Right Seat

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I am not a pilot but I married one. I consider myself a novice flyer. Although aviation has been in my life now for over 12 years it has only been in the past year that our family has started flying with my husband. Considering its taken me this long to take the plunge, I want to share my experience and be frank about the whole thing. You see, it hasn’t always been easy. This is for all the people out there who are married to pilots (or seriously considering it) and find themselves in a pickle because they are not fans of flying in small airplanes. You are not alone. In fact, I frequently hear from pilots that their wives or significant others have never really enjoyed flying…

01Jul 2019 by ipadpilot_1uduep No Comments

Velocity SERG Project for Sale!

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PRICE REDUCED!!! It was a long time coming and a tough decision to make but my build partner and I have been too busy with family, work, instructing, and other life things to get any decent work done on our Velocity SE. It's a shame because this is really going to be an awesome airplane! Here are some of the details: Overhauled Lycoming IO-360 by AeroEngines of Winchester VA. Custom panel Garmin G3X, GTN650 and remote comm Most of the airframe is complete Most of the wiring is complete Control surfaces are rigged. All parts needed to complete are accounted for Offering the project for $70,000 OBO Located in Chesterfield VA, KFCI Contact Peter Braswell peter.braswell@gmail.com or Ken Whitaker kwhitaker@sptpanel.com with any questions.

01Apr 2019 by ipadpilot_1uduep No Comments

The iPad Pilot Flies AFROTC Cadets

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I had a REALLY great day of flying with a truly outstanding group of young cadets. See and read more about it all here:

22Mar 2019 by ipadpilot_1uduep No Comments

The Often Dreaded Go, No-Go Decision!

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It cam be super hard to make the call! Sometimes we get it right and we breathe a sigh of relief. Sometimes we get it wrong and we're stuck on a long drive to Florida. In either case deciding to make a flight or not is based on your currency, proficiency, and the prevailing conditions. In this short video I discuss my thoughts about this topic. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W55U37SHdTU[/embedyt]

10Feb 2019 by ipadpilot_1uduep No Comments

A Tour of My Simulator

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I get asked about my simulator all the time. In this video I give a brief overview of all the parts and pieces as well as some home flight simulator history. Here are some of the components and software that I use and love. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d5cY8BaYII[/embedyt] X-plane Flight Simulator Software (awesome!) ForeFlight (Integrates NICELY with Xplane - Must Have!!) Desktop Aviator (Electrical panel, flaps and landing gear) XP-Reality (GTN650/750 and GNS430/530 Garmin Navigator Simulations) X-Force Flight PCs GoFlight (Autopilot Module) - Recently changed owners, rumors of limited product availability AirManager (Used to display primary flight instruments on the center touch screen) Carenado Piper Saratoga II (Current Go To airplane. Mimics my RL airplane very nicely!) Rudder pedals

15Jan 2019 by ipadpilot_1uduep 3 Comments

Flying Radials with ForeFlight and Garmin’s GTN750

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I've been caught a few times by surprise with IFR clearances that have me heading initially to a VOR on a certain radial. I've developed a toolkit involving ForeFlight and a Garmin navigator to help with the situational awareness. Please take a few minutes and watch this video to see how I do it. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEExB73sB8k[/embedyt]

26Nov 2018 by ipadpilot_1uduep 1 Comment

Cleared for the visual, intercept the localizer. Huh?

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Things Were Going Pretty Smoothly... So this was the scenario as we were flying from Richmond Executive, VA (KFCI) to Sarasota FL (KSRQ) over the Thanksgiving holiday. It was a relatively normal flight with what I considered higher than normal rerouting from ATC. I attributed this to the heavy traffic for the holidays. We were vectored around what seemed to be the entirety of south west Florida for what I can only surmise was the Deluxe Tour Package. I was told to expect a visual approach to runway 32 into KSRQ. This prompted me to do absolutely nothing in terms of setting up an approach. The weather was super-VFR with only a few of those typical southern Florida late afternoon popcorn clouds at 3000'. Then Things Get Hinkie... As we…

26Oct 2018 by ipadpilot_1uduep No Comments

Winterpock’s Third Grade Teacher, Ms. Husick, takes a flying lesson!

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I was asked by 3rd grade teacher Heavenly Husick if I'd come to her classroom and talk about aviation and learning to fly. I thought that would be great but what I though would be if she came out with me to the airport to take a lesson. She did and here is how it went!! [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWd09d8lc_o[/embedyt]

09Oct 2018 by ipadpilot_1uduep No Comments

5 Tips to be better prepared as a student pilot (and a CFI!)

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Not what you think This is not yet another article about preparing for a flight or ensuring you have the procedures down cold for an emergency. It's a lot more pedestrian than that. It's about showing up at the airport prepared. And I'm not talking just about students! This applies to instructors as well! What did we do last week? If this is the first question from your CFI/I at the start of a lesson, warning flags should go up. If you're a student and you're wondering the what today's lesson is going to entail, you're complicit as well. As they say, it takes two to tango and the relationship between instructor and student should be a collaborative one. Both of you share in the responsibility of knowing where you…