Cessna 172 Panel Overview

The Cessna 172 is a venerable aircraft in which hundreds of thousands of people have learned to fly. The following video gives you a basic overview of the instrument panel in a typical 172, explaining what each instrument does. Take a look:

Fairly easy to remember, eh? Of course. These instruments have been around for decades, and I highly recommend anyone learning to fly master them prior to moving on to digital cockpits. I’ll be posting more flying videos soon, including footage taken in the cockpit, which can be exciting and fun to watch. Remember, always do your checklist!

Published in: on October 1, 2011 at 12:56 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Blackhawk, Inside and Out

If you ever wondered what a US Army Blackhawk helicopter looked like on the inside and out, take a look at this video I made. This particular helicopter was part of a show at my local airport. The crew was very accommodating, allowing us wing nutz to take a seat at the controls. Here’s the video:

The control panel is not one of those multi-function displays, but rather clusters of individual instruments. You’ll also notice the spartan construction, no fancy woodwork or even smooth sheet metal. Just a raw panel with instruments bolted fast. Makes it easy to replace and repair, which is an important factor in military operations. Since I don’t have my helicopter rating, there was no chance of a jaunt in the this bird, not that it was in the cards if I had the ticket. Still, it was interesting to meet the crew, check out their machine, and learn a few things.

Published in: on September 26, 2011 at 12:08 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Aruba to Miami

As a frequent visitor to Aruba, I fly a regular route between Miami and my favorite island. I made this video of the return trip, showing the takeoff, a view of Aruba from above, and then the landing in Miami. Take a look, and don’t forget, it’s in full 1080 HD for you full screen junkies.

It was a great flight, especially the first few minutes, looking down at the island, seeing all the sights from on high. Those puffy clouds didn’t really get in the way. Once again, I’d like to thank American Airlines for carrying my safely along this route. We’ve been traveling together for more than 17 years.

Published in: on September 20, 2011 at 1:38 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Threshold at 11, Aruba

When landing at Aruba, most flights use Runway 11 due to the prevailing winds from the east, south east. Lately the wind has been variable with some planes landing from the other direction. Either way, Queen Beatrix Airport has plenty of room to accommodate the largest aircraft, including the Boeing 747 which arrives from Amsterdam a couple of times a week. Here’s a look at the threshold of Runway 11 for my flying pals who can never get enough of this kind of thing.

It has to be a beautiful sight from the left seat of jetliner, coming in over the scattered reefs and shoals dotting the blue Caribbean. I’ve heard stories from the old days of my pals riding the jump seat. That was back when things like that were permitted. These days, we’re stuck in the back, catching a glimpse here and there. Unless… well… unless the flying club gets their Cessna going again. Then I’d be quite happy to take a trip around the pattern and see it first hand.

Bon dia from Aruba.

Published in: on August 26, 2011 at 12:31 pm  Leave a Comment  
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