Video tip: How to takeoff and land from a short runway
An advanced skill you’ll learn during flight training is how to achieve the maximum performance from the airplane by operating from shorter runways.
Author Archive for: bkoebbe
About Bret Koebbe
As Sporty’s lead aviation course and video producer, Bret is usually flying an interesting airplane, and often with a camera rolling. He oversees the development, production and distribution of over 30 aviation courses from Sporty's, including the Private Pilot Learn to Fly Course. He is a flight instructor and check airman at the Sporty's Academy flight school and a senior captain on a Cessna Citation.
Entries by Bret Koebbe
VASI & PAPI Explained: Pilot’s Guide to Visual Approach Lighting
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeVisual approach slope indicators use a combination of white and red lights next to the runway to help pilots verify they are flying the correct approach angle to the runway. This week’s video takes a closer look at 2 types, VASI and PAPI, to show you how they work and what the various indications mean.
Interactive video tip: Flying with a constant-speed propeller
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeAirplanes with a high-performance engine typically contain a constant-speed propeller for greater efficiency. Learn all about their operation with our latest tip, including how to properly use the throttle, prop control, manifold pressure gauge and tachometer in each phase of flight.
Flight Maneuver Spotlight: Crosswind Landings
/in Flight Maneuvers/by Bret KoebbeThis crosswind landing technique requires you to modify your normal landing procedure by using a combination of rudder and aileron to keep the airplane aligned with the runway.
How to take off and land in a multiengine airplane
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeEarning a multiengine rating can open up a world of adventure, from reliable cross country travel to new career options. Our latest video tip includes a segment from Sporty’s new Multiengine Training Course, to give you a feel for the steps to safely operate a multiengine airplane on a normal VFR flight, from startup to landing.
Decoding the cockpit: an intro to airplane flight instruments
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeThe flight deck of every airplane includes a collection of flight instruments that display important information, like airspeed, altitude, heading and turn information. In this video we’ll go over the standard 6 instruments you’ll find in a Cessna 172 and how to interpret their indications.
How to use a mechanical E6B flight computer
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeMost students today prefer to use an electronic E6B flight computer when planning a flight or preparing for the FAA knowledge test. The electronic E6B is actually the evolution of a mechanical E6B flight computer, often referred to as a whiz wheel. While the mechanical E6B may take a little longer to learn compared to its electronic counterpart, the learning process is a fun challenge.
Fly Perfect Patterns: Rectangular Course Techniques for Pilots
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeThe rectangular course is one of the most basic maneuvers pilots learn during flight training. While it may sound boring, there’s a lot to learn from this simple pattern. In our latest Video Tip of the Week, we walk through each step of the rectangular course, with in-cockpit video and 3D animations.
Airplane aerodynamics: Why do airplanes want to turn to the left?
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeAirplanes always seem to want to turn left, especially in a climb. But why does this happen? In this three-minute video tip, we dive into the physics in a way that makes sense for pilots. 3D animations and in-flight video show the effects of P-factor, gyroscopic precession and spiraling slipstream.
Video tip: how to calculate takeoff and landing distances
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeJust about every airplane includes performance data in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook to calculate the runway length required for takeoff and landing under various conditions. The FARs require you to determine these distances as part of your preflight responsibilities, but fortunately the charts published for today’s modern airplanes make this task a breeze. This week’s tip takes a look at how perform this calculation using the common “chase-around” style charts.
