Articles by Precision Windsports
Publications
These articles have appeared in one or more of the following
publications:
In addition, many of the articles are republished in our monthly
newsletters. If you would like to get our monthly newsletter
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Articles
We hope these articles both helpful and enjoyable. If you have
any ideas for new articles please
let
us know.
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Finding Quality Instruction. It isn't just enough to find
a flight instructor. Flying demands respect and you start by
finding an instructor who respects both you and flying.
-
Staying Warm in the Winter. Winter can be a great time to
fly, but for those of us in open-cockpit aircraft it's hard to have
fun if you're freezing. So how we stay warm?
-
SLSA vs. ELSA -- What's the Difference? When deciding to
buy an aircraft one of the questions you need to answer is which
registration type to chose.
-
How to Become a Sport Pilot. The title pretty much says it
all :-).
-
GA Transition to Trikes. We started our flying in Cessnas
and Pipers so we know what it is like for the GA pilot to transition
to trikes.
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Buying Used? Buyer Beware. Used trikes can be a
fabulous deal but only for educated buyers. Neophytes can get
scalped.
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Buying Decisions: 2-Strokes vs. 4-Strokes -- Decisions,
decisions. Which powerplant is best for you.
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Getting the Hang of Weight-Shift Flying -- This article written
for the Sun 'N Fun edition of EAA's Sport Aviation Magazine talks
about what is involved when a fixed-wing pilot (or any pilot for
that matter) decides to transition to trike flying.
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Sport Pilot Rule Changes (effective 4/2/2010) -- This is a
summary of the rule changes that take effect April 2010 as they
affect trikes and powered-parachutes.
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Adding Ratings -- If you are already a General Aviation pilot,
Sport Pilot and/or CFI and you are interested in adding privileges
for other category/class of light sport aircraft you'll want to read
this article.
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Preparing for the Sport Pilot Practical Test -- Just the thought
of the Practical test (also known as a checkride) can give even an
experienced pilot sweaty palms. Over the years I've had to take at
least 6 checkrides to earn the various airman certificates I hold
and the 6th practical was almost as scary as the first. But knowing
how to prepare can help with the butterflies and give you the
confidence you need to pass the first time.
-
Finding a Sport Pilot Instructor -- Probably one of the biggest
challenges to getting into Light Sport Aviation, especially trikes
and powered-parachutes, is finding an instructors.
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SLSA Maintenance: Who Can Do? -- Many SLSA owners assume that
all the maintenance on their aircraft has to be done by a licensed
mechanic. You may be surprised at how much you as the pilot
are allowed to do. Also
listen to the radio interview on the same subject.
-
Flying Virginia's Eastern Shore -- In September of 2008 John
Milhous and I went to Campbell Field to discover the wonder of the
bay, the Atlantic, and the salt marshes from 500 feet. Come
join us.
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The Lighter Side of Light Sport -- In the July 2008 issue of
AOPA Magazine Phil Boyer shared his concern for the declining pilot
population in his “President’s Position: Sharing the Thrill” column.
The pilot population has declined from a high of 800,000 down to
less than 600,000 and the trend is continuing downward. But with the
cost of aircraft going out of sight what can we do to make flying
reachable for the average citizen?
- Why Trikes?
-- We get asked this question all the time so we wrote an article
for the April 2008 issue of Ultraflight Magazine (Sun 'N Fun Issue)
entitled "Why Trikes?" to answer this question.
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Where are all the weight-shift examiners? -- Article
published in the May 2008 edition of EAA's Sport Pilot Magazine.
This article addresses the scarcity of both instructors and
examiners and encourages those who share the passion of flight to be
part of the solution.
-
Focus on Fun -- The GA instructor community is focused on
developing transportation pilots. But most folks looking to get
into aviation are drawn to it by the promised "fun" factor. This
article, published in EAA's Mentor Magazine Jan 08 edition contrasts
the difference between transportation training and fun training.
-
Becoming a DAR -- Find out how I became a Designated
Airworthiness Representative. This might be your ticket into
an aviation business.
-
Triking Down Under -- Check out this feature article in the
February 2006 issue of EAA's SportPilot magazine. It covers our Dec
05 trip to AirBorne's factory in Redhead, Australia. Find out how
AirBorne trikes are made and what makes them so great.
- Winter -
A Great Time to Fly -- Feature article in the December 2005
issue of Ultralight Flying Magazine.
Click here to see the article in its published format.
-
Have Trikes Will Travel -- This was the feature article in the
Sun 'N Fun edition of EAA's Sport Pilot Magazine, April 2005
edition. In it our 4 month ultralighting adventure to the Northwest
is documented with in text and pictures. It was the trip of a
lifetime.