Articles by Precision Windsports

Publications

These articles have appeared in one or more of the following publications:

• Powered Sport Flying Magazine (formly Ultraflight Magazine)
• Light Sport and Ultralight Flying Magazine
• EAA's SportAviation Magazine (formly Sport Pilot Magazine)
• Aviator's Hotline Light Aviation Edition

In addition, many of the articles are republished in our monthly newsletters.  If you would like to get our monthly newsletter please click on the "Join Mailing List" button available on every page of this site.

Articles

We hope these articles both helpful and enjoyable.  If you have any ideas for new articles please let us know.

• 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.
• Buying Used?  Buyer Beware.  Used trikes can be a fabulous deal but only for educated buyers.  Neophytes can get scalped.
• Buying Decisions: 2-Strokes vs. 4-Strokes -- Decisions, decisions. Which powerplant is best for you.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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. 
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.