Hot Aviation Posts
News: Up, Up & Away - Get Your Own Jet Pack for $75K
The age of personal flight has finally arrived. You can now purchase your very own jet pack for the extremely high price of $75,000. The Martin Aircraft Company Jetpack gets 30 miles to the tank, sails along at 60 mph, and can reach heights of almost 8,000 feet. Oh, and bonus: since it weighs less than 254 pounds, you won't need a pilot's license to operate. Previously, NASA's Wicked Cool Take on the Classic Jetpack.
News: Build-It-Yourself Airplane for $2000
Shell out a mere two grand and you can build yourself your very own operating airplane. Back in 1928, Bernard H. Pietenpol decided everybody should have the option of personal flight. So Pietenpol drew up the plans for the Pietenpol AirCamper, and guess what? His family is still selling the plans for it.
News: NASA's Wicked Cool Take on the Classic Jetpack
NASA recently unveiled the ultimate sci-fi geek's transport dream: the Puffin, an electric vehicle that takes off like a helicopter and flies like a plane (at 140 mph). Did I mention "boost mode"? Hit that button, and this baby can speed up to nearly 300 mph.
News: Jetman Flys Over Atlantic with DIY Wings - Plummets!
Yves Rossy, AKA Jetman, attempted to fly across the Atantic from Morocco to Spain yesterday. His homemade, jet powered wings "span 8 feet and are powered by four kerosene-fueled jet engines."
News: Chinese Farmer Builds Psycho-Copter From Scratch
There's been a lot of craziness from the far East lately on WonderHowTo... A Chinese farmer builds an army of robots, a Thai baker makes horror movie-esque bodies out of bread, a Chinese James Bond enthusiast hacks together his own submarine, and don't forget the Japanese cooking show narrated by a poodle named Francis...
How To: Fly safely in a United Airlines B747-400
Just in case you've never flown before, or need a reminder of the safety measures all passengers need to take when flying, this safety video from United Airlines will show you how. Watch and learn how to be safe in a United Airlines B747-400 airplane. The video may be a bit old, but none of the safety tips are.
How To: Taxi a plane in FSX (Flight Simulator X)
This is an educational tutorial on the basics of taxi operations in Flight Simulator (FSX). Watch and learn ground operations and taxiing a few different planes like the DC-3 and the cub in this aviation tutorial.
How To: Approach and fly an airports pattern for landing
Educational video instructing a pilot on how to enter an airports pattern. Checkpoints shown in video were part of the Flight Simulator Mission. Learn how to approach an airport and fly the proper pattern for landing in this aviation tutorial.
How To: Crosswind land a plane in FSX
The landing method used in this video, crosswind landing, is the method which can be most useful in FSX. There may be better ways to land in this scenario but for this basic tutorial this approach was best. So watch and learn how to crosswind land a plane in Flight Simulator (FXX).
How To: Fly a helicopter in FSX
This tutorial will explain and demonstrate the basic techniques used to fly a helicopter in Flight Simulator X. These techniques can be applied to real helicopter flight. The video highlights a few techniques you can use when flying a helicopter, but will be difficult to follow if you don't know the basics of how a helicopter operates.
How To: Add add-on aircraft to FSX
This aviation tutorial shows you a very basic way to add add-on aircraft to an FSX. Get all the aircraft you need into Flight Simulator X (FSX) just by watching this tutorial.
How To: Practice the rectangular course maneuver
Martin Rottler, Commercial Pilot, teaches the rectangular course. Practice the rectangular course maneuver.
How To: Use the rudder for Adverse Yaw
Anthony Bottini, CFI, discusses the factors surrounding Adverse Yaw. Use the rudder for Adverse Yaw.
How To: Maintain that centerline
This episode discusses the four causal aerodynamic factors leading to the overall left turning tendency that an aircraft experiences during flight. Join Scott Ludwig and Seth Hardley as they teach about Torque Effect, Spiraling Slipstream, Gyroscopic Precession and P-Factor and how these principles will affect your aircraft on your next training flight. During the takeoff roll, remember to maintain centerline at all times and don’t get lazy feet.
How To: Perform the Slow Flight maneuver
In this AeroCast episode, UND Aerospace discusses the Slow Flight maneuver as performed in the Piper Warrior (PA-28-161), referencing the procedures and standards outlined in the UND Warrior Standardization Manual. All performance tolerances are based on the performance standards set forth by the FAA Private Pilot Practical Test Standards. Since the most critical phases of flight occur at airspeeds less than cruise, a pilot must always be comfortable with his or her airplane’s handling charac...
How To: Perform Power On Stall maneuvers
In this AeroCast episode, Anthony Bottini discusses the Power On Stall maneuver as performed in the Piper Warrior (PA-28-161), referencing the procedures and standards outlined in the UND Aerospace Warrior Standardization Manual. All performance tolerances are based on the performance standards set forth by the FAA Private Pilot Practical Test Standards. Power On Stall practice is vital in increasing a pilot’s proficiency in regards to stall recognition and stall recovery techniques during an...
How To: Use the principles of stability
UND Aerospace Flight Instructor, Dave Amling, discusses the principles surrounding static and dynamic stability in a fixed-wing aircraft.
How To: Perform the UND Aerodynamics Demonstration
UND Flight Instructor Anthony Bottini discussing in detail the UND Aerodynamics Demonstration. This maneuver is a must-watch for beginning pilots and old, grizzled aviators. The Aerodynamics Demonstration covers the full spectrum of the Fundamentals of Flight and various other flight principles that a pilot must master before being truly proficient in any aircraft.
How To: Fly airport traffic patterns
Unless you have your own private airport (I’m looking in your direction John Travolta) then you will most likely have to coordinate your takeoffs and landings with all the other air traffic using your specific airport. Whether it be a towered or non-towered airport, this latest UND Video Standardization Lesson is designed to help you, the student pilot, become familiar and hopefully more comfortable with Airport Traffic Pattern operations.
How To: Fly in a holding pattern
its time to learn the UND-Standardized IFR Holding Pattern. Even though most people fly airplanes to go fast, there are times that we are required to fly those airplanes fast, but in a racetrack pattern over and over again.
How To: Make a hot air balloon
Make your own hot air balloon using only 4 household items, bought from any supermarket for under $10. This balloon will fly for miles.
How To: Power off stall and recover a small plane
In this AeroCast episode, Anthony Bottini discusses the Power Off Stall maneuver as performed in the Piper Warrior (PA-28-161), referencing the procedures and standards outlined in the UND Aerospace Warrior Standardization Manual. All performance tolerances are based on the performance standards set forth by the FAA Private Pilot Practical Test Standards. Power Off Stall practice is vital in increasing a pilot’s proficiency in regards to stall recognition and stall recovery techniques during ...
How To: Repair a wooden propeller trailing edge of an airplane
This video shows how to repair the damaged trailing edge of a wooden aircraft propeller using a scarf joint. It also shows how to fiberglass the repair.
How To: Track a wooden propeller of an airplane
Learn how to track a wooden aircraft propeller. This is a detailed, step-by-step explanation including how to torque your prop and properly place solid blocks as support.
How To: Balance a wooden propeller of an airplane
Learn how to balance a wooden aircraft propeller. Watch how to mount the prop. drill a hole, and add a lead balance weight. This is a very thorough video and is perfect for people with patience.
How To: Get your private pilot's certificate
Getting your pilots certificate may be on the expensive side, but after only a few weeks of training you can be flying all over the country! We show you some tips on the path to getting a private flying certificate in this video, and if you're afraid of heights, just do what Veronica did -- pretend it's a video game!
How To: Fly a helicopter with a hands on simulator
This video demonstrates the Heli-Chair and how you can use it to learn how to fly a helicopter. It has the same controls as a full size helicopter, but you are flying a model instead. This is not a computer simulation, it is a real helicopter that flys like a real helicopter!
How To: Inflate a hot air balloon
This video describes the process of inflating a hot air balloon.
How To: Make a paper hot air balloon
In this video you will learn how to make a basic paper hot air balloon . Great for kids and a nice way to pass your time with them.
How To: Make an air balloon out of a tea bag
This video shows you how to make a hot air balloon out of a tea bag.
How To: Fly in Microsoft Flight Simulator X
In this free flying lesson video, you will learn to fly a variety of planes popular with recreational pilots, including the Cessna 172, Cessna Caravan 208, Mooney Bravo, and Piper Cub, as well as twin engine planes, jets and sailplanes. Our expert gives you a complete overview of the desktop flying experience, with advice on turning, climbing, wing angles and landing clearance. He also talks extensively about how to use your flaps and landing gear. Wondering how to pull out of a nose dive?
How To: Fly around with Google Earth's flight simulator
Does sitting for hours on end in your office cubicle just make you want to fly away to St. Lucia for a week to bask in the sun? Well, you probably can't do that realistically without taking away from your vacation time, but in the mean time you can fly around virtually using Google Earth's flight simulator.
How To: Take out a F14 Tomcat with a F15 Eagle fighter jet
This is a brief tutorial on how to eliminate an F-14A Tomcat using the F-15C Eagle in Lockon: Flaming Cliffs. In it, we discuss the advantages of the AMRAAM over the Sparrow, and thoroughly cover evasion techniques against the AIM-54 Phoenix missile.
How To: Go through ground school in flight simulation
This is the first of what will surely be a long and detailed series on operating the F-15 Eagle in the simulator Lock-On: Flaming Cliffs. This first one introduces you to the Eagle's radar with off and Range-While-Search modes and their symbology.
How To: Beat a jet truck in FSX
This is an FSX tutorial on how to win against a jet truck. This is a flight simulation exercise.
How To: Fly an airplane
If you are interested in learning how to fly a plane, this video series is perfect for you. While this is only an introduction to soaring the skies, it will help you understand more about the process of flying.
How To: Fly a plane
Mike Camelin goes over every aspect of flying a plane in this video series. Follow along and learn what it takes to fly a plane. Remember, this series is just a guide to the steps you take when wanting to be a pilot, you'll still need to go to school!
How To: Start the engine of a DC 3 jet plane
Half the fun in flying any round engine airplane is in the starting. Here's how to start a DC-3.