/r/GeneralAviation

Photograph via snooOG

This sub-reddit is for pilots, students, instructors and anyone else interested in old school GA flying. The focus here is on general aviation, specifically part 91, both the flying and the aircraft. We're the bugsmashin', tail draggin', and little airport lovin' folks always searching for that next $100 hamburger.

This sub-reddit is for pilots, students, instructors and anyone else interested in old school GA flying. We're the bugsmashin', tail draggin', and little airport lovin' folks always searching for that next $100 hamburger.

If you are interested in professional flying (ie: airlines, part 135, military) you might find r/flying more suited to those topics.

Low-effort posts will be removed with prejudice.

Rating Badges

  • ST - Student
  • SPT - Sport Pilot
  • RPL - Recreational Pilot
  • PPL - Private Pilot
  • CPL - Commercial Pilot
  • ATP - Airline Transport Pilot
  • MEL - Multi-Engine Land
  • MES - Multi-Engine Sea
  • IR - Instrument Rating
  • HP - High Performance
  • CMP - Complex
  • TW - Tailwheel
  • ROT - Rotary
  • GLI - Glider
  • CFI - Certified Flight Instructor
  • CFII - Certified Flight Instructor Instrument
  • ATP - Air Transport Pilot
  • AB - Aerobatics
  • ABI - Aerobatics Instructor
  • A&P - Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
  • MIL-AF,N,A - Military pilot, AF, N, A, etc.

The members and moderators of the /r/GeneralAviation subreddit are participating as private individuals. Their comments do not necessarily reflect the views of the various organizations they work with.

Also, anything you read on this subreddit that sounds like advice on aircraft operation is obviously very general. You should always consider your own situation, remember your training, and fly the airplane.

/r/GeneralAviation

5,645 Subscribers

116

Departing Telluride

There was a mountain instructor in the right seat. He told me to turn left due to incoming traffic.

5 Comments
2024/10/03
02:51 UTC

18

San Diego nights

Lovely night over the finest city. Always amazing what we are able to witness with our GA aircraft. Cheers.

0 Comments
2024/10/02
08:37 UTC

22

Enjoy the views I didn't get to see today (LDA Approach into KDLS)

6 Comments
2024/10/02
04:15 UTC

520

Colorado’s fall colors at 12,000 feet

6 Comments
2024/10/01
20:45 UTC

4

Validate PPL by EASA

Hello pilots,

I hold a PPL issued from SAUDI ARABIA and I heard that if I need to fly a european registered airplane (general aviation or SLA) I can get something called Certificate Validation.

Can anyone guide me how do I do it?

1 Comment
2024/09/30
14:08 UTC

20

El Malpais Natl. Monument, New Mexico—volcanic lava field

0 Comments
2024/09/28
03:47 UTC

9

Which hangar doors are best?

Hello General Aviation enthusiasts! I am the recent widow of a great General Aviation, Commercial, Instructor, and A&P pilot. I intend to relocate and move into our hangar home. The 3600 square foot hangar has three rolling doors. I can move the doors, at this age, but am concerned about being able to move the doors twenty years from now. Also, I would like a door I can remotely open. I want to drive my car into the hangar, close the door, and exit. Years and years ago, I was obliged to chase a man off (with my gun) who tried to accost me as I exited my car to open the hangar doors. I would appreciate any advice about replacement doors (bifold or single). I am also open to keeping the rolling doors. Thank you in advance.

5 Comments
2024/09/27
18:08 UTC

1

Do you share on social media?

Hello there. I was wondering if some of you use social media to share your passion with other pilots or just friends, and if so, which one? I don't have many flying friends on my networks and I don't always want to share to everyone.

It would be also a way to keep track of some flights, like other apps would do for books, sport activities or running.

5 Comments
2024/09/26
15:29 UTC

23

Enjoying GoPro’s photo grab feature

The videos are cool obviously. But GoPro’s ability to take the screenshot of your choosing and push out a high res photo from it is also pretty damn sweet. Pictured: Northwest of Phoenix, Arizona. Notice the haze from wildfires. There was a firefighting TFR just north of my destination.

1 Comment
2024/09/25
20:22 UTC

5

AI Tool for General Aviation Pilots

Hello fellow pilots,

I’m an ATP pilot with over 7,000 flight hours, and I’ve flown aircraft like the B737 and Airbus A330-A340s. I am also one of the co-founders of Roger, an AI conversational tool (currently in beta) designed to assist General Aviation pilots. (https://www.flyingroger.com/roger-beta)

Roger aims to provide real-time information such as weather updates, regulatory insights, and navigation data directly from your phone or tablet. It’s like having a co-pilot in your pocket, simplifying access to critical information to support your decision-making in flight.

However, Roger is still in beta and is not ready for operational use in flight. We’re gathering feedback and refining the tool to ensure it’s ready for use, therefore it is free to use. We're looking for pilots to share their experiences with current tech and let us know what challenges you face during pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight processes.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and questions. Thanks for helping us shape the future of aviation technology!
Fly safe,

Lisandro

8 Comments
2024/09/25
16:51 UTC

41

Looking forward to going up in this. Inspiration.

Chatting with the owner of this VisionJet this evening , glanced over, and caught this nice sunset view. I love V-tails, be it a Bonanza or VisionJet.

VisionJets have a weird rep (slow, not many seats, etc) and I brought that up, and as he put it "this fits my mission perfectly, and it's a pilot owner's plane. I love flying it" His mission rarely extends outside of the region (meetings, visiting his store locations, conferences, etc), zippin' around the Southwest, and for that, it's great. He's been flying 30 years and previous planes included a Debonair and A36 Bonanza.

Was fun to hop in the left seat. Very very different than sitting in my '67 Cherokee! Looking forward to joining him on a flight at some point soon and experiencing that.

Cool ships. Very organic lines. Owner built his business from a single old pick-up truck to now 26 retail locations. Definitely inspiring and makes me want to continue to grow my retail (single) store!

Cheers.

6 Comments
2024/09/25
09:09 UTC

42

Final approach into Payson, Arizona

Winds were variable and weird but I should have taken the hint in this moment from being blown a bit off course to the left, when turning base to final. I corrected and it was fine, but you can see that I still landed slightly left of centerline. More right aileron needed. My 2 passengers loved the landing though, and also breakfast at the diner. A great GA day!

14 Comments
2024/09/23
03:30 UTC

3

UK Air Law : Does the Semi-Circular Rule on Apply Above the Transition Altitude?

For example, if the transition altitude is 3,000ft AMSL and I was flying at 4,000 ft VFR heading East, would I have to fly at 3,500 ft ?

2 Comments
2024/09/22
13:24 UTC

0

What is the greatest obstacle in your view?

5 Comments
2024/09/21
19:45 UTC

8

Just got through TSA with a PPL and Costco Membership

Got to the airport for a commercial flight and realized I left my ID at home. I was able to get through with my PPL and a Costco card, which was the only form of ID I had with a photo 😂 Now I’m just hoping they accept it at the airport bar.

Any other funny stories of getting to bust out the license?

15 Comments
2024/09/19
18:29 UTC

0

Nearly made a balls of it!

3 Comments
2024/09/19
16:27 UTC

7

Cessna 152 vs 162

Give me your opinions - older 152 or newer 162 for a time-builder, low maintenance bird for a couple years? A late 1960’s 152 is the same price as a 2011 162.

11 Comments
2024/09/19
11:13 UTC

102

Best passenger 🐶

Jake’s first flight with me. We practiced wearing the ear protection for the past few weeks at home. I think he just thought it’s yet another car ride. Kept taking treats which he wouldn’t do if scared.

10 Comments
2024/09/18
19:29 UTC

4

Headsets

Im in the market to buy a headset. It seems that every GA video I watch on Youtube, the pilots are wearing a Bose headset. Are these head and shoulders above the others, as ubiquitous as Ray Bans are to sunglasses or Apple is to phones? Or maybe there's other reasons such as the Bose headsets are friendliest to podcasting/audio integration or something. They dont seem to be as popular at my local flying club. Im just returning to flying after decades away, it seemed that David Clarks were the rage at one point. Bottom line: should I buy a Bose headset?

16 Comments
2024/09/18
10:37 UTC

4

How do most people get ahold of planes to fly for recreation?

Im very ignorant on everything aviation related. How do most people who just got their private pilots license actually find a plane to fly. Do they usually buy their own? Do most regions have some sort of rental service? I’ve heard of fractional ownership but I’m not sure how common that is or isn’t. Thanks in advance.

12 Comments
2024/09/18
03:22 UTC

0

Current PPL Curriculum

Does current PPL curriculum still cover basic sectional and heading indicator work along with VOR or has it all drifted to GPS?

5 Comments
2024/09/17
02:47 UTC

48

Just a shot from this afternoon's flight.

5 Comments
2024/09/16
21:02 UTC

0

Looking for an Accelerated CFI Program for a couple students

Hey everyone, I have two CFI students who’ve really been dragging their feet to finish. Now I’m off to the airlines and don’t trust those replacing me to finish them off. I’m hoping to find an accelerated course for them just to get it done. They’re good on all their ground part it just the flying and checkride they need.

10 Comments
2024/09/14
22:34 UTC

13

Whats your experience importing an aircraft in a container? (1979 Piper Saratoga)

Fellow pilots, have you, or anyone you know, brought a plane dissasembled in a container? What was the experience? The process?

A family member has a 1979 Piper Saratoga in South America that hasnt flown in ~10 years and we would like to bring it back to the US.

A ferry flight is also a consideration, but we're unsure of flying 14 hours over the caribbean in a engine and acft that hasnt operated for such a long time. The airplane has been well kept in a hangar, washed every know and then, but not much more.

Also, we have a local aviation lawyer helping with all the local export paperwork, fees, taxes, etc.

So, please share your experience!

17 Comments
2024/09/12
12:39 UTC

7

Kneeboard Recommendations?

Just getting back into flying after a couple year hiatus. Pretty sure I used to have a something like a basic bifold one, but have been eyeing one with adjustable lighting built in for night flying visibility.

Historically I've used a large iPad Pro on a flex mount, but I'm open to being convinced of the value of an iPad mini on a kneeboard.

Any favorites? Ones to avoid? What’s your kneeboard setup look like and why do you love/hate it?

7 Comments
2024/09/10
18:31 UTC

85

Meteor Crater, Arizona

Nerd info: The crater is 0.74 miles across and 560 feet deep. A meteorite 160 feet long struck it at 29,000 miles per hour, 50,000 years ago. No humans around, just mammoths and sloths. I was around 8000 feet MSL as I flew over it, fulfilling a major bucket list item for myself. Just don’t do what these poor guys did in 1964 in a Cessna 150: Try to fly right over its surface, getting sucked in, and unable to climb out, leading to a desperate circling pattern to gain altitude, which didn’t work, leading to a stall. (Both pilots survived with serious injuries).

8 Comments
2024/09/09
16:57 UTC

0

Tray tables sizes across airlines

What are the dimensions of the tray tables from shortest to longest? For example, is there a tray table shorter in length than 17cm? What is the longest? Couldn’t find a chart online for anything but seats.

2 Comments
2024/09/09
01:09 UTC

2

Trying To Find The Perfect Gift!

Hello everyone!

My Boyfriends Birthday Is coming up and i want to find a aviation related gift to give him.

I'm not that familiar with Any kind of experience related course to try out the training military pilots go thro which is what i was originally thinking of finding but all i can find is only flying experience centers. he already tried that soo im on the lookout for something more unique to gift him, it doesn't have to be a course as i was also looking for tours that he can go to but i think i need some more help on the matter from people who have the same interest.

Anything you know can be helpful!

2 Comments
2024/09/08
01:46 UTC

12

First Flight Lesson

Doing my first flight lesson on Tuesday! Did an intro flight last week and it was the windiest day I could’ve possibly had lol the turbulence was crazy and made it super hard to focus on learning (was too busy clutching the yoke for dear life). Any tips for dealing with that dropping feeling and keeping focus on flying? Any other tips would be greatly appreciated!

UPDATE: The flight went amazing today. There was some turbulence but it already started to feel natural because I know it was supposed to be there. At first it feels like you might fall out of the sky, but when you realize it’s similar to an unpaved road in a car and that you will never have a 100% smooth ride it gets easier. Nailed some steep turns today and barely even felt the tummy drop feeling. Thanks to everyone for the advice and encouragement! Onward and UPWARD!!

11 Comments
2024/09/07
23:38 UTC

3

Detroit

Planning on flying to Detroit next weekend to see the the Orioles and Tigers. Any suggestions on which airport to fly into? Was thinking KDET.

3 Comments
2024/09/06
01:44 UTC

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