Aviation News
Training aircraft on the ramp at Van Nuys Airport at sunset after a student solo flight
What Happens On Your First Solo, Hour By Hour
Three circuits, about twenty minutes, and a shirt you should not be fond of. What the first solo actually involves, what it feels like, and why most people reach it between 15 and 25 hours.
Training aircraft on the ramp at Van Nuys Airport with the San Fernando Valley and dry summer hills in the background
Density Altitude At Van Nuys: When 802 Feet Flies Like 4,000
Van Nuys sits at 802 feet. On a 100°F September afternoon the airplane performs as though it were at 4,100. Here is the arithmetic, what the loss costs you in ground roll and climb, and when to book your lesson instead.