Flight Nerd Weekly Briefing
The latest updates to help you prep for FAA exams and enjoy the world of aviation!
Aircraft Engine Oil: The Lifeblood of Your Piston Powerplant
When you think of engine oil, your first thought might be: “It lubricates stuff, right?” While that's certainly true, in small aircraft piston engines, oil does a whole lot more. It’s not just slippery goo—it’s your engine’s personal bodyguard, heat manager, and trash collector, all rolled into o...
Sep 07, 2025
When Combustion Misbehaves: Understanding Detonation and Preignition in Small Aircraft
When everything’s working properly, your aircraft’s engine purrs along with rhythmic, controlled explosions that drive your propeller and keep you in the sky. But every now and then, combustion goes rogue. That’s when you get into the potentially damaging realms of detonation and preignition—two ...
Aug 31, 2025
Fuel Grade and Contamination in Small Aircraft: Know What You’re Pouring and What You’re Catching
When it comes to flying, it’s easy to get excited about lift, speed, and shiny new avionics—but none of that matters if your fuel is wrong or dirty. In the world of small aircraft, using the correct fuel grade and avoiding fuel contamination is absolutely essential. It might not be glamorous, but...
Aug 24, 2025
Reading Between the Burns: A Guide to Aircraft Mixture Instrumentation
In small aircraft, managing the air-fuel mixture isn’t just about turning the red knob and hoping for the best. Today’s piston-powered pilots have a suite of helpful instruments to fine-tune the fuel-air blend, ensuring the engine runs smoothly, efficiently, and safely. Whether you’re trying to s...
Aug 17, 2025
Aircraft Mixture Control: Finding the Goldilocks Zone of Engine Performance
If you’ve ever flown a small piston aircraft, you’ve probably seen that red knob on the throttle quadrant—the one labeled “Mixture.” It might not look flashy, but that humble little control plays a big role in how your engine performs, how much fuel you burn, and whether or not your spark plugs s...
Aug 10, 2025
Fuel for Flight: Understanding Aircraft Fuel Systems in Small Aircraft
If lift gets all the glory, fuel is the unsung hero of aviation. Without it, your aircraft is just a very expensive glider. A properly functioning fuel system is essential to keeping the engine running smoothly and reliably. Whether your aircraft is sipping 100LL avgas or Jet A in a diesel-powere...
Aug 03, 2025
Diesel Aircraft Engines: The Comeback Kid of Small Aviation
When most pilots think of piston engines in small aircraft, they imagine avgas-burning, spark-ignited gasoline engines. But there’s another contender under the cowling that’s been quietly growing in popularity: the diesel engine. Long associated with trucks and tractors, diesel engines are now ma...
Jul 27, 2025
Breathing Easy: Understanding Aircraft Induction Systems in Small Aircraft
Before your aircraft engine can fire up and spin that propeller, it needs to breathe—and that’s where the induction system comes in. Like lungs for your engine, the induction system delivers the right mix of air and fuel so that combustion can happen efficiently and reliably. In small aircraft, i...
Jul 20, 2025
Aircraft Ignition Systems: Sparking the Skies in Small Aircraft
You might think starting an aircraft engine is as simple as turning a key or pushing a button—but under the cowling, a small but mighty system is firing off a spark that makes it all happen: the aircraft ignition system. In small aircraft, this system is critical for engine start-up and continuou...
Jul 13, 2025
Aircraft Systems: The Hidden Helpers of Small Aircraft
When you hop into a small aircraft and fire up the engine, you’re engaging a symphony of mechanical systems that work together to make flight possible. From fuel and electrical systems to ignition and engine operations, aircraft systems are the unsung heroes that keep the wings level, the lights ...
Jul 06, 2025
Energy Management in Small Aircraft: Keeping the Balance Between Lift and Motion
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Flying a small aircraft isn’t just about pointing the nose in the right direction—it’s about managing energy efficiently. Pilots are constantly balancing kinetic energy (speed) and potential energy (altitude) to maintain safe and efficient flight. Whether climbing, gliding, or maneuvering, ener...
Jun 29, 2025
Glide Ratio: How Small Aircraft Stay Aloft Without Power
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Pilots love a good engine, but what happens if it quits? That’s where glide ratio comes in. Glide ratio determines how far an aircraft can travel without engine power, relying purely on its wings to produce lift and manage descent. Understanding glide ratio is essential for small aircraft pilot...
Jun 22, 2025
Flight Nerd Weekly Briefing
