by Mike Busch | Jun 1, 2018 | AOPA Pilot Magazine, Magazine Articles
“Autographing a lie” is the worst FAR violation a mechanic can commit By Mike Busch | A&P/IA Inspection revealed that the propeller damage was substantial, apparently the result of a prop strike An IA is an experienced A&P mechanic who—by virtue of having...
by Mike Busch | May 1, 2018 | AOPA Pilot Magazine, Magazine Articles
What’s inside your engine’s crankcase? Reciprocating aircraft engines come in a variety of different cylinder arrangements—radial, inline, V, and opposed—but most engines used in piston general aviation are horizontally opposed four- and six-cylinder engines. These...
by Mike Busch | Apr 1, 2018 | AOPA Pilot Magazine, Magazine Articles
Basics of piston aircraft engine fuel metering systems If you fly a piston aircraft, chances are it has a spark-ignition (SI) engines that burns gasoline. There also exist compression-ignition (CI) engines—also called diesels—that burn kerosene, but in today’s GA...
by Mike Busch | Mar 1, 2018 | AOPA Pilot Magazine, Magazine Articles
Some thought-provoking comparisons I received a thought-provoking email from AOPA PILOT reader Nate Bissonette of St. Paul, Minnesota that started me thinking about differences between automobiles and GA airplanes. According to data from the U.S. Department of...
by Mike Busch | Feb 1, 2018 | AOPA Pilot Magazine, Magazine Articles
How we coax metal aircraft parts into doing what must be done Metal is neat stuff. It’s strong, hard, and tough. It’s easy to form, work, shape and machine. It’s fireproof and can stand up to high temperatures. But these properties aren’t unique to metal. ...