Took 5 years of blood, sweat and tears, but here we are!

Standby for details on my Garmin 430 sim giveaway – ideally join the Flight Chops mailing list so you get the news when we implement the plan to execute that.

Thanks to ALL the mentors that have helmed me along the way. For this video, I want to shout out Dennis Simo and Jason Miller from TFP.

Dennis runs Next Level Flight Training (NLFT) of Milton, Ontario,  providing flight training for various licences and aircraft types.  NLFT’s mission is to help make your experience as a pilot safer, more efficient, and more fun.  New planes, new places, and new ratings are just around the corner.  Contact us now to take your skills to the next level. 

Jason from TFP has been an inspiration since before I started Flight Chops. I was listening to his pod cast in 2008 when I wasn’t even current at the time! Here’s the link to the episode that he was inspired to make after talking to me while I was planning this IFR flight test debrief episode. 

The post Instrument Rated! How I FINALLY passed the Flight Test! appeared first on Flight Chops.

The hardest chapter of my flying career so far is almost over…

In this Episode: Steve stays focused on his goal of passing the instrument flight test amid contact delays due to the winter weather…

The post WORST time for Flight TEST – IFR Status VLOG #10 appeared first on Flight Chops.

Saving money and reviewing flying lessons with less stress at home!

In this episode, Steve takes his home sim IFR training to a new level by recreating exactly what happened in real life with his instructor Dennis, on his home sim. Meanwhile, longtime Flight Chops supporter and mentor Jim explains how he got proficient on the G1000 by practising at home on his $10k sim, and why he now wants it to find a new home in the Flight Chops Community!

Massive thanks Jim for giving one of you his $10,000 home sim set up!

And Sporty’s stepped up to cover the shipping!

Learn more about the biggest Flight Chops giveaway ever here:

https://flightchops.com/2019/10/15/10k-flight-sim-giveaway-flight-chops-fan-pays-it-forward/

The post Real Flying VS Home Simulator – Same Flight – what worked, what didn’t – IFR status VLOG #9 appeared first on Flight Chops.

A long one, tightly packed with IFR goodness from Dennis my mentor CFI!

In this episode, Dennis Simo (mentor CFI to Flight Chops) walks us through the avionics panel and ins and outs of autopilot in a once-neglected but now state-of-the-art Cessna 182. Fascinating and packed with informative detail – watch in real time as Dennis teaches how a higher level of automation changes everything in IFR flying. 

If you’d like to talk to Dennis Simo about some “outside the box” training” – contact him here: cfi@spectrumairways.com

And for more details on the avionics shop that did a great job on that panel, check out MISix.(again, this is not a paid promotion, Dennis was legit happy with the work and asked me to share)

Watch more episodes with Dennis Simo here

Watch Instrument Rating Status Updates here  

The post Airliner capability in updated 1973 Cessna 182 – IFR Flying hands off! appeared first on Flight Chops.

Rationalizing the difference between training and the real world…

The post Cheat without Cheating on Flight TEST – IFR status VLOG #5B appeared first on Flight Chops.

Heading into the final stretch of earning this rating!

I’m hoping to be IFR flight test ready very soon… Because there is a big announcement coming, and I wanna be able to focus on that next adventure

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Only a few days left — we’re giving away a flight in the Extra 300!

Click the image to check it out!

The post Flight TEST prep – Flying with Dennis again – IFR status VLOG #5A appeared first on Flight Chops.

It’s been a long road to get this airplane flying again!

Thanks to http://www.cubcrafters.com for a pile of parts that are now on this plane

My tail wheel journey has led to some awesome stuff including recently being signed off to solo the T6! To celebrate that, there is a new shirt design with 100% of the funds going to the Canadian Historical Aircraft association. Check it out!

Please consider sharing their link and or donating to help them keep the airplanes flying! http://www.ch2a.ca

Here is the raw / uncut 1st solo flight for Patreon supporters! 

And here is Ron doing aerobatics on his 85th birthday in the Harvard! (Patreon Supporter exclusive)

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Huge thanks to all the Supporters on Patreon!

Productions like this wouldn’t be possible without your help! For those that haven’t seen it, please check the Flight Chops Patreon page to find out how you can be a part of it! 

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Learn all about Our Sponsors who help keep Flight Chops in the air!

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If you enjoyed this episode, check out this related content:

https://flightchops.com/2015/08/13/severe-prop-strike-complacency-may-have-killed-the-super-cub-human-factors-flying/

https://flightchops.com/2015/09/10/iphone6-drop-test-2-thousand-feet-complete-engine-tear-down-super-cub-flying-pov/

https://flightchops.com/2015/03/06/super-cub-finding-zen-grass-strip-tail-wheel-flying-short-field-landing-practice/

The post Test flying Super Cub post repair! Should we put VGs on it? + Repair Process appeared first on Flight Chops.

Lake Effect Snow Squalls can make a nice VFR day go bad fast!

This month thanks to CloudAhoy we are giving away the “Flight Chops Debrief Kit” with 2 Action cameras and an intercom audio recording cable.   

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Here are the previous episodes that I mentioned in this one:

Flying VFR into IMC – a top KILLER of pilots – My close call!

Daughter Inspired by Magic of Aviation for 1st time with Female Pilot + Tropospheric Ducting

Why are Pilots afraid of ATC? Flying IFR with a Controller to find out! – Mooney M20J

DHC-1 Chipmunk Series!

Link to Part 1:
Immersive Formation Flying – Join a New Gen of Pilots

Link to Part 2:
Forced approach + Airwork – Solo prep

Link to Part 3:
3 point Landings – Tail Wheel Training – Solo prep

Link to Part 4:
Solo Sign Off! Chasing childhood dreams – DHC-1 Chipmunk training

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Mark has been friend for years and I worked on some of the early Storm Hunters episodes.
He has come a long way – check out his stuff here:
http://www.stormhunter.ca/

George is a crazy adventurous filmmaker!  He’s been to 60 countries to cover some insane things.  Definitely check his content at http://www.furiousearth.com

And here are links for Kerry: She’s a meteorologist, pilot and awesome photographer.
Check out her stuff!
http://www.weatherandsky.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/weathera…
https://www.instagram.com/weatherandsky/
https://twitter.com/weatherandsky

The post Storm Chasing in a Cessna: Lake Effect Snow Squalls VFR to IMC Risk + Avoidance – Flight VLOG appeared first on Flight Chops.

I recently had the privilege of flying my first cross-country in the Stearman. We flew it to “the Great Lakes International Airshow”

For those of you who don’t know, Dennis is my mentor and instructor.

His personal airplane is a 1942 Boeing Stearman that he restored himself over a period of 3 years.

Dennis made it extra challenging for me by requiring me to do the outbound trip with nothing but paper charts (remember this is an open cockpit plane :).

And he put me in the front cockpit which has zero navigation instruments.  The back cockpit at least has a compass – but he wanted to see me do it with nothing but good old pilotage.  It went well and I earned the right to use my iPad with ForeFlight for the return trip.

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While we were hanging out at the show I asked Dennis some questions which made for an interesting interview, so we were inspired to share:

When did you decide to get into instructing?

I pursued instructing first because my dreams of airline flying were crushed, then because I honestly wanted to help people enjoy this amazing activity. This was further cemented by the tragic death of two friends of mine that I believed was caused by inadequate instruction.

Who has been a mentor to you and why?

Everyone I meet in aviation that has more experience and /or insight into flying is a mentor.

What was a pivotal moment for you in your career?

I haven’t really had one big one yet. But often, I am given the keys and the trust to fly other people’s treasures which I am very honoured and grateful for. The most exciting day was the first flight of the Stearman.

What is a goal that you’re working toward now?

My next goal is a checkout in the TBM 900 as an acquaintance just bought one and wants me to join him on training.

Looking back, what do you wish you knew early on?

I don’t look back – there’s nothing to see.

What’s one piece of advice that has served you well?

Always ask yourself, What’s the worst that can happen?…

Can you tell the FlightChops Community about a time you screwed up so that others can learn from your mistake?

In thirty years, 8000 hours in fifty different types?…You screw up a lot and I’ve learned from every one. Making mistakes is human nature but at least don’t make the same mistake twice. And learn from others, it’s a lot cheaper and safer.

The post My First Cross-Country in the Stearman; Q&A with Dennis appeared first on Flight Chops.