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⚠ The information on this Web site is intended as a study guide, and clearly not as a substitute for official sources.

Learning to Fly

These are notes transcribed to the Web from my experiences on the way to my Private Pilot's certificate in the Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Some of them are applicable to student pilots in general.

For consistency, altitudes are given in hundreds of feet (hectofeet; hft) throughout (AGL or MSL).

Miscellaneous

Cessna 172 SP Flipbook

Cessna Skyhawk 172 SP Soft Field Takeoff Procedure Cessna Skyhawk 172 SP Engine Failure in Flight Procedure
This printable PDF turns into a double-ended ‘flipbook’

KAP 140 Autopilot

KAP 140 autopilot diagram

Static Forces Model

Skyhawk static forces model

Checklists

Cessna 172S checklists

Cloud Types

Cloud types

Lighting

aircraft lighting systems

VFR Radio Procedures

VFR radio procedures VFR radio procedures

Nighttime

Nighttime definitions and regulations

Airspace

Sectional chart airspace geometry VFR airspace operation requirements

References

In my opinion ‘ground school’ doesn't adequately provide the information being an capable pilot or even to just pass the practical test. It doesn't properly integrate the knowledge with ‘cockpit reality’. Worse, ground school doesn't even provide a sense of what you should know. The following is a ‘suggested reading list”; if I would have had the list before beginning, ground school and flight training would have been a lot easier.

Items marked with “♥” are particularly important. Items marked with “♦” can be obtained in printed form.

Older Miscellaneous

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