Master the Challenges of Mountain Flying

Mountain flying legend Sparky Imeson had some solid rules for operating around tough terrain. First and foremost, check the density altitude and know your aircraft’s expected performance. In planning your flight, stay near low-lying areasRead more

In parts 2 and 3 of this series, we examined aircraft performance and mountain weather: what we have to work with vs. what we are up against. Part 4 of this series starts by developingRead more

Weather, Gliders, and Clouds When thinking about density altitude and performance vs. mountain weather, the issue is really “What do we have to work with?” vs. “What are we up against?” Being glider-rated, it seemsRead more

Mountain airports are at relatively high elevations, where the air is thin—i.e., where its density is low. During the warmer months, the temperatures can be much higher than standard, and if there’s any humidity present,Read more

Done safely, flying a light aircraft through the mountains can be the adventure of a lifetime. The mountains of the North American west, where I fly most often, offer some of the most spectacular sceneryRead more