A Pilot's Journey

02/28/2026

What is airfoil?

The shape is comparable to a bird wing, which is shaped to have a greater curve on top than on the bottom. This basic shape drew the attention of many early aviators.

In order to produce upper force, the curve on top of the wing actually has a bigger role than the bottom. The curve on top forces air to travel at a greater velocity. And, at a greater velocity, air is in a thinner state, leaving far less resistance for wings to travel upward as wind hits the bottom.

In contrast, if wings were completely flat, it would take a considerable amount of power to keep the plane in the air, and even then, the likelihood of a problem is not even debatable. A random change in direction would overwork the wings and engines, slowing them to dangerous levels. Why? Air on top of the wings is separating, canceling out the lift on the bottom. When this happens, pilots call it a stall, but a normal person might see it as face planting.

Stalls happen even when wings have the airfoil shape, but it would require some effort or simply horrible judgement to ever get into one. With the curve on top, air is much more likely to flow smoothly from front to back. But if the wing is angled too high in relation to the wind, it would produce the same effect as the flat surface.

This is why pilots are trained not only to understand airfoil shapes, but to feel pending stalls and to shift the wings into an appropriate flow with the wind.

08/31/2025

Anybody know a professional drone pilot?

I personally ran into problems financing flight training, but got the suggestion to research drone-pilot training first. Did a google search, turns out drone pilots make a lot despite requiring far less training at affordable prices.

I'm not avoiding manned-flight training, quite the opposite, I'm considering a pathway that helps me afford it.

Before I make shifts though, just want to know if anybody knows a drone pilot they can connect me to.

Message me directly.

08/02/2025

Today at Ammon Days 2025, they brought in hot air balloon burners to light up the sky. They allowed individuals and families to pull the blast valves.

06/28/2025

Hey guys!

I haven't updated in a little while, been attending a YSA Conference at BYUi. It gave me a chance to interact and get to meet new friends of the same faith.

I haven't officially enrolled at Bravo 6 yet, not because I don't want to, but because I'm prioritizing employment first. If I don't have a job, pulling a loan isn't easy.

It's only been a couple weeks, but I'm feeling more social satisfaction in Rexburg than I was in Vancouver thus far, so I'm considering the possibility of staying in Rexburg for the entirety of my training. But, we'll see what the quality of training is like.

06/20/2025

This is my first instruction video! Trying to keep them short and sweet for my audience. This one covers the basics of an FAA limitation called visual flight rules.

Student pilots earning their private pilot license are required to operate within Visual Flight Rules. This video is part of a campaign to both educate new s...

06/18/2025

I'm back to my old college town!

06/15/2025

This doesn't have to do with piloting, but I got interested in learning about the concept.

Yesterday, I went to the Shanghai Tunnels in Portland, Oregon. For those unaware or living under a rock, the term, "being shanghai'd" refers to a human trafficking practice that was frequent before steamboats became a thing.

Sailing vessels required a lot of unskilled labor back in the 1800s, but the work was so undesirable yet so high in demand. As such, some captains and higher-class individuals turned to kidnapping, crimping in this regard, to address crew shortages.

Crimpers (as they were called) would establish bars and brothels to lure men in, and they'd often slip opioids into the drinks. Finally, men would sign contracts they didn't understand, many of them would pass out, then they're forced or unknowingly transported onto a cargo ship importing/exporting goods between the US and Shanghai.

Politics tried pressuring out crimping, but it didn't really end until steamships became mainstream and when it was completely outlawed in 1915.

A long time ago, Portland had a crimping operation located on Davis Street, a bustling business involved with the vessels. The tunnels beneath were built for trade, but were also used for crimping. Bars and brothels were established, beer and whisky would be served, and yes, people would be "shanghai'd."

If you want to learn more about this, feel free to schedule a tour to see the Shanghai Tunnels in Portland. I personally enjoyed it and recommend it for history buffs.

3.8 ★ · Tourist attraction

06/11/2025

Hey guys!

Effective as of this weekend, I'll be moving to Rexburg, Idaho to enroll at Bravo 6 flight academy.

Rexburg is home to Brigham Young University - Idaho (formally Rick's College), where I got my bachelor's in communications. Literally half the population of Rexburg are LDS college students, much of them make up the student body at Bravo 6 flight academy.

In addition, Rexburg is known for clear skies compared to Portland, making it ideal for the aviation game. I personally plan on attending Bravo 6 until I get my instrument rating, then I'll break and return back to my hometown.

Note: An instrument rating allows pilots to fly in all types of weather.

I'll keep you guys up to date.

06/07/2025

I'm enrolling! 🥳

From private to a commercial pilot license start your pilot journey with Bravo 6 Flight Academy. Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Rigby.