When an aircraft develops a serious problem soon after take-off, pilots may face a difficult decision: return to the airport immediately or spend time reducing the aircraft’s weight first. In some ...

The SR-71’s design team could not build an aircraft that had sealed fuel tanks on both the ground and the air. It chose the more important of the two.

Preflight inspections are crucial for identifying issues, and while some minor equipment deficiencies may be tolerated with backup systems, critical defects require thorough assessment and ...

The pilot was an experienced special operations flyer but was new to the tiny Skyraider II and flying with an instructor. By Matt White Published Jun 26, 2026 4:41 PM ...