STEM Archives - Gleim Aviation

Opening the Doors to New Space Exploration

Virgin Galactic successfully completed their first sub-orbital crewed spaceflight on Sunday, July 11, with Sir Richard Branson on board, bringing the future of commercial space travel one step closer to becoming a reality. Following Branson, Blue Origin’s founder, Jeff Bezos, will blast off into space on July 20th aboard the New Shepard spacecraft. Joining the likes of Elon Musk, Bezos and Branson...

When one drives into Cross City, FL, the airport (KCTY) may not be too noticeable, but if you are a student in Michele Burke’s class at Dixie County High School, you will know about it. She teaches Aviation Sciences at Dixie County High School where students from grades 9-12 learn everything from aviation history and flying an airplane to building a drone capable of conducting mock roof inspection...

Excitement and excellence highlighted the 2021 Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo. The theme of the event, “We don’t need roads!” could be felt by all as participants explored the variety of flying machines and state-of-the-art gear found throughout the show. While the effects of the pandemic reduced the number of exhibitors, there was a record-high number of attendees who were excited to return to the nea...

Black History Month is a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the achievements of African Americans and their role in United States history. During this month of remembrance, Gleim honors several prominent African-American aviation pioneers. Bessie Coleman Bessie Coleman was the first African-American and Native-American woman to hold a pilot license. She was initially inspired to b...

Aviation Kids USA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to provide hands-on, aviation focused STEM education to kids and underserved communities, held a school-wide Aviation STEM Day on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, at the Pinecrest Academy Charter School in Wesley Chapel, FL. Nearly 650 students attended the daylong event, which opened with a University of South Florida PhD student discussing ...

There are four basic types of fronts, each with its own distinct weather characteristics. Understanding the differences can help pilots gauge how soon weather changes will occur and when inclement weather may arrive, dissipate, or increase in severity. This blog explains the four basic fronts that exist within our atmosphere. Warm Front Warm fronts are boundaries of slow-moving air masses th...

September 11, 2001 is a day that we will always remember as one of the most tragic days in American history as four airliners were hijacked by nineteen terrorists to carry out the deadliest terror attack in the United States. A total of 2,977 victims lost their lives on that day at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, and in Somerset County, PA. As we cast our minds b...

Turns in an airplane may seem like a simple maneuver, but how well do you really understand the aerodynamics? Pilots should understand the principles of adverse yaw, coordinated turns, and overbanking tendencies to fly safely in various flight configurations. Mastering these concepts at the start of your training ensures that more complex maneuvers are less of a challenge. Lift and its Vector C...

Summer is here, and although there will be plenty of perfect flying days, pilots should be prepared for volatile weather, such as thunderstorms, which can pop up quickly and unexpectedly. While there are many hazards associated with thunderstorms, this article specifically addresses microbursts. Formation When a thunderstorm develops, the updraft can be so strong that it suspends large a...

Every pilot will use a variation of the E-6B flight computer for flight planning calculations. The traditional E-6B is primarily used during flight training, as many pilots opt to use online flight planning apps post training. While some students use electronic E-6B computers, the manual E-6B flight computer has some significant advantages, including lower cost and reliability without power. The m...

Many pilots struggle with radio communication. This task is often overlooked when people decide to become pilots, but the struggle is not just limited to students. Just like learning any other language, it may initially be challenging, but once you memorize the vocabulary and develop a keen understanding of “radio grammar,” speaking on the radios becomes second nature. Here are some tips to help a...

One of the first maneuvers student pilots learn is how to fly straight-and-level. For a given airplane configuration, this maneuver is successful when the pilot can control the airplane with minimal altitude and heading changes. Except for basic instrument maneuvers, straight-and-level flight is not actually listed as a specific task in the Airman Certification Standards; however, it is a fundamen...

STEM

Opening the Doors to New Space Exploration

Recognizing Innovation in Teaching

Igniting Aviation Passions at Sun ‘n Fun

Gleim Honors African-American Aviation Pioneers

Inspiring Students at Aviation Kids USA STEM Day Event

Four Types of Fronts

Timeline of Events Never Forgotten on September 11, 2001

Aerodynamics of Turns

Hazards Associated with Microbursts

Interactive E-6B Flight Computer Available Online for FREE

How to Confidently Communicate on the Radios

The Basics of Straight-and-Level and Slow Flight