Why Airplanes Still Use Dead Reckoning

Celestial Navigation: Let the Stars be Your Guide

Celestial navigation is one of the oldest forms of navigation dating back thousands of years.  It can be as simple as following the North Star or as complex as measuring the angular distances between stars and the moon to calculate what time it is.  Whatever form of celestial navigation you are doing, the idea is the same; use the known positions of the heavenly bodies at a particular time to calculate your location by observing the positions of same heavenly bodies in your local sky. Join Hunter and I this week as we navigate the past, present, and future of this surprisingly effective method of navigation.

Why Airplanes Still Use Dead Reckoning

Dead reckoning is one of the most basic forms of navigation; you simply move in a known direction and record how far you travel going in that direction.  Using your old location, you can now compute your new location.  You might be surprised to find out that some of the newest most technologically advanced aircraft still use this form of navigation.  Join us to find out why this ancient form of navigation is still used today in the presence of much more advanced forms of navigation such as GPS.

Don't Fail Your Medical! A Pilot's Guide to Aviation Medicals

Most pilots are required to have a medical certificate.  This certificate helps to verify that a pilot is healthy enough to safely pilot an airplane.  While the medical certificate requirement is a very important part of aviation, it can cause pilots a lot of stress; there are a variety of medical certificates to choose from and each has its own privileges and restrictions.  Not to mention that a failed medical examination can spell the end of your aviation career. Join us on this episode of The Wing Wag as we discuss the intricacies of each type of medical certificate, decide which is best for you, and give you tips for avoiding failing a medical examination.

How to Pick the Perfect Flight School

So you've decided to become a pilot.  Choosing a flight school can be overwhelming.  Every flight school has its own personality and style of teaching.  You want to find the flight school that's the perfect fit for you.  Join me this week as we go over what to look for (and avoid!) when picking a flight school.

New Year, Better Flying: The Wing Wag's 2026 Resolutions

Happy New Years! Pilots are almost trying to improve their skill.  Here at The Wing Wag, we are no different.  Join me this week to discuss some of the ways in which I want to improve as an aviator, an airplane owner, and a podcaster in 2026.  Let's just hope that these resolutions last longer than my resolution to stop eating candy... If you have any aviation-related goals for 2026, I'd love to hear about them!  Let me know in the comments. If you are interested in flight training or just want to fly with an instructor, check out Olinde Aerospace: https://olindeaerospace.com/ [https://olindeaerospace.com/]