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Dispatches from the world of aviation, from student pilots to seasoned captains.
Grounded Again: What Colorado's El Niño Summer Means for Front Range Pilots
Friday was supposed to be a lesson. ASOS getting ugly, Front Range PIREPs stacking up moderate turbulence and LLWS, TAF showing increasing winds and rain. I cancelled. Again. That's four weather cancels in three weeks at KAPA, and the forecast says it gets worse.
A developing El Niño is going to reshape Colorado's summer weather pattern through fall. The Niño 3.4 index sits at +0.67°C and climbing. WMO multi-model ensembles project a strong El Niño by JJA 2026 with very high confidence. NOAA CPC puts the odds at 66% for a strong-or-very-strong peak and 33% for a Super El Niño by winter. For Front Range pilots: more afternoon convection, more LIFR mornings, more grounded days through October.
So what do you actually do with the days the sky takes from you? Ten practical, mostly-free things that will make you a sharper pilot on the next clear morning. Includes a hard look at personal minimums for an El Niño Colorado summer, sourced to NWS, WMO, NOAA, BoM, and the CSU Climate Center.
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A Tour of vCFI: The Free AI Flight Instructor I Built for Student Pilots
A walkthrough of vCFI, the free AI flight instructor I built. Five modules: Flight Chat, Flight Planner, Post-Flight Debrief, Lesson Planner, ATC Radio Simulator.
Women Who Fly Colorado: The 99s and WAI Building Community at Altitude
The Colorado Ninety-Nines and Women in Aviation International are doing the work that grows the pilot community. Here's what they're up to.
More from the Hangar
Grounded Again: What Colorado's El Niño Summer Means for Front Range Pilots
Four weather cancels in three weeks at KAPA. A verified look at the developing El Niño, what it means for Colorado pilots through summer and fall, and ten things to do on grounded days that will make you sharper.
A Tour of vCFI: The Free AI Flight Instructor I Built for Student Pilots
A walkthrough of vCFI, the free AI flight instructor I built as part of the Subsonic Pilot project. Five modules covered: Flight Chat, Flight Planner with W&B, Post-Flight Debrief, Lesson Planner, and the ATC Radio Simulator. Why each piece exists, where it still falls short, and how to use it.
The PPL Acronyms Every Student Pilot Should Know (And the Ones to Ignore)
Every FAA-sourced PPL acronym worth memorizing — PAVE, IMSAFE, DECIDE, ARROW, AAV1ATE, GUMPS, OSUN — plus four common ones to skip and an honest take on why memorizing them is the easy part. Recalling them when your CFI kills your engine mid-cruise is another sport entirely.
Density Altitude: Why Colorado Pilots Feel It More
What density altitude actually does to your aircraft, why Colorado pilots are already starting the day at altitude that sea-level pilots cruise at, and how to calculate it before every flight.
Personal Minimums: Building Your Own Go/No-Go Framework
The FAA PAVE and IMSAFE checklists, what the legal minimums in 14 CFR actually require, and how to build a personal minimums framework that keeps you out of trouble before you get there.
How to Find the Right Flight School in Colorado
Part 61 vs. 141, what to ask about aircraft condition and instructor turnover, the real cost to certificate, and the Colorado-specific factors most students don't know to ask about.
Should I Buy a Plane for Training and Time Building?
The real costs of owning a 172, 182, or Archer — hangars, maintenance, engine reserves, insurance, LLCs, partnerships, and leaseback explained honestly.
Colorado Aviation Events Calendar 2026: Your Season Guide
Fly-ins, airshows, and conferences from April through October — every Colorado GA event worth putting on your calendar this year.
Your First 10 Hours: What Nobody Warns You About
The radio will terrify you, your body will feel wrong, and around hour 7 you'll think you're broken. Here's what's actually happening.
Women Who Fly Colorado: The 99s and WAI Building Community at Altitude
The Colorado Ninety-Nines and Women in Aviation International are doing the work that grows the pilot community. Here's what they're up to.
VOR vs. GPS: When Old School Wins
Why instrument-rated pilots still train on VOR navigation and when it matters.
Barnstormers to Boeings: A Short History of GA
How general aviation evolved from post-war barnstorming to the modern cockpit.
ADS-B In: What Every Pilot Should Know
Understanding traffic awareness technology and how to get the most from your receiver.
First Solo: What Nobody Tells You
Honest notes from a student pilot about the reality of flying alone for the first time.