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Aviation is a world of acronyms. If you’re researching flight training, the term “CFI” is one of the first that you’ll hear. What is a CFI, a CFII, or an MEI? Today, let’s look at some of these flight training terms and talk about the people behind them. CFI stands for Certified Flight Instructor. The

When the Wright brothers took off for their first flight on 17 December 1903 in a motor-powered engine, they opened a whole new frontier of aviation and flying. It took almost half a century for successful jet aircraft to be operational, and German engineers led the way on this front. Are jet-engined aircraft one of the

Aerodynamics involves the study of airflow, and we often think of the air moving over the wing to make lift or the drag produced by air moving over the fuselage. But it also looks at the airflow around the whole airplane, and sometimes that changes during flight. Ground effect refers to the change in the

What happens when a soldier serving overseas is sued in civil court? The defendant may need to produce a military affidavit of active-duty service. An affidavit is a written statement made under oath for use in legal proceedings, but what is a military affidavit exactly? A military affidavit is a legal document that specifies whether

Grunt Style is an American clothing company launched by a former Army drill sergeant. The clothes produced by Grunt Style are known for featuring patriotic, and sometimes intentionally shocking, designs. While the clothes were made for veterans, civilians may want to know if they can wear grunt style. Civilians can wear Grunt Style clothing. Wearing

HESCO barriers are used as temporary fortifications or for protection against flooding and erosion. In 2005, HESCO barriers were used to reinforce levees after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. As HESCO products are used for civic projects, you may assume that civilians can buy HESCO barriers. HESCO does not sell products to civilians. HESCO Bastion

Manufacturers typically make body armor with law enforcement and military groups in mind. Body armor is designed to absorb or deflect physical attacks, which could also help protect citizens. So, can civilians buy bulletproof vests and other forms of body armor? Most states do not regulate the sale or use of body armor. Civilians are

Every once in a while, an aircraft catches your eye. Some planes just look different—like they popped in from the future, even. Designers are constantly finding new ways to make airplanes fly better—more efficient or more maneuverable. The canard is one design tool that engineers have played with over the years. A canard is a

Airplanes are invaluable to lots of operations in the modern world, and firefighting is one area that keeps them very busy in the hot summer months in some parts of the world. There are different types of firefighting planes for different purposes and budgets. Let’s take a look at seven different types of firefighting airplanes

One of the most incredible advancements in aviation has been the introduction of satellite navigation. But GPS technology alone isn’t enough—the regular GPS signals aren’t accurate enough to guide a plane to a safe landing during bad weather. So the FAA created a system to make GPS better and more accurate, called WAAS. WAAS stands