Private Pilot Blog
Explore real flying stories, pilot training tips, and aviation insights. This private pilot blog is your go-to source for learning to fly, staying updated, and getting inspired—whether you're a student pilot or already licensed.
Starlink Can Wait: I’m Flying to Georgia with What I Trust
Before flying across Turkey, the Black Sea and into Georgia, I’m sticking with a setup I trust. My ADL190 with Iridium may not be the fastest — but it works everywhere, every time. And that matters more than bandwidth (for the moment)
SkyDemon and Georgia: When the Map Needs Fixing
Preparing a 30-aircraft flight to Georgia, I worked with SkyDemon to fix missing airspace details. A small intervention that turned into a structural improvement for every pilot flying there.
The Invisible Pilot
Modern flight tracking platforms make almost every aircraft visible online. But who decides whether a private flight becomes public information? A European pilot perspective on Flightradar24, FlightAware and ADS-B Exchange — and why aircraft owners should have the final say. The story of the
Invisible Pilot
Preparing both pilot and aircraft – – Getting Ready with a Rotax 912iS Blackwing
Ahead of the Luxembourg–Georgia expedition, preparation goes beyond route planning. Moving from a Lycoming-powered Mooney to a modern Rotax-equipped Blackwing, I am deepening my technical understanding through maintenance involvement, Rotax training in Biscarrosse, and mountain flying preparation with Robert Sentef — all part of getting both pilot and aircraft ready for the journey.
Luxembourg–Georgia Private Pilot Expedition 2026
Preparations have begun for the Luxembourg–Georgia Private Pilot Expedition 2026, a two-week pilot-to-pilot aviation journey departing Luxembourg on 29 August 2026. Pre-registration is now open for crews interested in joining this non-commercial long-distance flying adventure across Europe towards Georgia.
Returning to Georgia: A Decade Later, by Air
A decade after a memorable private aviation rally first connected Luxembourg and Georgia, we are preparing to fly back. What began in 2015 as a personal mission to open the skies between our countries grew into the historic 2016 “Memorial Hans Gutmann” expedition—12 aircraft and 45 aviators crossing Europe to the Caucasus. Today, Georgia thrives as a modern, aviation-friendly destination. In 2026, under the patronage of the Honorary Consulate of Georgia in Luxembourg, we set out once again on a 4,000 NM journey to celebrate shared values, deepen cultural ties, and experience one of Europe’s most beautiful regions by air.
SkyDemon vs ForeFlight in small aircraft
SkyDemon vs ForeFlight compared from a private pilot’s perspective, focusing on navigation, airspace handling, cockpit workflow and small-aircraft flying in Europe.
High-End ULMs: Regulation Must Catch Up With Reality
Europe’s high-end ULM segment (Blackwing, Shark, VL3, Risen, Bristel, Ellipse,…) is a mature European industry and regulation must catch up with reality. The 600 kg MTOW boundary is outdated; these aircraft deliver major safety (parachute, short-field margins), capability, and dramatic fuel-cost advantages—e.g. at 100 hours/year: ~€2,400 Mogas vs €10,000–€11,250 Avgas in typical certified touring aircraft. Europe should stop trying to regulate everything and focus on simple, proportionate rules and smoother cross-border flying.
A Winter Expedition to Utscheid: Sunshine, Coffee, and Temperature Inversions
A winter flight from Arlon (EBAR) to the German Eifel turned into a meteorological mystery. While the ground was freezing, our instruments showed a balmy 14°C at 3,500 feet. Read about our mini-expedition to Utscheid, meeting the locals, and experiencing a massive temperature inversion over Luxembourg in the speedy Blackwing.