Q) A friend of mine worked for you as a lineman while in high school. He said you told him you would NOT fire him, if he mis-fueled or damaged…
Category: Ask Pete
Insurance Requirements For Your Own Good!
by Pete Schoeninger Q) To be on my friend’s Cessna 206 insurance policy as a named pilot, their underwriter is requiring me to get 10 hours of dual instruction including…
$500.00 For An Oil Change?
Blame It On Technology! by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2024 Digital Issue Q) A guy told me it might be…
Things To Consider When It’s Time To Overhaul Or Replace Your Engine
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2024 Digital Issue Q) Why would anyone consider buying a used engine? How do they…
Don’t Be Fuelish!
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2024 Digital Issue Q) A friend swears he once saw a B-17 (World War II…
Nickel & Dime, Or A Long-Term Relationship?
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine February/March 2024 Digital Issue Q) I intend to purchase a Cessna 182, and have been warned…
Landing On Ice & Snow-Covered Runways
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2023. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine December 2023 Digital Issue Q) How thick should ice be on a frozen lake before it…
Tachs, Dumb Stuff & Setting Your Selling Price!
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2023. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine October/November 2023 Digital Issue Q: I have read that mechanical tachometers can have errors. Is that…
Cubs & Carbon Cubs & The Difference Between Landing & Takeoff Distances
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2023. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2023 Digital Issue Q) What do your spies tell you about the current used airplane…
One Float At A Time & Bonanza Aerobatics
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2023. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2023 Digital Issue Q) Occasionally I see floatplanes lift one float a few seconds before…
A Bad Rap, A Nudge… Whatever You Do, Don’t Do It!
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2023. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2023 Digital Issue Q) I’ve always loved the Cessna 177 Cardinal and wonder why Cessna…
Which End of A Grass Airstrip To Build A Hangar… Upslope or Downslope?
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2023. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine February/March 2023 Digital Issue Q) What is FAR Part 134? A) Part 134 of the Federal…
I got ethanol in my gas… why?
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2022. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine December 2022/January 2023 Digital Issue Q) When I test car gas (my airplane has a car…
Safety In The Skies–The Airlines vs. GA
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2022. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine October/November 2022 Digital Issue Q) What do you hear about the current aircraft market? A) As…
Engine Upgrades, Rag Bags & Clones
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2022. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2022 Digital Issue Q) My 1976 Cessna 182P with a 230 hp Continental 0-470 engine…
Portable Radios, Carb Heat, Backseat Drivers & More!
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2022. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2022 Digital Issue Q: What do you hear about the current airplane market? A: My…
50th Anniversary Reunion For Van’s RV Aircraft Highlights Homebuilt Aircraft Activities At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2022 online issue. EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. – The 50th anniversary of Van’s Aircraft RV series, which has become the world’s most popular…
Spring Hazards, From Bugs & Birds, To Old Liens
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2022. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2022 online issue Q) A friend has offered to sell me his airplane at what…
Here One Day, Gone The Next!
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2022. All rights reserved! Published In Midwest Flyer Magazine February/March 2022 Online Issue Q) A friend told me you did some unusual marketing when you…
Aircraft Sales & Having Fun On Skis!
by Pete Schoeninger © Copyright 2021. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine – December 2021/January 2022 Online Issue Q: Is the airplane market still strong? What do you…
Off-Airport Landings… Cornfields Not Recommended!
by Pete Schoeninger © 2021 October. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine Online October/November 2021 Issue Q: What is a thumb compression check? I note that it is…
A Prepurchase Inspection Can Be An Annual Inspection, But It’s Usually Not That Thorough
by Pete Schoeninger Copyright 2021. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2021 online issue Therefore, Buyers Need To Be Realistic If Their Mechanic Misses Something. Q: What’s…
Aircraft Values & What Affects Them
by Pete Schoeninger Copyright 2021. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2021 Online Issue Q: I have heard there has been a big jump in values of…
Knowing When Not To Be A Penny-Pincher!
by Pete Schoeninger Copyright 2021. All rights reserved! Published online Midwest Flyer Magazine – February/March 2021 Q: I approached my local flight instructor about getting a tailwheel endorsement. He said…
The Sun Shines Bright On Runway 27
by Pete Schoeninger Copyright 2020. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine (online) – December 2020/January 2021 Q: Why do airport engineers layout a runway to align perfectly with…
Each Best Speed For Your Airplane Serves A Purpose
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2020 issue Q. Could you explain “best loiter speed” and how I can find it for my airplane? Also, where would…
Restore Or Update Or None of the Above?
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2020 issue Q: What do you hear about current airplane sale market conditions? A: Airplane salesmen I know tell me that…
Ways To Beat The High Cost of Replacement Parts & Avoid Mistakes In Buying A Used Airplane
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – June/July 2020 issue Q: What changes have you seen in the used airplane market since the Coronavirus Pandemic hit the U.S? A:…
Factors To Consider When Shopping For A Used Airplane
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2020 issue Q: I need help deciding which of two Bonanzas to buy. Two friends are going to sell their 1980…
When To Pickle My Engine & Am I In A Pickle Without ADS-B?
by Pete Schoeninger Published In Midwest Flyer – February/March 2020 issue Q: How often and how long should I I fly my Beech Sport (150 hp Lycoming engine) in the…
PLBs & Satellite Messengers – Are They Worth Buying?
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – December 2019/January 2020 issue Q: My friend, a medical doctor, strongly urges me to carry a personal locator beacon (PLB) or satellite…
How To Avoid Prop Damage On A Gravel Airstrip & What To Do If You Are Missing An Airframe Maintenance Logbook
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2019 Issue Q: What trends do you see in used airplane values? A: As I see it, I think the market…
What To Say If Your Best Friend Bought A Dog of An Airplane
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2019 issue The Misunderstood Master Switch Q: I rode along with a pilot friend and his avionics technician while they were…
Buying & Selling An Airplane & The 100LL Revolution!
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – June/July 2019 issue Q: You said an airplane that is 8 months “out of annual” (defined as more than 12 months since…
Flying In Cold Weather & Reasons Not To Give Your FBO The Cold Shoulder
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2019 issue Q: Last week after the first cold snap of the season, I flew my new (to me) 2007 Cessna…
A Little Elbow Grease Can Go A Long Way!
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – February/March 2019 issue Q: I just bought a 4-year-old Cessna 182 Skylane, and want to sell my 15-year-old Skylane. What things can…
ASK PETE
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – December 2018/January 2019 issue Confession: In the previous issue of Midwest Flyer Magazine, I incorrectly stated that there were 517 Cessna 172…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2018 issue Q: You warned a friend to hang onto paperwork indicating he paid sales tax when he bought his airplane,…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – June/July 2018 Q: Recently, you said you think “book” retail figures on airplane prices are not always real accurate. Why is that?…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2018 issue Q: With spring just around the corner, are there any hazards especially associated with spring that I should be…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – February/March 2018 issue Q. Have you ever done something really dumb in an airplane? A. While I was fixed base operator and…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine December 2017/January 2018 issue Q: Continuing the question that appeared in the October/November 2017 issue about extending range in a Cessna 172N,…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2017 issue Q: You said an airplane can sometimes land with a little more crosswind on a grass runway than a…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2017 issue Q: Do pitch changes occur with power changes in an airplane with the engine mounted above the cabin like…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer June/July 2017 issue Q: Last fall, my hangar neighbor sold his airplane, and gave me his 2 horsepower, gas-powered little tug, which moves…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2017 Q: I noticed a slight miss in my Archer’s engine and asked my mechanic to check it out. He noted…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – February/March 2017 issue Q: Pete, I saw a picture of an Ercoupe on skis. I have NEVER seen an Ercoupe on skis,…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Published in Midwest Flyer – Dec 2016/Jan 2017 Q: I had the nose strut on my 172 improperly serviced at a distant airport. After servicing, it was…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Published In Midwest Flyer – Oct/Nov 2016 Before I start answering questions, I wanted to take a minute to thank Mark Baker (AOPA) and Jack Pelton (EAA)…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Q: My prop (on my Cessna 172L) is marked MTM7653. What do those numbers mean? Could I put a seaplane prop on it for better takeoff performance?…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Q: Why is it that I have 40-gallon fuel tanks in each wing of my Cessna 182 for a total of 80 gallons of fuel, but the…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Q: I have been thinking of buying a Cessna 185 as an investment and just storing it for 10-15 years thinking they are out of production, and…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Q: Why didn’t you mention in the last issue of Midwest Flyer Magazine, your usual annual recommendation of having my mechanic remove my wheel pants for winter…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Q: How deep of snow can I safely land my Bonanza in? A: That depends on snow conditions. Snow can be powder, or wet heavy slop, or…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Q: Why do airliners usually NOT lower one wing (slip) into a crosswind when landing like light planes do? It seems they often touch down wings about…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Q: I am looking to buy my first airplane, probably a Cherokee Six, as I have a big family and not a lot of money. I asked…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Email your questions to Pete@Flymilwaukee.com Q: I’m considering buying an airplane with a buddy. This would cut purchase price in half, along with hangar rental and insurance…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Email your questions to Pete@Flymilwaukee.com Q: My mechanic told me that my airplane engine (Lycoming 160 hp in a 1979 Piper Warrior) is past recommended overhaul time…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Email your questions to Pete@Flymilwaukee.com Q: In your opinion, what are the “best” models of the major airframe manufacturers? A: Each manufacturer has made models for very…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Email your questions to Pete@Flymilwaukee.com Q: Pete, I think you are full of hot air. In the last issue of Midwest Flyer Magazine, you said an older…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Email your questions to Pete@Flymilwaukee.com Q: What trends do you see in the used airplane market? A: The demand for older (pre 1970) airplanes and most, but…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Email your questions to Pete@Flymilwaukee.com Q: I’m thinking about buying my first airplane and wonder what your opinion is about buying a tricycle gear versus a tailwheel…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Hey Pete: I am a struggling GA aircraft owner. One mechanic tells me I need this, and another one tells me I need that. At what point…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Email your questions to Pete@Flymilwaukee.com Question: My aircraft is due for a major overhaul or replacement. If I bite the bullet and rebuild or replace the engine,…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Q: The engine in my Beech A-36 is due for an overhaul. I am wondering about buying a turbine conversion. What do you think? A: What’s not…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Q: Can I renew my aircraft registration online? A: Yes, if you have no changes of address or other info and comply within the time frame stated…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Q: I’ve heard of bogus purchase scams where owners have been swindled out of money on car sales with fake cashier’s checks, and am now considering selling…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Q: What do you see of the current used airplane market? A: Used airplane values took a dive after the world events of 9/11, and again when…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Email your questions to Pete@Flymilwaukee.com Q: My old Taylorcraft (just purchased) has no information as to cruise power settings. Is there any rule of thumb I can…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Email your questions to Pete@Flymilwaukee.com Q: My nine-year-old airplane suffered a major repair after a hangar collapsed on it. Will this affect its value? A: Yes. I…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Email your questions to Pete@Flymilwaukee.com Q: Last Winter when I pulled my airplane out of a heated hangar, it immediately was covered with frost on a couple…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Email your questions to Pete.Harriet@gmail.com Dear Dave: After several hours of flying with an instructor, I successfully completed my flight review, 25 years after my last set…
ASK PETE
by Pete Schoeninger Dear Pete: I own a fixed-gear aircraft with wheel pants and live in the Snowbelt. Do you recommend that I remove the wheel pants during the winter?…
ASK PETE
by Pete Schoeninger Q: I have a Cherokee 180, and would like to move up to a 1970s Cherokee Six or Cessna 206. Which would you recommend? Rick in Iowa…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Email your questions Pete.Harriet@gmail.com Q: A friend mentioned that his six-seat airplane has a “zero fuel weight” of such and such pounds. What is that? A: For structural…
Ask Pete!
by Pete Schoeninger Email your questions Pete.Harriet@gmail.com Q: A friend mentioned that his six-seat airplane has a “zero fuel weight” of such and such pounds. What is that? A: For…
What is a ferry permit, and why would anyone want/need one?
Send questions to Pete.Harriet@gmail.com Q: What is a ferry permit, and why would anyone want/need one? A: A ferry permit is issued by the FAA, and gives permission (usually one…